Education
1988 – I. Javakishvili Tbilisi State University, Master of Science; 1995 – M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, Ph.D.

Employment
2010 – Head of Cector of Seismology, Seismic hazard and Disaster Risks;
2012 – Invited professor at Tbilisi State University;
2015- Invited professor at Agricultural University of Georgia;
2012 – chief scientist M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics;
2008  Senior scientific researcher Institute of Geophysics in Karlsruh;
2012 – Reasercher in TUBITAK, Turkey;
1997-2011 – Senior scientific researcher M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics;
1999 – Senior scientific researcher Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine/London;
2005-2006 – Secretary of dissertation committee M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics.

Education
1969-72 University of London, BSc;
1973-78 University of California, MA, PhD;
1991 Chartered Geologist (CGeol).

Employment
1978-85 Humboldt State University, California, Lecture;
1986-90 University of Edinburgh, Research Fellow;
1990-96 West London Institute of Higher Education, Subject Leader in Geology;
1996-07 Brunel University, Lecturer;
2007-present University of Portsmouth, Senior Lecturer.

Research
My chief research focus has been and remains in applied geology and geological hazards, particularly within active plate boundary settings.  Such settings have developed my skills in assessing neotectonic signatures and palaeoseismological records, both in surface features and subsurface exploratory trench exposures.  Similarly, hazards from active volcanic centres in these regions, particularly from volcano geodynamics and flank instability, form a related research focus. Such active geological phenomena also produce secondary geological hazards, notably seismically-triggered landslides, and comprise a further element in my research expertise.  Field experience relevant to neotectonics and palaeoseismology has been gained in California and the Basin and Range, New Zealand, Kamchatka, the Tien Shan mountains of central Asia, the Himalayan foothills of India, Sicily, Crete, eastern Turkey and Iceland. Experience in volcano dynamics and hazards has been gained through studies of Mt Etna, Stromboli, El Hierro and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, and volcanoes in Chile and Iceland.  Landsliding, and lacustrine deposits from landslide-dammed palaeolakes related to active seismic zones, have been studied along the San Andreas fault in Californai and the Talas-Fergana fault in Kyrgyzstan.  Other related experience relevant to the proposed project includes assessing landslide-generated tsunami potential in Dominica and El Hierro.

Current Research Activities
2013-14 Assessing human exposure to carcinogenic fibrous zeolites in the environment. University of Portsmouth Research Development Fund. Principal Investigator.

International collaborators
– Dr Andrey Korjenkov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow;
– Dr Mahar Lagmay, University of the Philippines;
– Dr Jean Roger, University of the West Indies, Guadelupe;
– Dr Pantelis Soupios, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece;
– Prof Alessandro Tibaldi, University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy;
– Dr Dan Tormey, Entrix, Los Angeles, USA;

Recent publications relevant to this project
1. Teeuw, R.M., Rust, D., Solana, C., Dewdney, C., Robertson, R.  2009. Large coastal landslides and tsunami hazards in the Caribbean. EOS, American Geophysical Union, 90 (10), 80-81.
2. Kozhurin, A., Acocella, V., Kyle, P.R., Lagmay, F.M., Melekestsev, I.V., Ponomareva, V., Rust, D., Tibaldi, A., Tunesi, A., Corazzato, C., Rovida, A., Sakharov, A., Tengonciang, A., and Uy, H. 2006. Trenching studies of active faults in Kamchatka, eastern Russia: palaeoseismic, tectonic and hazard implications. Tectonophysics, 417, 285-304.
3. Rust, D. 2005. Palaeoseismology in steep terrain: the Big Bend of the San Andreas fault, Transverse Ranges, California. Tectonophysics, Special Volume on Palaeoseismology, 408,193-205.

Education
Mine surveying engineer (Diploma), Mining Faculty, Mine Surveying Department, Kazakh Polytechnic  Institute, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 1993.

Employment
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Chief Surveyor Enterprise Management, 2013 – Present;
– M. Dulatov Kostanay Engineering and Economic University, Consultant of engineering and technology  faculty, 2014 – Present;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Chief engineer for mining operations of technical department, 2012 –  2013;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», I category engineer of project department, 2010 – 2012;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», I category engineer of technical department , 2009 – 2010;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Surveyor of technical department, 2004 – 2009;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Surveyor of mining laboratory, 2002 –  2004;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Surveyor for overburden operations sector, 1997 – 2002;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Surveyor for opencast bench face site pre-splitting, 1995 – 1997;
– JSC «Kostanays minerals», Stacking surveyor, 1993 – 1995.

Past research:
Mine survey; survey control of dumping methods; setting opencast bench face site in limited position; survey control over conducting mining operations in open cuts; test count of scope (underground  survey); Project documentation development; Development of technical task; Management mine surveys; Monitoring the implementation, checking the results of work; Implementation of underground survey at the enterprise; Implementation of innovations technologies in mine surveying (geodetic equipment); Monitoring mining activity; Development Project of internal stacking JSC ” Kostanay minerals “- 2005 – 2007.

Current research:
Setting monitoring stations in open cuts to control stability of opencast bench face; Dzhetygarinsk deposits of chrysotile fibers (Kostanay) – 2013 – 2014; Participation in developing measures for  Industrial safety on mining operations; preventing mined rock fall in open cast.

Fields of specialization:
Participation in the construction and reconstruction projects – industrial design project; assessment of stability of natural and artificial slopes; planning of mitigation measures to improve safety of workers and settlements.

Education
1990 Ph.D. (Environmental) Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton;
1986 M.S. Civil Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton;
1984 B.S. Civil Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton.

Employment
– Interim Chair – May 2013 to Present and August 2009 to August 2010;
– Professor – August 2009 to Present;
– Associate Professor – September 1996 to August 2009;
– Assistant Professor – July 1990 through August 1996;
– Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Coordinator Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiative – October 2008 to May 2009;
– Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295
– Visiting Associate Professor – September 2005 through November 2005 Department of Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina;
– Visiting Associate Professor – January 1999 through December 1999 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware;
– Summer Research Faculty Visitor – June 1991 to August 1991
Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831.

Research
Dr. Gierke’s graduate work and the first decade of his faculty career  focused research on techniques for removing and treating volatile organic contaminants in soils and groundwater. His research approaches included computer modeling and laboratory and field studies. This work was funded US Federal Agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and Department of Agriculture. In the most recent decade, his research has focused on water availability and natural hazard mitigation, primarily in developing countries. This work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and is conducted in collaboration with universities and hazard agencies in countries such as Ecuador, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The research activities include computer modeling, field studies, and remote sensing.

Current Research Activities
1) “Professional Development for Teachers to Incorporate Place-Based and Culturally Centered Earth System Investigation in Pre-College Curricula at Native American Community Schools” Michigan Space Grant Consortium, $7500, May 2014-April 2015.
2) “Increasing Native American Involvement in Geosciences through Interdisciplinary Community-Based Student Investigations,” Michigan Space Grant Consortium, $5000, May 2013-April 2014.
(renewed for an additional $5000 for 2014-15)
3) “Remote Sensing for Hazard Mitigation and Resource Protection in Pacific Latin America Project,” National Science Foundation Partnerships for International Research and Education, $2,544,000,
September 2005 – December 2013. Although the project recently concluded from a budgetary perspective, formally one collaboration with Prof. J. F. Cruz at the University of El Salvador-FMP continues through a U.S. National Science Foundation-USAID funding program for Partnerships to Enhance Engagement in Research (PEER). The project funding is for the international partner and the project title is, “Demonstrating the integration of ground-based monitoring and satellite remote sensing for forecasting landslides and flooding hazards in volcanic terrains.”
4) Participating Faculty in INVOGE, a partnership with Université Blaise Pascal – Clermont-Ferrand II (France), University of Milan-Bicocca, and University at Buffalo. International collaborators: Prof.  Alessandro Tibaldi (UMB) and Benjamin van Wyk de Vries (UBP).

Recent publications relevant to this project
1. Smith, D.M., T. Oommen, L.J. Bowman, J.S. Gierke, S.J. Vitton, “Assessment of Rainfall  Induced Landslides on the Northern Flank of San Vicente Volcano in Central El Salvador,”  Natural Hazards, revised and resubmitted.
2. Bruning, J.N., J.S. Gierke, and A.L. Maclean, “An Approach to Lineament Analysis for  Groundwater Exploration in Nicaragua,” Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 77(5)  509-519, 2011.
3. Rios-Sanchez, M., J.S. Gierke, and A.L. Maclean, “Utilizing Digital Image Processing  Techniques to Identify and Characterize Fracture Patterns in the Quito, Ecuador Aquifer  System,” International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, under revision.

Honours
– 2013 Diploma de Reconocimiento, La Universidad de El Salvador Facultad Multidisciplinaria  Paracentral, Por su contribución al desarrolo científico y académico de la Facultad  Multidisciplinaria Paracentral, especfícamente en el diseño del Proyecto de Investigación,  denominado: Demonstración de la Intecración del Monitoreo Insitu y la Teletección por Satélite  para la Predicción de Deslizamientos e Inundaciones en Terrenos Volcánicos.
– 2012 John I. Davidson President’s Award for Practical Papers, 3rd Place, for paper published in  Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing;
– 2009 Editorial Board for Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
– 2007 Presidents Council State Universities of Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year;
– 2004 Associate Editor for Ground Water Monitoring Remediation, National Ground Water Association;
– 2004 Editor’s Citation for Excellence for Refereeing in Water resources Research, American  Geophysical Union;
– 1992 U.S. Dept. of Energy Environmental Restoration & Waste Management Distinguished Junior Faculty Award;

All publications
Summary of Research and Scholarship: More than USD$6.5M since 1991 as PI and co-PI. 38 peerreviewed  works (papers, monographs, book chapters, etc.) and 22 conference proceedings papers. hindex
= 13.

Professional Memberships: Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Michigan (Lic. No.  6201039135), Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors, American
Geophysical Union, National Ground Water Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, Society  for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

Education
Post-PhD in Seismology, Institute of Geology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Azerbaijan, 2014;
PhD in Seismology, Institute of Geology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan, 1998-2004;
Fellowship, International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, Japan, 2002;
Fellowship, University of Texas at Austin, USA 1997-1998;
Msc, Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, mining engineer-geophysicist, 1996.

Employment
Employers, positions, and dates Head of International Relations Office, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, 2013-Present;
Leading seismologist, Institute of Geology, 2010-present;
Senior seismologist, Institute of Geology, 2005-2010;
Geophysicist, State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic, 1996-1997.

Research
Past researches involved the study of seismology of Absheron peninsula and Baku city, with special emphasis on the modelling of peak ground acceleration, seismic intensity; studying state of stress.
Major experience is related to the seismic monitoring and on active faults, including the focal mechanism solutions; study of the relationships of mud volcano eruption with seismicity in the region.
Fields of specialization: seismic hazard techniques (PSHA & DSHA) and seismic risk.

Current Research Activities
Visiting Professor at University of Milan-Bicocca, Italy, 2012, 2013;
General-Secretary of National Committee for IUGG, 2010-present;
Workshop Participant, the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, 2005, 2013;
Deputy-Director of National Data Center (CTBTO), 2008-present;
Visiting Researcher DAAD (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), 2007 (DAAD Foundation);
Visiting Researcher at University of Geneva (Switzerland), 2005 (Swiss Cooperation Agency);
Visiting Researcher, GFZ, Potsdam, Germany, 2004.

International collaborators:
– Prof. Tamaz Chelidze, Georgian Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi (Georgia);
– Dr. Fumio Kaneko, OYO Corporation, Tokyo (Japan);
– Dr. Robert Reilinger, Massachusets Institute of Technology, Boston (USA);
– Dr. Birgit Muller, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe (Germany);
– Prof. Jaime Gil Aluja, Royal Academy of Economics and Finance, Madrid (Spain);
– Prof. Alessandro Tibaldi, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan (Italy).

Publications relevant to this project
1. Babayev, G., Ismail-Zadeh, A., and Le Mouël, J.-L., 2010. Scenario-based earthquake hazard and risk  assessment for Baku (Azerbaijan). Nat. Hazards Earth Sys. Sci., 10, 2697-2712.
2. Telesca, L., Babayev, G., Kadirov, F., 2012. Temporal clustering of the seismicity of the Absheron- Prebalkhan region in the Caspian Sea area, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 12, 3279-3285.
3. Babayev G., Tibaldi A., Bonali F., Kadirov F., 2013. Evaluation of earthquake-induced strain in  promoting mud eruptions: the case of Shamakhi–Gobustan–Absheron areas, Azerbaijan, Natural  hazards 72 (2), 789-808.

Honours
– 2012, Cariplo Foundation (Italy);
– 2013, Science Development Foundation (Azerbaijan).

All publications
Papers on peer reviewed international journals (with IF): 16; Proceedings: 10; Abstracts: 12; Other  national publications: 17.

NATO Collaborative Linkage Grant – Project CLG 982957

Project Coordinator:
Federico Pasquaré Mariotto, Insubria University, Italy

Other Principal Investigators:
Avtandil Okrostsvaridze, Georgian Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi, Georgia
Bejan Tutberidze, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Daniel Tormey, ENTRIX Inc., Ventura, California, USA
Salih Bayraktutan, Ataturk University, Ankara, Turkey

Predicting and minimizing the impact of possible natural hazards to strategic pipelines carrying energy from the Caspian Sea through the Caucasian region is of paramount importance to ensure the steady supply of energy to European countries. The cooperative Georgian-Turkish-Italian-U.S. project “Volcanic Hazards and Countermeasures for Georgian Section of Caspian Pipelines” was aimed at providing an essential understanding and assessment of the volcanic and related geohazards threatening the Georgian section of the strategic Caspian oil and gas pipelines within the recent Javakheti plateau, and developing mitigation and protection measures against these natural hazards. The main objectives of this project were to establish a scientific cooperation between the researchers from different countries, and to augment and enhance interdisciplinary analysis of geological, structural, neotectonic, volcanological, petrological, radiometric and geochemical data already existing for the active Abul-Samsari volcanic range (belonging to the Javakheti plateau), and new data to be obtained during the project. The hazard assessment and protective strategies developed in the course of the research may be applicable to other areas of recent volcanism where oil and gas pipelines are to be designed and constructed.