People in the Project: MSc Carlos Emilio Montalvo Lara

Role in Ngā Ngaru Wakapuke
Carlos is a PhD student in the School of Geography, Environment, and Earth Sciences at Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, working for the Ngā Ngaru Wakapuke RA4 'The Foundations'. He has experience in science communication and studying Earth’s structure. His research focuses on examining the Transition Zone between the Alpine Fault and the Hikurangi Subduction Zone through the region's microseismicity.

Born and raised in Mexico, Carlos is driven by his passion for Earth sciences and nature. Outside of academics, he enjoys playing football, cooking, hiking, and nearly every outdoor sport.

Research background
Formerly a physicist, Carlos completed his MSc in Earth Sciences at the Geophysics Institute of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in November 2024. Both his undergraduate and master’s projects focused on studying the Earth’s interior using different methodologies. Before coming to New Zealand, he worked as an intern seismic data analyst for the National Seismological Service of Mexico (Servicio Sismológico Nacional) while studying the Earth’s crust beneath the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Current research
Carlos is currently focusing his research on the use of Machine Learning and data from a recently deployed seismic network in Marlborough (MORIA) to study the Transition Zone seismicity. His final objective is to create a 3D fault model to gain a better understanding of how faults interact with each other.

Publications
Montalvo-Lara, C. E., Perez-Campos, X., & Montalvo-Arrieta, J. C. (2025). Spatial distribution of the Mohorövicic discontinuity beneath northeastern Mexico based on receiver functions from acceleration and velocity records. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 154, 105379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2025.105379