About me

Bridge between science and application

Jerome Faillettaz

Dr. sc. nat. and engineer

Expert in mountain hazards


I dedicate my research on failure in natural heterogeneous media, especially on gravity-driven instabilities (i.e., snow avalanches, glacier break-off, landslide, rockfall).

I developed a pluri-disciplinary approach (experimental, analytical, statistical, numerical) to better understand the processes leading to the onset of natural instabilities.

The aim of my work is to better assess natural slope stability and to develop efficient early warning methods based on seismic monitoring.


Professional experience

2021 -

Senior Researcher (Natural Hazards)

    ⇁ Conception of Early Warning Systems for slope instabilities,
    ⇁ Conception of numerical software to predict instability
    ⇁ Monitoring of unstable slope
    ⇁ Micro-seimic monitoring for slope stability assessment
2021

Project manager (Glaciological risks)

at RTM, ONF Annecy, France.

    ⇁ Global glaciological risks assessment in the Alps,
      ⇁ accounting for glaciers, rock glaciers, subglacial lakes and rockfalls in permafrost,
    ⇁ Modelling run-out at large scale
2019 -

Consulting (Natural Hazards, glaciology)

    ⇁ Glaciology,
    ⇁ Conception of Early Warning Systems for slope instabilities,
    ⇁ Conception of numerical software to predict instability
    ⇁ Monitoring of unstable slope
    ⇁ Micro-seimic monitoring for slope stability assessment
2013 - 2019

Senior researcher / lecturer

at 3G, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.

    ⇁ Passive seismic measurements/analysis in relation to slope instabilities (snow avalanches, permafrost, rockfalls, glacier break-off, landslides),
    ⇁ High mountain permafrost, rockfalls, rock glacier,
    ⇁ Conception of Early Warning Systems for slope instabilities,
2012-2013

Senior researcher

at STEP - Soil and Terrestrial Environmental Physics Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.

    ⇁ Landslide, rupture in heterogeneous material
    ⇁ Conception and programming of numerical model for failure of heterogeneous material (Fiber Bundle Model).
2006 - 2012

Senior researcher

at VAW - Lab. of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology in the division "Glaciology". Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.

    ⇁ Glacier stability, rupture in natural media,
    ⇁ Application to prediction of glacier break-off,
    ⇁ Conception and programming of numerical modeling of failure,
    ⇁ cryoseismic, statistical analysis, complex system theory,
    ⇁ field work, field survey,
    ⇁ consulting.
2004 - 2005

Research associate/ lecturer

at LEGI - Lab. Ecoulements Geophysiques et Industriels. Grenoble Institute of Technology, Grenoble, France.

    ⇁ Turbulence,
    ⇁ Teaching: Natural risks, Soil mechanics, Resistance of Materials, programming in C, Solid transport in rivers.

Education

2000 - 2003

Dr. Sc. Nat.

in Earth, Space and Environmental Sciences. at Laboratoire Sol, Solide, Structure (3S), Grenoble, France.
"Slab avalanche release: From a mechanical to a statistical approach"

    ⇁ Snow avalanche release, deterministic and statistical studies of rupture process in snow,
    ⇁ Numerical modeling of failure, fracture mechanics,
    ⇁ Statistical analysis, complex system theory.
    ⇁ Teaching: Natural risks, Soil mechanics, Resistance of Materials, programming in C, Solid transport in rivers.
1999

Engineer's degree, M.Sc.Eng.

in Hydraulics, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ense3, Grenoble, France.

    ⇁ General / soil / fluid mechanics, civil engineering, hydraulics, hydrology, geology, meteorology.
1999

Master degree of Science, M. Sc.

in Earth Sciences/ Environment, Ense3, Grenoble, France.

    ⇁ Geophysics, seismology, mechanics, natural hazards