Dr. Jianming Zhang | Seismic Tomography and Inversions | Best Researcher Award

Postdoc at Ocean University of China

Jianming Zhang is an emerging scholar in the field of geophysics, specializing in seismic modeling and inversion. With a strong background in computational geosciences, he has made notable contributions to wave-equation-based tomography and anisotropic seismic data analysis. Zhang has participated in a variety of research projects and has been recognized for the high impact of his scientific publications in both Chinese and international journals. His research emphasizes method development, numerical implementation, and field application, reflecting both theoretical depth and practical significance.

Profile

ORCID

ResearchGate

Education

Zhang began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Geophysics from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), where he graduated in 2019 with an outstanding thesis on 3D envelope inversion independent of the seismic source wavelet. He later pursued a direct-entry PhD program at Tongji University, focusing on seismic tomography methods based on the Eikonal equation. His doctoral research explores advanced computational strategies to improve travel-time accuracy and inversion stability in vertically transverse isotropic (VTI) media. Throughout his academic career, he has demonstrated a deep interest in the mathematical and physical underpinnings of seismic imaging technologies.

Experience

During his PhD at Tongji University, Zhang has actively engaged in collaborative research across academic and industrial geophysics projects. He has presented at major international conferences such as the EAGE Annual Conference, IMAGE (SEG-AAPG), and the Asia Pacific Meeting on Near Surface Geoscience. As first author or co-author, Zhang has published extensively on topics including adjoint-state tomography, fast-sweeping Eikonal solvers, and anisotropic inversion methods. His experience spans algorithm development, data processing, high-performance computing, and real-data application, equipping him with a comprehensive skill set in geophysical inversion.

Research Interest

Zhang’s research interests lie primarily in geophysical modeling and inversion, particularly in the domains of seismic tomography, wave-equation modeling, and full waveform inversion. His work often incorporates anisotropy, especially VTI media, and addresses both transmission and reflection wavefields. He has a keen focus on adjoint-state methods, Eikonal-based fast marching algorithms, and inversion sensitivity analysis. He is also proficient in high-performance computing and scientific programming in C++, Matlab, Python, and CUDA, enabling him to scale complex algorithms for large-scale field data. These capabilities position him at the intersection of geophysics and computational science.

Awards

Among his distinctions, Zhang received the Wiley Top Downloaded Article Award in 2023 for a publication on joint travel-time tomography, reflecting the practical importance and widespread interest in his methodological innovations. He has also served as a peer reviewer for several top-tier journals including Geophysics, Geophysical Journal International, and Geophysical Prospecting. His active involvement in academic societies such as SEG and EAGE demonstrates his commitment to the advancement of geophysical research.

Publication

Zhang’s scholarly output includes several impactful papers.

1. Zhang J., Dong L., Liu Y., et al. (2025). Eikonal-equation-based elastic velocities reconstruction for multi-component seismic reflection data. Geophysics, 90(4), U47–U58. – Cited for its methodological innovation in elastic wavefield inversion.

2. Zhang J., Dong L., Huang C. (2024). A shortest-path-aided fast sweeping method to improve the accuracy of travel time calculation in VTI media. Geophysical Prospecting, 72(7), 2761-2771. – Cited for enhancing Eikonal solver accuracy.

3. Zhang J., Dong L., Wang J., et al. (2024). Eikonal-equation-based adjoint-state characteristic reflection traveltime tomography. Geophysics, 89(1), U17–U30. – Applied adjoint theory in seismic reflection analysis.

4. Zhang J., Dong L., Wang J., et al. (2023). Preconditioned transmission + reflection joint traveltime tomography with adjoint-state method. Geophysical Prospecting, 71(2), 171–190. – Award-winning paper with high downloads and field validation.

5. Zhang J., Dong L., Wang J., Wang Y. (2023). Illumination compensation for adjoint-state first-arrival traveltime tomography in VTI media. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 211, 104964. – Cited for handling illumination bias in anisotropic inversion.

6. Zhang J., Dong L., Wang J., Wang Y. (2022). Sensitivity kernel analysis and inversion strategy for multi-parameter traveltime inversion in VTI media. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 65(10): 4028–4046. – Addressed parameter coupling in multi-variable inversion.

7. Dong L., Zhang J., Han P. (2021). Improved first-arrival traveltime tomography based on the adjoint-state method. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 64(3): 982–992. – Early foundation of Zhang’s involvement in adjoint-state seismic imaging.

Conclusion

Zhang Jianming exemplifies the qualities of a forward-looking geophysicist: innovative, analytically rigorous, and actively engaged with the scientific community. His research on seismic wave propagation, inversion theory, and numerical algorithms has not only enriched academic understanding but also contributed to practical advancements in subsurface imaging. With a growing list of publications, international presentations, and collaborative projects, Zhang continues to shape the evolving landscape of computational geophysics and remains a promising contributor to future scientific developments.