Student Highlight: Meet Micaela Largent

Micaela is a second-year PhD student, advised by Professor Norman Abrahamson. She received her MS and BS degrees from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Q: What got you interested in geosystems?

The 2010 earthquake in Haiti. As one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history, the event highlighted the profound influence that infrastructure design and construction can have on societal outcomes during natural disasters.

Q: What areas of geo-engineering are you interested in, and why?

My interest is in seismic risk and ground motion estimation. Seismic risk analyses seek to better quantify potential consequences and identify the level of risk inherited, enabling more informed decision-making rather than relying on overly conservative designs that can make achieving safety appear unattainable. Ground motion estimation forms the foundation of seismic analysis; improving the characterization of seismic demand allows for more accurate assessments of structural capacity and performance. Together, these research areas contribute to the development of safer and more resilient infrastructure.

Q: What research work are you participating in, and why is it important to you?

My research focuses on advancing ground motion modeling and seismic hazard analyses. I am currently developing a methodology to integrate dependent events, specifically aftershocks, into hazard assessments while maintaining computational efficiency. By refining these models, I aim to provide the precision necessary to better protect critical infrastructure and, ultimately, minimize the loss of life and property during seismic events and subsequent aftershocks.

Q: Who else would your research be important to, and why?

By creating a computationally efficient framework, my work helps engineers move beyond the binary of ignoring or overestimating aftershock risk, allowing for more realistic seismic risk assessments in high-activity regions. This work will directly impact infrastructure in seismically active regions by improving the quantification of seismic demand, enabling more informed and effective design decisions

While pursuing her degree, Micaela also works as a part-time consultant in a private geotechnical engineering firm, which “takes up a significant amount of my extra curricular time but allows me to keep building project management and communication skills outside of academia. Outside of school/work you can usually find me in the mountains with my husband and my dog either skiing or camping.”

Micaela aims to “leverage the expertise gained at UC Berkeley to elevate industry standards and bridge the gap between academic research and engineering practice. My goal is to drive the adoption of more rigorous seismic hazard methodologies, ultimately fostering the development of more resilient infrastructure and safer communities.”