Natasha Tiwari is an undergraduate at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Geophysics and Applied Mathematics with a minor in Data Science. As a SCEC SOURCES intern, she is currently working at Verisk Analytics on integrating CyberShake simulations into seismic risk models using the OpenQuake engine. Her work focuses on improving hazard assessment by analyzing rupture directivity, waveguide effects, and 3D basin amplification.

At UC Berkeley, Natasha conducts research on serpentinization and fracture mechanics under Professor Michael Manga. Her project investigates stress-driven cracking in olivine-rich rocks using SEM imaging and image segmentation techniques in Fiji/ImageJ, supported by Python-based orientation analysis. She previously helped with research on a geology research paper examining the paleoclimate and societal impacts of the Mount Etna eruption on the Roman Empire, combining HYSPLIT modeling and historical-climate datasets. The paper is currently in preparation for publication in PNAS.

In addition to her research, Natasha serves as the Treasurer for the Geological Association at Berkeley and volunteers as a test writer and tournament coordinator for Science Olympiad competitions across California. She is passionate about tectonics, crustal deformation, and seismic hazard modeling. Natasha plans to pursue a Ph.D. in geophysics, with long-term goals of conducting research on earthquake forecasting, volcanic processes, and the deep Earth.

SCEC Participation

SCEC Intern (2025)