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.

Profile

Google Scholar

🎓 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

Dr. Valentina Prikhodko | Earth and Planetary Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia.

Prof. Valentina Prikhodko is a leading researcher at the Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Pushchino, Russia. With a distinguished career spanning over four decades, she has made significant contributions to soil science, geoscience, and Holocene climate research. Her expertise lies in soil chemistry, organic matter evolution, and the impact of anthropogenic activities on landscapes. Prof. Prikhodko has authored over 240 scientific publications, including 3 monographs and 82 refereed journal articles, and has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Prize for Best Publication in J. Eurasian Soil Science (2013).

Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education

Prof. Valentina Prikhodko earned her PhD in Soil Science from Lomonosov Moscow State University in 1979, specializing in soil chemistry, evolution, and organic matter. She later attained a Doctor of Science (Dr. Sc.) in Soil Science from the same institution in 2004, further solidifying her expertise in soil formation and environmental impact assessment. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Soil Science from Lomonosov Moscow State University between 1968 and 1978, where she developed a strong foundation in geoscience and soil analysis. Her extensive education has been instrumental in shaping her distinguished career in soil research and geoarchaeology.

🧑‍🏫 Experience

Prof. Valentina Prikhodko has had a distinguished career in soil science research, spanning over four decades. Since 2004, she has been serving as a Leading Researcher at the Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, where she focuses on soil chemistry, climate reconstruction, and heavy metal contamination. Before this, she worked as a Senior Researcher (1992–2004) and Researcher (1980–1992) at the same institute, contributing to groundbreaking studies on soil evolution and geoscience. Her early career began as a Minor Researcher (1978–1983), laying the foundation for her extensive expertise. Additionally, she was a Visiting Scientist at the University of California, Davis, USA (1999–2000), where she conducted research under a prestigious Fulbright Award, expanding her international collaborations in soil science and environmental studies.

🔬 Research Interests

Soil Science & Geoscience – Evolution, chemistry, and organic matter in soils

Holocene Climate & Anthropogenic Impact – Soil evolution and climate reconstruction

Geoarchaeological Archives – Analysis of ancient soils for historical landscape studies

Heavy Metal Pollution – Assessing contamination in industrial areas, including China

GIS & Mapping Technologies – Spatial analysis of archaeological sites and soil properties

🏆 Awards & Grants

Prize for Best Publication in J. Eurasian Soil Science (2013)

Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (1997)

Fulbright Award – University of California, Davis (1999–2000)

Grants from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (1995, 1997, 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2020)

Grant RFBR-CSIC, Spain (2009–2010)

Japan-Russia Joint Project № 09-05-92106 (2009–2010)

📚 Selected Publications

1️⃣ Complex Study of Settlements Dating from the Paleolithic to Medieval Period in the Ural Mountains on the Border of Europe and Asia
📖 Geosciences, 2025
👥 Contributors: Valentina Prikhodko, Nikita Savelev, Viacheslav Kotov, Sergey Nikolaev, Evgeny Ruslanov, Михаил Румянцев, Elena Manakhova

2️⃣ Reconstruction of Climate and Landscapes of the Medieval Period on the Basis of Palynological Study of Paleosols Buried under Kurgans and Dendrochronological Data from Altai (South of Western Siberia)
📖 Eurasian Soil Science, 2020
👥 Contributors: M. V. Mikharevich, V. S. Myglan, V. E. Prikhodko

3️⃣ Reconstruction of the Climate of the Medieval Epoch Based on Soil and Geochemical Studies of Kurgans of the Srostki Culture in the South of Western Siberia
📖 Eurasian Soil Science, 2020
👥 Contributors: V. E. Prikhodko, Yu. A. Azarenko, M. R. Shayakhmetov, A. A. Tishkin, V. V. Gorbunov, E. G. Pivovarova

4️⃣ Synlithogenic Evolution of Floodplain Soils in Valleys of Small Rivers in the Trans-Ural Steppe
📖 Eurasian Soil Science, 2019
👥 Contributors: I. V. Ivanov, V. E. Prikhodko, I. V. Zamotaev, D. V. Manakhov, E. Yu. Novenko, P. I. Kalinin, L. M. Markova, A. L. Plaksina

5️⃣ Vegetation and Climate Reconstruction Based on Pollen and Microbial Records Derived from Burial Mounds Soil in Tuva Republic, Central Asia
📖 Quaternary International, 2019
👥 Contributors: Tatiana Blyakharchuk, Valentina Prikhodko, Marina Kilunovskaya, Hong-Chun Li