Teaching & Training

Master on Reservoir Geology and Geophysics (by UB, UAB, GEO3BCN-CSIC)

Course on Lithosphere Dynamics and Topography (by GEO3BCN-CSIC):

Daniel Garcia-Castellanos (coordinator), Ivone Jiménez-Munt, Gema Llorens, Mahdi Najafi

Follow this link for the program of the entire Master. Follow this link to find the following resources for the course. Also the computer codes/files.

Augmented Reality SandBox / educational and outreach activities:

https://sites.google.com/site/daniggcc/outreach-divulgacion/ar-sandbox

PhD theses direction

Ongoing

2026-2029 Madhusudan Sharma. U. Barcelona. Advisor: Ivone Jiménez-Munt

2023-2027 Zewen Yang. University of the Chinese Academy of Science. Advisors: Weiming Liu, Daniel Garcia-Castellanos.

2023-2027 Abraham Balaguera U. Barcelona, Advisor: M. Torné, R. Carbonell.

2026-2029 Ariadna Flores. U. Barcelona, Marc Viaplana, Marta Guinau.

Defended (since 2015)

2020-2024 Wentao Zhang. Funding: China Research Council (CSC). GEO3BCN CSIC. 48 k€. Advisors: Ivone Jiménez-Munt, Montserrat Torné. Premio García-Siñeriz 2025.

2020-2026, José Federico Del Pozo Díaz. “Análisis integrado de la Cuenca de Antepaís Varisca (Carbonífero, NO de España)”, Universidad de Oviedo. Advisors: Óscar Antonio Merino Tomé (Universidad de Oviedo) y Jaume Vergés Masip

2020-2024 Yuanchao Yu. Fabric evolution and seismic anisotropy of multiphase rocks, with applications to prediction of Earth’s mantle flow. Funding: China Research Council (CSC). GEO3BCN CSIC. 48 k€. Advisors: Maria-Gema Llorens, Daniel García-Castellanos, Albert Griera (UAB)

2020-2024 Baqin Hao. “Dynamic behaviour of salt rocks: exploring the interplay between deformation, recrystallisation and trace element transport with full-field numerical simulation. Directores: Enrique Gomez Rivas (UB), Maria Gema Llorens y Albert Griera (UAB).

2018-2022 Hanneke Heida. “Reconstructing the topography and water level of the Mediterranean Sea during the Messinian Salinity Crisis”. Within project SaltGiant (ITN Horizon2020 765256). Advisors: D. Garcia-Castellanos, I. Jiménez-Munt.

2016-2021 PhD Kittiphon Boonma ETN network Subitop. Modeling slab tear during subduction. Application to the Gibraltar Arc (W Mediterranean). Defended at University of Barcelona 2021-10-07. Advisors: D. Garcia-Castellanos, I. Jiménez-Munt.

2016-2021 PhD Ángel Valverde. Defended at University of Barcelona 2021-02-10. Numerical modeling of continental collision and intraplate deformation. Application to the Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of North Iberia. Advisors: D. Garcia-Castellanos, I. Jiménez-Munt. Funded through Spanish Gvnmt. project MITE (CGL2014-59516).

2020 Ajay Kumar. Thermal and chemical imaging of the upper mantle anomalies: application to Western Mediterranean. University of Barcelona. Thesis defense:  24/11/2020 advisors: Manel Fernàndez and J. Vergés. 

2020 Mireia Peral. Dynamics of subduction systems with opposite polarity in adjacent segments: application to the Westernmost Mediterranean. University of Barcelona. Thesis defense:  03/06/2020. advisors: Manel Fernàndez and Sergio Zlotnik.

2019 David Cruset. Numerical modeling of continental collision and intraplate deformation. Application to the Cenozoic geodynamic evolution of North Iberia. University of Barcelona. Thesis defense: 12/07/2019 

2015-2018 PhD Chiara Amadori. Univ. Pavia. “3D architecture and evolution of the Po Plain – Northern Adriatic Basin since the Messinian salinity crisis through Pliocene-Pleistocene time”. Currently postdoc researcher at Univ. Pavia. Defended in Pavia 2018-02-22. Advisors: Andrea di Giulio. Coadvisors: D. Garcia-Castellanos, Giovanni toscani.

2011-2017 PhD Mar Moragas. “Multidisciplinary reservoir characterization of mixed sedimentary sequences integrating field examples and numerical modelling. La Popa Basin, High Atlas Basin, and North Iberian basins”. Universitat de Barcelona. Advisor: J. Vergés and E. Playà. 

2011-2016 PhD Jan Globig. “The lithospheric structure of Africa: Mapping crustal and lithospheric thickness using geoid and elevation constraints together with a thermal analysis”. Universitat de Barcelona. Advisor: M. Fernàndez and M. Torné. 

2010-2015 PhD Alberto Carballo. “Geophysical and petrological characterization of the lithospheric mantle in Iberia and North Africa”. University of Barcelona. Advisor: M. Fernàndez and I. Jiménez-Munt. 

2010-2015 PhD Lavinia Tunini. “The Central Asia collision zone: numerical modelling of the lithospheric structure and the present-day kinematics”. University of Barcelona. Advisor: I. Jiménez-Munt and M. Fernàndez. 

Recent Master Theses and BcS reports

2025-2027     Bjørnar Høyland Ulteng. Earth Science Master degree (MSc), University of Bergen. MSc project: Salt tectonics in the Southern North Sea: the interplay between basement involved rifting, intrasalt heterogeinity and salt flow. Dr. Leonardo Muniz Pichel (University of Bergen); Co-supervisors: Prof. Rob Gawthorpe (University of Bergen), Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC). Ongoing

Synne Vignes. Earth Science Master degree (MSc), University of Bergen. MSc project: Salt tectonics in the Southern North Sea: the interplay between basement involved rifting, intrasalt heterogeinity and salt flow. Dr. Leonardo Muniz Pichel (University of Bergen); Co-supervisors: Prof. Rob Gawthorpe (University of Bergen), Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC). Ongoing

2025-2026      Ana Ferrer. Reservoir Geology and Geophysics Master degree (MSc), University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. MSc project: Seismic-scale kinematics and growth history of a Zechstein salt structures in the Southern Permian Basin. Co-supervisors: Dr. Oriol Ferrer (University of Barcelona), Dr. Eloi Carola (University of Barcelona), Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC). Ongoing

Sara Parra  (JAE Intro contract). Reservoir Geology and Geophysics Master degree (MSc), University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona. MSc project: Deciphering reservoir and thermal properties of transitional clastic systems: example from the Bellmunt anticline, South Pyrenean Foreland Basin. Supervisors: David Cruset (GEO3BCN), Ignacio Marzán (IGME), Miguel López Blanco (UB).  Ongoing

2024-2026      Sebastian Ekrem Paulsen. Earth Science Master degree (MSc), University of Bergen. MSc project: The origin, kinematics, and geometry of salt diapirs and minibasins in the UK Central North Sea. Prof. Rob Gawthorpe (University of Bergen); Co-supervisors: Dr. Harya Dwi Nugraha (University of Bergen), Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC). Ongoing

2024-2025      Sara Parra. Geology degree (BSc), Autonomous University of Barcelona. BSc project: Stratigraphic, Petrophysical, and Petrothermal Characterization of the Sant Llorenç del Munt Fan-Delta Complex (Ebro Basin, Spain): Implications for Geothermal Reservoirs in a Foreland Basin. Supervisors: David Cruset (GEO3BCN), Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN), Miguel López Blanco (UB), Miquel Poyatos (UAB).

Ana Ferrer. Geology and Environmental science degree (BSc), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. BSc project: Impact of Salt Tectonics on Basin Development Around the Kallot Diapir (Iran) (“Rol de la tectonica salina en el desenvolupament de les conques adjacents al diapir de Kallot (Iran)”). Supervisor: Dr. Eloi Carola (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) and Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC). 

Miquel Giner. Geology degree (BSc), Universitat Barcelona. BSc project: " Characterization of Triassic alluvial fluvial units as an analogue for CO2 storage" (“Caracterització d’unitats al·luvials fluvials Triàsiques com a anàleg per a emmagatzematge de CO2”). Supervisor: Lluis Valero (Universitat de Barcelona) and Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC). 

2023-2025     Anna Karine Døsen. Earth Science Master degree (MSc), University of Bergen. MSc project: Diapirs and minibasins in the Norwegian Central North Sea: Tectonostratigraphic model for Triassic salt tectonics and its contribution to geo-storage, geo-energy and hydrocarbon systems. Prof. Rob Gawthorpe (University of Bergen); Co-supervisors: Dr. Mar Moragas (GEO3BCN-CSIC), Dr. Oliver B. Duffy (University of Texas).

2025 Codirección del trabajo final de Master “Estimation of the geothermal potential of the Alto Guadiana area (central Spain)” del Sr. Johan Andrés Tibavija Guio, curso 2024-2025, Master en Geología y Geofísica de Reservorios, Universidad de Barcelona. Fecha de lectura: 8 de julio de 2025. Conxi Ayala.

2026 Supervisión y codirección en el GEO3BCN, CSIC, del trabajo ERASMUS+ del Sr. Diogo Costa Varzim, estudiante de la Universidad de Porto, que lleva por título "A Journey into Iberia's Depth: Geometry of Plutons in the Central Pyrenees and Iberian Massif". Conxi Ayala.

2024 Codirección de la beca JAE Intro ICU de la Conexión Geociencias para un Planeta Sostenible titulada “De los combustibles fósiles al calor de la Tierra: caracterización geológica y evaluación del potencial geotérmico de la Cuenca de Cameros”, del Sr. Alejandro Pertuz (16/06/2024–15/12/2024). Conxi Ayala.

Participation in European Training Networks

• H2020 ITN Network SaltGiant (Uncovering the Mediterranean SaltGiant). Spanish PI: D Garcia-Castellanos

• H2020 ITN Network project SUBITOP. Spanish PIs Manel Fernández, D Garcia-Castellanos

• TopoMed. Within the Topo-Europe Eurocores program of the ESF. Started 2008. PI: Rinus Wortel. Spanish PI:  Manel Fernàndez.