Assistant Professor
Departamento de Ingeniería Estructural y Geotécnica (DIEG)
Grupo de Geociencias UC
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), Chile
Education
2020-2023: PhD Earth and Environmental Sciences (Seismology), ISTerre, Université Grenoble Alpes, France
2017-2019: MSc. in Geophysics, Universidad de Chile, Chile
2011-2015: Geomatics Engineering, Universidad de
Concepción, Chile
I'm an assistant profesor at Pontifica Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile). As a seismologist, my research focuses on the use of geophysical data to understand tectonic processes such as earthquakes and fault mechanics, volcanoes, glaciers and their impact on society. For this, I use massive volumes of data and cutting-edge processing and analysis techniques (e.g., template matching, machine learning). Before joining ISTerre in France for my PhD, I did my MSc. in Chile, where I studied intermediate depth earthquakes in the subduction zone (e.g., seismic source modelling, aftershock efficiency). Previously, I studied Geomatics Engineering, where I focused on geodesy and satellite altimetry. In addition, I have both scientific and professional field experience, as I worked in engineering for some time (e.g., GNSS campaigns, Seismic Network Deployment, Local Positioning System, Levelling, etc)
*In preparation, submitted or under review
[17*] Navarrete M., Delgado, F., Ruiz, S., Báez, J.C., Potin, B., Cabrera, L. & Alarcón, A Long Unrest (2007-2025) at Laguna del Maule: Linking Strain Field and Seismicity From GNSS and Seismic Data.
[16*] Cabrera, L., Ruiz, S., Fardella, L., Parra, C., and Pailamilla, V. (202X). 8.5+ Years of Persistent Intraplate Seismicity Beneath Santiago City, Chile.
[15*] Pastén-Araya, F., Morales-Yáñez, C., Rivera, E., Cabrera, L., Ruiz, S., & Salazar, P. (202X). Rheological Contrast Traps and Controls Mw 6.8 Michilla Intraslab Aftershocks.
[14*] Cabrera, L., Casanova, E., Torres, R., Ruiz, S., Rojas, V., Minowa, M., Wiens, D., Casassa, G., & Rifo, A. (202X). Localized Calving Sensitivity at Perito Moreno Glacier (Patagonia) Revealed by Seismic Template Matching and Time-Lapse Images.
[13*] Cabrera, L., Poli, P., Ruiz, S., Poli, P., Montecino, H., Piña-Valdés, J., Caballero, E. and Sánchez-Reyes, H. (202X). Signature of an Immediate Foreshock Preceding the Mw 6.9 2017 Valparaiso (Chile) Earthquake.
[12*] Cabrera, L., Poli, P. & Campillo, M., (202X) Exploring a Dense Seismic Catalog Using Unsupervised Learning (Clustering): 8 Years of Seismicity in Central Italy (2009-2016).
[11] Jia, Z., Mao, M., Flores, M. C., Barra, S., Ruiz, S., Potin, B., Becker, T., Moreno, M., , Baez, J. C., Ceroni, D., Cabrera, L. (2025). Deep intra-slab rupture and mechanism transition of the 2024 Mw 7.4 Calama earthquake. Nature Communications, 16, 8140. Link
[10] Ardid, A., Dempsey, D., Caudron, C., Cronin, S., Kennedy, B., Girona, T., Roman, D., Miller, C., Potter, S., Lamb, O., Martanto, A., Cubuk, Y., Cabrera, L., Ruiz, S., Contreras-Arratia, R., Pacheco, J., Mora, M., and De Angelis, S. (2025). Ergodic Seismic Precursors and Transfer Learning for Short Term Eruption Forecasting at Data Scarce Volcanoes. Nature Communications, 16, 1758. Link
[9] Cabrera, L., Ardid, A., Melchor, I., Ruiz, S., Symmes-Lopetegui, B., Báez, J.C., Delgado, F., Martinez-Yáñez, P., Dempsey, D. & Cronin, S. (2024). Eruption Forecasting Model for Copahue Volcano (Southern Andes) Using Seismic Data and Machine Learning: A Joint Interpretation with Geodetic Data (GNSS and InSAR). Seismological Research Letters, 95 (5): 2595–2610. Link
[8] Cabrera, L. & Poli, P. (2023). A Struggled Rupture Initiation of the Mw 6.1 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. Geophysical Research Letters, 50, e2022GL102337. Link
[7] Herrera, C., Pastén-Araya, F., Cabrera, L., Potin, B., Rivera, E., Ruiz, S., Madariaga, R. & Contreras-Reyes, E. (2023). Rupture properties of the 2020 Mw 6.8 Calama (northern Chile) intraslab earthquake. Comparison with similar intraslab events in the region, Geophysical Journal International, ggac434. Link
[6] Cabrera, L., Poli, P., & Frank, W. B. (2022). Tracking the spatio‐temporal evolution of foreshocks preceding the Mw 6.1 2009 L’Aquila Earthquake. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, e2021JB023888. Link
[5] Pasten-Araya, F., Potin, B., Azúa, K., Aden-Antoniów, F., Sáez, M., Ruiz, S., Cabrera, L., Ampuero, J.P., Nocquet, J.M., Duputel, Z., & Rivera, L. (2022). Along‐Dip Segmentation of the Slip Behavior and Rheology of the Copiapó Ridge Subducted in North‐Central Chile. Geophysical Research Letters, e2021GL095471. Link
[4] Poli, P., Cabrera, L., Flores, M.C., Báez, J.C., Ammirati, J.B., Vásquez, J. & Ruiz, S. (2022). Volcanic origin of a long‐lived swarm in the Central Bransfield Basin, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, e2021GL095447. Link
[3] Cabrera, L., Ruiz, S., Poli, P., Contreras-Reyes, E., Osses, A., & Mancini, R. (2021). Northern Chile intermediate-depth earthquakes controlled by plate hydration. Geophysical Journal International, 226(1), 78-90. Link
[2] Ruiz, S., Ammirati, J. B., Leyton, F., Cabrera, L., Potin, B., & Madariaga, R. (2019). The January 2019 (Mw 6.7) Coquimbo earthquake: insights from a seismic sequence within the Nazca plate. Seismological Research Letters, 90(5), 1836-1843. Link
[1] Montecino, H. D., Ferreira, V. G., Cuevas, A., Cabrera, L., Báez, J. C. S., & De Freitas, S. R. (2017). Vertical deformation and sea level changes in the coast of Chile by satellite altimetry and tide gauges. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 38(24), 7551-7565. Link
Positions:
2024 Jul - Present: Assistant Professor, DIEG, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile), Chile
2023 Mar - 2024 Jun: Researcher at the Seismic Risk Program (PRS), of the Universidad de Chile, Chile
2023 Mar - 2023 Dec: Visiting researcher at Department of Geodetic Sciences and Geomatic, U. de Concepción, Chile
2020 Feb - 2023 Feb: PhD Student at the Institut des Sciences de la Terre (ISTerre), Université Grenoble Alpes, France
Teaching Experience:
2024 July - Present: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: General Geophysics (ICE2630), Geophysical Methods (I.
2024 Mar - June: Professor of the graduate course Data Science for Geosciences (GF7000), Universidad de Chile.
2021, 2022, 2023: Professor of the Diploma in Applied Research and Innovation (Duoc UC).
2016 Sep - 2018 Dec: Assistant Professor, Duoc UC Institute
2018 Mar - 2019 Dec: Teaching Assistant, Universidad de Chile (Seismology, Theoretical Seismology and Mathematical Methods for Physicists, Postgraduate Diploma in Seismology)
2014 Mar - 2015 Dec: Teaching Assistant, Universidad de Concepción (Geodesy I and II, Numerical Methods for Calculus)
Projects:
2025-2029, Fondecyt Regular: Decoding the Interplay between the Subduction Seismic Cycle and Continental Faulting in Chile (co-PI).
2024-2027, Fondecyt Postdoctorado 2024 (PI, declined).
Profesional Experience:
2020 - Present: Founder and consultant for the startup 128 Hz SPA (Geophysical exploration services and engineering)
2016 Aug - 2017 Feb: Cartographic Analyst, Instituto Geográfico Militar (IGM)
2016 Feb - 2016 Jul: Field Geomatics Engineer, Padecasa S.A.
Editorial Services
Reviewer for AGU Advances, Geophysical Research Letters (GRL), Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (JGR), Nature Communications, Communications Earth & Environment (CEE, nature), SN Applied Sciences, Journal of South American Earth Sciences (JSAES), Seismological Research Letters (SRL), Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (BSSA).
Field Work Experience:
2018-2019: Broadband seismic network deployment and maintenance in northern Chile [5].
2017: Geodetic campaign to estimate vertical deflection using high accuracy LPS+GNSS [DuocUC Project].
2016: Local Positioning System (Total Station), GNSS (Static, Kinematic, RTK) and Levelling for engineering purposes.
Research Visits
2024 (Sep-Oct): Massachusetts Institute of Technology, EAPS, Cambridge, USA.
2023 (Mar): Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut des sciences de la Terre, Grenoble, France.
2023 (Oct): Università Degli Studi Di Padova, Geoscienze, Padova, Italy.
2023 (Mar): Università Degli Studi Di Padova, Geoscienze, Padova, Italy.
2022 (Sep): Università Degli Studi Di Padova, Geoscienze, Padova, Italy.
2022 (April): Massachusetts Institute of Technology, EAPS, Cambridge, USA.
Awards:
2024: 100 Líderes Jóvenes de Chile (El Mercurio y UAI)
2024: Research Travel Grant SZ4D US and Chile Exchange Program.
2023: Travel and registration grant to attend the Cargèse 2023 School on Subduction Zone Processes.
2019: Internship Grant, Universidad de Chile - Institut des sciences de la Terre (ISTerre), Grenoble
2018: "Higher Teaching Quality" Award, Duoc UC Institute
2017: Chilean Master Degree Fellowship - ANID
2015: "Universidad de Concepción Award", best student of the generation.
Academic Activities
Organizer of the Solid Earth Seminar of the Department of Geophysics, U. Chile (2023-2024)
Organizer of the AndesNet Scientific Discussion Meetings (2023-2024)
Organizer of the weekly "Seismology Seminars" at ISTerre (2021-2022)
Organizer and convener of the "GeoCharlasT3" talks project (2020)
Professional Memberships
American Geophysical Union, Seismological Society of America, European Geosciences Union, SZ4D, AndesNet.