DrLior Suchoy

Research interests: Subduction dynamics, viscoelastic deformation, earthquake processes, geomechanics, numerical modelling, and computational geoscience.

I am a Research Associate in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, where I use advanced numerical modelling to investigate the mechanical behaviour of Earth systems across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. My research focuses on the generation, transfer, storage, and release of stress within the lithosphere and mantle, with the broader goal of understanding the physical processes that govern tectonic deformation, plate motions, and earthquake generation.

My current research examines the role of elasticity and viscoelasticity in subduction systems. Using three-dimensional geodynamic simulations, I investigate how stress and elastic energy accumulate within subducting plates and along plate interfaces, and how these processes contribute to the conditions that produce large megathrust earthquakes. By combining geodynamic modelling with concepts from earthquake mechanics, I aim to bridge the gap between long-timescale mantle and plate dynamics and the shorter-timescale processes associated with seismic deformation and earthquake hazards.

My academic journey began with a dual B.Sc. in Geology and Physics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, followed by an M.Sc. in Marine Geoscience from the University of Haifa, before moving to Imperial College London to undertake a PhD in geodynamics. Throughout my career, I have combined research, teaching, and industry experience, applying computational methods to problems ranging from plate tectonics to rock failure and subsurface energy systems. During my PhD and early postdoctoral work, I investigated the controls on subduction-zone dynamics, including slab geometry, mantle flow, and plate interactions. I subsequently worked on the coupled thermo-mechanical evolution of fractured rocks, studying fracture growth and interaction in the context of geothermal energy, carbon storage, hydrogen storage, and other subsurface energy applications. Together, these research themes reflect my broader interests in geodynamics, tectonophysics, geomechanics, earthquake processes, rheology, and computational Earth science.