Ms. Claudia Elijas-Parra | Structural Geology | Best Researcher Award

University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Claudia Elijas-Parra is a PhD student in Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, specializing in the rheology of dense unsteady granular flows with shear gradients. Her research focuses on understanding granular temperature and the contact network in complex flows, particularly in pyroclastic density currents, to refine large-scale volcanic hazard models. With expertise in high-performance computing and numerical modeling, she contributes to advancing our knowledge of volcanic processes and geophysical flows.

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🎓 Education

Claudia Elijas-Parra is a PhD candidate in Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, researching pyroclastic density currents using numerical modeling and high-performance computing. She holds a First-Class Honours MEarthPhys from the same university, with work on geomechanical risk and geophysical flow modeling. She completed her secondary education at Institut Pons D’Icart, Spain, with a 9.7/10 grade and spent an exchange year in London.

💼 Experience

Claudia Elijas-Parra is a PhD candidate in Geophysics at the University of Edinburgh, specializing in numerical modeling of pyroclastic density currents. She holds a First-Class Honours MEarthPhys and has experience as a Tutor & Demonstrator in mathematics, programming, volcanology, and seismology. Previously, she worked as a Research Assistant on catastrophic rock failure and interned to improve hybrid learning strategies. She completed her secondary education in Spain with a 9.7/10 grade and spent an exchange year in London.

🔬 Research Interests

🌋 Granular Flow Rheology – Understanding the dynamics of unsteady shear flows in pyroclastic density currents
💻 High-Performance Computing – Numerical simulations using MFIX-DEM, ParaView, COMSOL Multiphysics
🌍 Volcanic Hazard Assessment – Improving the boundary conditions of large-scale volcanic models
🧱 Rock Mechanics & Failure – Investigating microcrack evolution in deforming porous rocks

🏆 Awards & Grants

🏅 Overseas Research Visit & Conference Fund – E4DTP (2023) (Cities on Volcanoes 12, Guatemala)
🏅 12th SAGES Small Grant – SAGES (2023) (Cities on Volcanoes 12, Guatemala)
🏅 Small EPS Grant – University of Edinburgh (2023) (Cities on Volcanoes 12, Guatemala)
🏅 Certificate of Achievement – University of Edinburgh (2023) (Top Student in Earth Science Masters)
🏅 Small EPS Grant – University of Edinburgh (2022) (Summer Research Internship)

📚 Publication & Conferences

📄 Elijas-Parra et al. (2025). Controls on shear band orientation in deforming porous rocks: insights from improved microcrack segmentation method. 🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsg.2025.105404

🎤 Tectonic Studies Group (TSG) Annual Meeting (Burlington House, London, 2022)

Quantifying crack network evolution during failure of a porous rock

🎤 Cities on Volcanoes 12 (CoV12) (Antigua, Guatemala, 2022)

Basal flow rheology of pyroclastic density currents: Implications for large-scale modeling in volcanic hazard assessment

Prof. Dr. Jean Pierre Ibar | Polymers physics | Best Researcher Award

Aurrera Center of Dissipative Interactions, spain.

Prof. Dr. Jean Pierre Ibar, a distinguished figure in polymer science, currently serves as the Director of the Aurrera Center of Dissipative Interactions (ACDI) at the University of the Basque Country in Donostia-San Sebastian, Euskadi, Spain. With a Ph.D. from MIT and extensive experience in academia and industry, Dr. Ibar has co-founded three start-ups and co-directed research in the amorphous state of matter. His groundbreaking work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Chaudron Medal and Fulbright Awards. With over 300 patents and 1,500 peer-reviewed papers, he continues to shape the future of polymer science and dissipative systems.

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Education 🎓

Prof. Dr. Jean Pierre Ibar’s academic journey is distinguished by his advanced studies in polymer physics. He earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Physics from MIT, one of the world’s most prestigious institutions, where he developed a strong foundation in material science and polymer dynamics. Prior to this, he completed his Master’s Degree at the Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielle (ESPCI) in Paris, France, a leading French institution renowned for its excellence in physical chemistry and industrial applications. His education laid the groundwork for his groundbreaking contributions to the study of dissipative systems and the amorphous state of matter.

Experience 💼

Prof. Dr. Jean Pierre Ibar currently serves as the Director of the Aurrera Center of Dissipative Interactions at the University of the Basque Country in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, where he leads cutting-edge research on polymer dynamics and dissipative systems. With an extensive teaching career, he has held professorial positions at various renowned universities, contributing significantly to the academic landscape in the field of polymer physics. In addition to his academic career, Prof. Ibar is also an accomplished entrepreneur, having co-founded and directed research at three start-ups focused on innovative material science and polymer technologies. His expertise and knowledge have earned him invitations to lecture at prestigious institutions such as Cambridge University, Sichuan University, and the Russian Academy of Sciences, further solidifying his reputation as a global leader in his field.

Research Interests 🔬

Prof. Ibar's research focuses on the physics of dissipative systems, with a special interest in the amorphous state of matter, polymer dynamics, rheology, and material processing. His work challenges traditional paradigms in polymer physics by introducing new models such as the Grain-Field Statistics of Open Dissipative Systems. He is currently working on books detailing dual-phase rheology and polymer crystallization.

Awards 🏆

Chaudron Medal (French Academy of Sciences, 1971)

Fulbright Scholarships (2007, 2008)

Marie-Curie Actions IRG Award (2009-2013)

Ikerbasque Fellowship (2011)

Invited Professorship, University of Sichuan, China (2014)

Best Innovative Product Award, ANVAR (1983)

Selected Publications 📚

Control of Polymer Properties by Melt Vibration Technology: A Review

Journal: Polymer Engineering & Science, 38(1), 1-20 (1998)

Cited by: 300

A review on how melt vibration technology influences polymer properties.

Fundamentals of Thermal Stimulated Current and Relaxation Map Analysis

Publisher: SLP Press (1993)

Cited by: 81

A comprehensive study on thermal stimulated current and its applications in polymer analysis.

Method and Apparatus to Control Viscosity of Molten Plastics Prior to a Molding Operation

Patent: US Patent 6,210,030 (2001)

Cited by: 57

Describes a method and apparatus for controlling viscosity in molten plastics before molding.

Process for the Preparation of Polymers from Polymer Slurries

Patent: US Patent 7,304,125 (2007)

Cited by: 50

Focuses on a process for preparing polymers from polymer slurries.

Method and Apparatus for Transforming the Physical Characteristics of a Material by Controlling the Influence of Rheological Parameters

Patent: US Patent Pending

Discusses transforming material properties using rheological parameter control.