Mehdi Zare (born September 9, 1968, in Tehran, Iran) is an Iranian engineering seismologist, Full Professor at the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), and an Associate Member of the Geology Division of the Academy of Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He is recognized as one of Iran’s leading earthquake scientists and among the most highly cited Iranian researchers in his field.

Education

• B.Sc. in Geology, University of Tehran
• M.Sc. in Engineering Geology, Tarbiat Modares University
• Ph.D. in Engineering Seismology, Joseph Fourier University (Grenoble), France, 1999; dissertation focused on strong ground motion studies in Iran and attenuation relationships
• HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches), University of Strasbourg, France, 2017

Activities and Works

Academic and Executive Positions

• Full Professor of Engineering Seismology, International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES)
• Vice-President for Research and Technology, IIEES (2007–2013)
• Director, National Center for Earthquake Prediction (2007–2014)
• Head of the Engineering Seismology Department

Research Interests

• Active fault mechanics, particularly the Tehran and Alborz fault systems
• Seismic hazard assessment and earthquake risk zoning
• Numerical analysis and modeling of strong ground motions
• Development of attenuation relationships for Iranian earthquakes
• Earthquake forecasting and short-term probabilistic prediction mapping
• Earthquake relocation and seismicity analysis
• Post-earthquake ground-shaking hazard mapping
• Complex systems analysis in natural hazard prediction
• Land subsidence studies related to excessive groundwater extraction in the Tehran, Varamin, and Shahriar plains
• Hydro-tectonic fault triggering caused by anthropogenic hydrological stresses
• Machine-learning-based earthquake forecasting algorithms
• Earthquake clustering analysis and landslide susceptibility modeling

Achievements and Awards

• Associate Member of the Geology Division, Academy of Sciences of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Recognized among Iran’s highly cited scientists in geosciences and seismology
• Significant contributions to earthquake hazard assessment, seismic risk reduction, and earthquake prediction research in Iran
• Played a key role in advancing engineering seismology and disaster risk management studies in the country