Dr Ping Zhang
Ping
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Ph.D. from The Australian National University; M.S. from University of Science and Technology of China; B.S. from Jilin University
email Ping.Zhang@anu.edu.au
link ANU Researcher Portal profile

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About

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University (ANU), where I was also awarded a Ph.D. in March 2023. Prior to my doctoral studies, I obtained my Master of Philosophy and Bachelor of Science degrees in Geophysics in China, awarded by University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Jilin University, respectively. 

My primary research interests lie in structural and observational seismology, specifically focusing on understanding the lithospheric structure and evolution of active arc-continent collisions along convergent plate boundaries (e.g. Indonesia and Timor Leste) and the stable Cratons within the continents (e.g. Yilgarn Craton in West Australia and North China Craton). Both systems pose complexities that the classic modern-style plate tectonics fails to satisfactorily explain. I am dedicating to addressing these outstanding tectonic challenges by not only developing novel seismic imaging methods and integrating multiple seismological data (receiver functions, autocorrelations, surface wave data, and body wave data), but also by complementing them with a wide range of independent observations from geophysics, geology, geodynamics, geochemistry, and petrology. 

APPIONTMENT

2022-present: Postdoctoral Fellow, Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES), Australian National University (ANU), Australia

May-Aug 2024: Visiting Research Fellow, Earthquake Research Institute (ERI), University of Tokyo, Japan

EDUCATION:

2018-2022: Ph.D. in Geophysics, Australian National University (ANU), Australia

Thesis: Understanding the Banda Arc-Continent Collision through 3-D Seismic Imaging

2014-2017: Master of Philosophy in Geophysics, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), China

Thesis:  Receiver Function Imaging and Joint Inversion Method: Theory and Application (in Chinese with English abstract)

2010-2014: Bachelor of Science in Geophysics (Graduate with Honours), Jilin University, China

INVITED TALKS & KEYNOTE SPEAKER for conferences

  • 12/2026 (upcoming): AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, U.S. Title: New Insights into Archean Craton Formation, Reworking, and Stabilization from Seismic Imaging of the Yilgarn Craton Lithosphere with the WA Array. Invited talk.
  • 09/2024: The 5th Southeast Asia Conference on Geophysics. Indonesia. Title: Unravelling enigmatic boundary structures along the Banda arc – Australian Continent collisional zone: insights from passive seismic Imaging. Invited talk (online)
  • 12/2023: AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, U.S. Title: Lithospheric structure of the Archean Yilgarn Craton: new insights from the Southwest Australian Seismic Network (SWAN). Invited talk.
  • 02/2021: Australian Earth Sciences Convention, Australia. Title: Seismic Imaging of the Subducted Australian Continental Margin beneath Timor and Banda Arc Collision Zone. Keynote speaker.

INVITED SCHOOL SEMINARS

  • 2025: Strasbourg Earth & Environment Institute | ITES, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (travel funded)
  • 2024: Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2024: Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) based at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2024: Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China (travel funded)
  • 2024: The Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Resources of China, Hangzhou, China (travel funded)
  • 2024: University of Sciences and Technology of China, Hefei, China (travel funded)
  • 2024: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China (travel funded)
  • 2023: College of Geo-exploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, China (travel funded)
  • 2022: Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Australia

RESEARCH VISITS

  • 05/2024 - 08/2024: Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  • 01/2021 - 06/2021: Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
  • 08/2020 - 12/2020: University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
  • 07/2019 & 12/2019 & 12/2022: California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, U.S.
  • 12/2018 & 12/2019: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, U.S.
  • 11/2018: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, U.S.
  • 03/2016 - 07/2016: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
  • 09/2013: Kangwon National University, Gangwon, South Korea

Affiliations

  Groups

Research interests

My research focuses on unravelling the geophysical record of a range of fundamental tectonic processes that have shaped the Earth’s evolution, primarily through seismic imaging of lithospheric structure. By harnessing new tools and processing methods in seismology, I have improved conventional imaging method such as joint inversion, receiver function anisotropy, ambient noise tomography, and reflective waves extracted from microseism and earthquake data. I am dedicated to addressing outstanding tectonic questions in several regions globally where no instruments or models were available (e.g. Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan). Crucially, I complement seismological observations with cross-disciplinary constraints, including geochemistry and petrology, structural geology, and geodynamics, to reconcile lithospheric structure, composition, deformation and dynamics, as well as their links to surface geology. This results in a holistic understanding of complex tectonic systems across temporal and spatial scales, including arc-continent collision, subduction, magmatism and faulting, as well as ancient cratons and continent evolution.

My ongoing research topics include: 

  • The Archean to Phanerozoic evolution of cratons and margins in Australia and China: the Yilgarn Craton (via WA-Array data) and North China Craton;
  • Arc-continent collision between Banda arc and Australian continent;
  • Volcano and magmatism: Auckland Volcanic Field in New Zealand, the Sunda-Banda volcanic arc in Indonesia, and Mt Fuji in Japan;
  • Fault structure: Alpine Fault in New Zealand;
  • Mantle transition zone beneath SW Japan and SW Australia imaged with converted and reflected waves from microseism and earthquake data;
  • Joint inversion for crustal Vs structure with receiver function, surface wave dispersion, and ZH ratio.

 

Projects

Teaching information

Lecturer at ANU:

Student Supervison and Mentoring at ANU & USTC

  • Putri Ratna (2023, ANU), Master research project at ANU, title: Ambient Noise Tomography in Palu Basin, Indonesia, awarded as HIGH DISTINCTION.
  • Hanxiao Wu (2019-2020, USTC), Master student at USTC. Project: Crustal Vp/Vs model by joint seismological inversion (Paper published in Geophysical Journal International and one poster at 2020 AGU Fall Meeting). Now PhD candidate at Stony Brook University.
  • Junzhu Shen (2017, USTC), Bachelor Thesis at USTC. Title: Exploring Moho sharpness in the North China Craton (One Poster at 2017 AGU Fall Meeting). Now PhD candidate at The Pennsylvania State University.
  • Yan Yang (2016-2019, USTC). Master student at USTC. Project #1: Joint seismological inversion for crustal Vs model in SW China (Paper published in Geophysical Journal International); Project #2: Crustal azimuthal anisotropy in North China Craton using receiver functions (Paper published in Science China: Earth Sciences). PhD candidate at Caltech after graduation. 

Demonstrator (Teaching Assistant) at ANU:

Tutor at USTC:

  • Tutor for Geophysical Inversion (in English, Postgraduate-level) (Semester 2, 2015)

Professional Services:

Organization of workshops/symposia/seminars

  • 2025-2026: Local organising committee for the 19th Symposium of Study of the Earth's Deep Interior (SEDI) 2026, Townsville, QLD, Australia.  
  • 07/2026: Chair & Convenor for Upper Mantle session at SEDI, Townsville, Australia.
  • 07/2023: Chair of the session: Cratons and craton margins: structure, composition, and tectonic history for the 6th International Archean Symposium (6IAS), Perth, WA, Australia.
  • 06/2023: Convener and chair of session: The Composition and Dynamics of the Australian Upper Mantle session at the 2023 Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC), Perth, WA, Australia.
  • 05/2023: Session Convener for Brian Kennett's Symposium, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
  • 12/2022: Co-convener and chair of the session: Unusual Subduction Zone, AGU Fall Meeting, Chicago, U.S.
  • 2022 - 2023: Convener and chair of the Geophysics Seminars (weekly) at the Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT Australia.

Reviewer responsibilities

  • 2018-present: Reviewer for <Geophysics Research Letter>, <Tectonics>, <Geology>, <Geophysics Journal International>, <Earth and Planetary Science Letters>, <Precambrian Research>, <Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors> and <Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research> journals
  • 2026: External examiner, master's research thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
  • 2022: Outstanding Student Poster Award (OSPA) judge for the AGU Fall Meeting

Academic community & membership

  • Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU)
  • American Geophysics Union (AGU)
  • Seismological Society of America (SSA)
  • Geoscience Society of New Zealand (GSNZ)
  • Chinese Geoscience Union (CGU)
  • Subduction Zone in four Dimensions (SZ4D)
  • Study of the Earth's Deep Interior (SEDI)
  • The Network for Early Career Teachers, Academics and Researchers (NECTAR)
  • Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences in Australiasia (WOMEESA)
  • Earth Science Women's Network (ESWN)

Location

J2.246

Publications

ORCID ID     Google Scholar

Manuscript in review/revision

1. Zhang, P.*, Miller M.S., Wang X., Townend, J. & Michailos, K.. Seismic structure of the Alpine Fault near a persistent earthquake gate (Haast, New Zealand), Science Advances (under review).

Published peer-reviewed journal articles

20. Miller, M.S., Zhang, P., Pickle, R.C., Waldien, T.S., Roeske, S.M., (2026) Razor sharp edge - the Yakutat slab dissecting south-central Alaska.The Seismic Record. 6(2), 230–238, https://doi.org/10.1785/0320250055.

19. Pickle, R.C., Miller, M.S., Allen, T., Mousavi, S., Zhang, P., Yuan, H., Murdie, R.E. (2026) A new high-resolution seismic catalog for Southwestern Australia (2000-2025) and analysis of long-term clustering behavior. Seismological Research Letters. 97, 805–821, https://doi.org/10.1785/0220250308. 

18. Zhang P.*, Miller, M.S., Magrini, F., Pickle, R., Yuan H.Y., Murdie, R.E., Gessner, K., & Quentin de Gromard R., (2025) Insights into the Archean to Phanerozoic evolution of southwest Australia from seismic ambient noise tomography. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 130, e2025JB031274, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JB031274. 

17. Gauntlett M., Eakin, C.M., Bishoyi, N., Zhang P., O’Donnell, J.P., Murdie, R., Miller, M.S., Pickle, R., & Ebrahimi, R. (2025) Seismic anisotropy analysis across Southwestern Australia reveals ENE-trending lithospheric architecture linked to Archean Yilgarn Craton formation. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 26, e2025GC012589, https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012589. 

16. Zhang P., Kiwamu, N., Fang H.J.*, (2025) Reflective body waves extracted from one month of global microseisms illuminate the perturbed mantle transition zone beneath SW Japan. Geophysical Research Letters. 52(10), e2025GL116419. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL116419.

15. Sudholz, Z.J. *, Zhang, P.* (co-first and co-corresponding author), Eakin, C.M., Yaxley, G.M., Jaques, A.L., Frigo, C., Czarnota, K. (2024) Ancient craton-wide mid-lithosphere discontinuity controlled by pargasite channels. Geophysical Research Letters. 51(9), e2024GL108433. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL108433.

14. Zhang, P., Miller MS, Magrini F, Pickle R, Yuan H, (2024) 3D Vs model of the Earth’s crust in southwest Western Australia from ambient noise tomography, in South West Australia Network: passive seismic imaging and hazard analysis compiled by RE Murdie and MS Miller: Geological Survey of Western Australia, Report 255, p. 36-41. ISBN: 978-1-74168-048-5.

13. Bi, H., Fang, H.J., Zhang, P., Sudholz, Z., Miller, M.S., Yu, P., Gao, R., (2023) Seismic evidence for a transcrustal magmatic pathway contributing to critical metal deposits. Geophysical Research Letters. 51(1), e2023GL104935, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL104935.

12. Zhang, P.*, Miller, M.S., Eakin, C.M. (2022) Unraveling an enigmatic boundary along the Sunda-Banda volcanic arc. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 599, 117860, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117860.

11. Zhang, P.*, Miller, M.S., Schulte-Pelkum, V., (2022) Tectonic Fabric in the Banda Arc-Australian Continent Collisional Zone Imaged by Teleseismic Receiver Functions. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 23(6), e2021GC010262, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GC010262.

10. ​​​​Jiang C.X., Zhang, P., White M.C.A, Pickle R., Miller, M.S. (2022) A detailed earthquake catalogue for Banda arc – Australian plate collision zone using machine-learning phase picker and an automated workflow. The Seismic Record. 2(1), 1-10, doi: https://doi.org/10.1785/0320210041.

9. Zhang, P.*, Miller, M.S. (2021) Seismic Imaging of the Subducted Australian Continental Margin Beneath Timor and the Banda Arc Collision Zone. Geophysical Research Letters. 48(4), e2020GL089632. doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089632.

8. Miller, M.S., Zhang, P., Dahlquist M.P., West, A.J., Beck, T.W., Harris, C.W. (2021) Inherited lithospheric structures control arc-continent collisional heterogeneity. Geology. 49(6), 652-656. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G48246.1.

7. Zhang P., Yao, H.J., Chen, L., Fang, L.H., Wu, Y., & Feng, J.K. (2019) Moho depth variations from receiver function imaging in the Northeastern North China Craton and its tectonic implications. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JB016122.

6. Zhang P., Yao H.J., (2017) Stepwise joint inversion of surface wave dispersion, ZH ratio and receiver function data for 1-D crustal shear wave velocity structure. Earthquake Science, 1-10, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11589-017-0197-0.

5. Yang, Y., Yao, H.J., Wu, H.X., Zhang, P., & Wang, M.M. (2019). A new crustal shear-velocity model in Southwest China from joint seismological inversion and its implications for regional crustal dynamics. Geophysical Journal International. 220(2), 1379-1393. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggz514.

4. Yang, Y., Yao, H.J., Zhang, P., & Chen, L. (2018). Crustal azimuthal anisotropy in the trans-North China orogen and adjacent regions from receiver functions. Science China Earth Sciences, 1-11, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9209-9.

3. Zhang C., Yao H.J., Liu Q.Y., Zhang P., Yuan Y., Feng J.K., Fang L.H., (2018) Linear array ambient noise adjoint tomography reveals intense crust-mantle interactions in North China Craton. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123(1), 368-383, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JB015019.

2. Qiao, L., Yao, H.J., Lai, Y. C., Huang, B. S., & Zhang, P., (2018) Crustal structure of southwest China and northern Vietnam from ambient noise tomography: implication for the large‐scale material transport model in SE Tibet. Tectonics, doi: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018TC004957.

1. Feng J.K., Yao H.J., Poli P., Fang L.H., Wu Y., Zhang P., (2017). Depth variations of 410 km and 660 km discontinuities in Eastern North China Craton revealed by ambient noise interferometry. Geophysical Research Letters, 44(16), 8323-8335, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074263.

Published open-access Earth Models:

4. Alaska_ANT_CrustVs_2026 — Miller & Zhang et al. TSR (2026), https://doi.org/10.17611/dp/emc.2026.alaskaantcrustvs.1

3. SWAustralia_ANT_CrustVs1.0 — Zhang et al. JGR (2025), https://doi.org/10.17611/dp/emc.2026.swaustraliaantcrustvs1.1 

2. Banda_ANT_CrustVs_2020 — Zhang & Miller, GRL (2021), https://doi.org/10.17611/dp/emc.2020.bandaantcvs.1

1. NorthChinaCraton_PRF_Moho1.0 — Zhang et al. JGR (2019), https://doi.org/10.17611/dp/emc.2026.nchinacratonprfmoho.1

Select Conference Presentations of Ongoing Projects

Topic #1: Imaging Fault Zone (Alpine Fault) and Volcano (Auckland Volcanic Field) Structures in New Zealand

2026.04: Poster, SSA annual meeting 2026, Pasadena, U.S.

2025.11: GSNZ (Geoscience Society of New Zealand) Annual Conference 2025, Auckland, New Zealand

2024.04: Poster, SSA annual meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.

Topic #2: Archean to Phanerozoic evolution of Southwest Australia

2025.10: Poster, Geophysics Poster Showcase, Canberra, Australia

2025.09: Oral, IASPEI/IAGA Joint Scientific Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal

2023.07: Oral, 6th International Archean Symposium 2023, Perth, Australia

2023.06: Oral, 2023 Australian Earth Sciences Convention, Perth, Australia

2023.05.09: Poster, Kennett’s Symposium, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

2022.12.13: Poster, 2022 AGU Fall Meeting, Chicago U.S. & online everywhere

Topic #3: Seismic Imaging in the Banda Arc-Australian Continent Collisional Zone

2024.09: Oral, The 5th Southeast Asian Conference on Geophysics, Indonesia

2023.12: Oral, 2023 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, U.S.

2022.12.14: Poster, 2022 AGU Fall Meeting, Chicago U.S. & online everywhere

2020.12.15: Oral, 2020 AGU Fall Meeting, Online Everywhere

2020.03.16: Poster, Congested Subduction Zone Workshop, Canberra, Australia

2019.12.10: Oral, 2019 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, U.S.

2019.10.08: Poster, SAGE/GAGE workshop, Portland, U.S.

2019.09.16: Poster, Passive Imaging Summer School, Cargese, France

Topic #4: Receiver function imaging in the North China Craton

2016.12.15: Poster, 2016 AGU Fall Meeting 2016, San Francisco, USA.

2016.10.15: Oral, 2016 CGU Annual Meeting, Beijing, China.

Topic #5: Joint seismological inversion with surface wave data, ZH ratio, and receiver function for 1-D crustal Vs and Vp/Vs models

2016.12.14: Oral, 2016 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA.

2016.08.05: Oral, AOGS 13th Annual Meeting, Beijing, China.

2015.10.13: Oral (in Chinese), 2015 CGU Annual Meeting, Beijing, China.

2015.09.13: Oral, SEG-SUM (Stanford & USTC & MIT) Summer Workshop, Beijing, China.