Professor Ana Ferreira

Ana Ferreira is a Professor in Seismology in the Department of Earth Sciences.

When did you take up this position? What was your position beforehand?

After obtaining my diploma in physics from University of Lisbon, I received my DPhil from Oxford University in 2005. Following postdoctoral work at Oxford, in 2007 I took a lectureship at the University of East Anglia, UK, where I established and led a new research group in global seismology. 

In September 2013 I moved to UCL as a lecturer in seismology, becoming professor in 2021. In my research work I use big seismic data sets and advanced computational modelling to study the Earth's deep interior and earthquake source processes. 

My goal is to understand the processes controlling the dynamic behaviour of our planet from the surface to the Earth's core.

Tell us about your work at UCL - how do you spend your days, and what makes your role different to similar positions elsewhere?

Similar to most academics, my days are fully busy and fast-paced with administration, research and teaching. 

I may jump from a Zoom meeting with colleagues in Korea, USA and Italy about our latest results imaging the Earth's deep interior into a face-to-face meeting with my department's head of teaching to discuss syllabus issues, followed by a tutoring meeting with an undergraduate student about module choices or with a demonstrator to test geophysics equipment for an undergraduate field course.

I am currently leading a very exciting project funded by the European Research Council - the UPFLOW project - focused on understanding upward motions in the Earth's deep interior. 

UPFLOW gave me the opportunity to lead a first of its kind scientific marine expedition in the mid-Atlantic Ocean deploying 50 seismic instruments in the seafloor for over a year. 

Being at sea for over 6 weeks in a research vessel was an absolutely thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience (and we also got excellent data, with the rare feat of achieving a higher quality than expected!). 

Being primarily a computational seismologist when I joined UCL back in 2013, I would never dream that I would ever lead such kind of expedition. Thus, this is a perfect example of how UCL can provide a nurturing environment to venture into new adventurous research realms.

What are some of your favourite things about working at UCL? How have you found it different to previous jobs?

I moved to UCL for its vibrant research environment, and I didn’t get it wrong! I really get stimulated by scientific discussions with academic colleagues as well as with my brilliant research group and students. 

At UCL I work and interact with colleagues not only in Earth Sciences but also in Astrophysics – exchanging knowledge and methods on imaging and inverse problems which is a greatly enriching experience, and might have been more difficult in less flexible places.

Can you tell us about any upcoming research, or future projects that you're looking forward to working on?

I am keen to expand on the ongoing UPFLOW project and contribute to a large-scale geophysical observation programme of the whole Atlantic Ocean to understand deep Earth processes, notably beneath the oceans. 

UPFLOW’s data turned out to be – somewhat unexpectedly - also highly valuable for a range of environmental studies including deep sea noise analyses, investigations of whale migration patterns, volcanic tremors, atmospheric storms, ocean currents, etc.

This opens new opportunities for exciting innovative interdisciplinary work, including with marine biologists, oceanographers and climate scientists. I look forward for new discoveries and feel lucky and honoured by all these opportunities.

Have you always been based in London? If not, when did you move here, and how did you find adapting to living in London?

I fell in love with London when I first visited it in 2000 and since then I've always wanted to live here. Hence, I was very excited to move to London in 2013, even if my initial years in the city involved regular travelling to France for personal reasons, which was greatly facilitated by having the Eurostar so close to UCL! 

I live in NE London in a very friendly and diverse neighbourhood with a real sense of community, which made me and my family feel welcome from the outset.

Finally, tell us about your non-work life. Do you have any hobbies, or favourite places to go in London?

I love galleries and museums and have set the very ambitious goal with my kids of visiting all London's museums (not sure we will ever fully accomplish it, though!). UCL's Grant Museum is one of our favourites! 

I also enjoy walking in the Epping Forest and recently greatly enjoyed the magic carpet of bluebells in Wanstead Park. 

Finally, outdoor swimming is one of my great passions and you may find me in Hampstead Heath's ponds occasionally, although I wished I could do it more regularly.