Victor's research investigates dynamic weakening, a process that can allow small earthquakes to grow into devastating megaquakes. Using supercomputer simulations of the San Andreas Fault, the study explores how stress, fluids, friction, and neighboring fault activity may trigger unexpectedly large earthquakes, improving seismic hazard prediction and understanding of earthquake behavior.

This research investigates earthquake risks associated with underground carbon dioxide storage. By studying seismic activity at the Decatur CO2 storage project, the work improves predictive geological models that account for hidden subsurface structures. The findings aim to make large-scale carbon storage safer, protecting both the climate and nearby communities.

Subduction zones generate earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, yet their behavior varies between regions. This research investigates how water released from subducting plates interacts with surrounding rocks. Using supercomputer simulations, it models hydration-driven cracking and fluid migration, revealing patterns that may influence where earthquakes and volcanic activity occur.

This talk explains how precise timekeeping underpins technologies like GPS and how atomic clocks achieve extreme accuracy using atomic oscillations. The research explores a new “active atomic clock” where atoms generate their own light, enabling even greater precision. Improved clocks could advance navigation, physics research, and our understanding of the universe.