Internship | Can mining influence tectonic earthquakes?

This internship focuses on understanding whether more than a century of coal mining and groundwater withdrawal influenced the timing of the 1992 Roermond earthquake, one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in the Netherlands and in Northwestern Europe. The topic has direct scientific and societal relevance: understanding how human activities affect stresses in the Earth's crust can help improve our knowledge of earthquake hazards and subsurface management.

You will work with our team at the Geological Survey of the Netherlands on the challenge of quantifying how mining activities may have changed stresses on a major geological fault before the earthquake occurred. By combining geological, hydrogeological, geomechanical and geophysical data, you will contribute to research that advances our understanding of interactions between human activities and natural tectonic processes.

You will be part of a multidisciplinary research environment where curiosity is encouraged, and ideas are welcomed. You will have the opportunity to develop expertise in geosciences, numerical modelling, and earthquake mechanics and deepening your understanding of the topic by attending meetings with an expert team tackling the after-mining effects of the coal mining activities in the south-Limburg district.

During this internship, you will investigate whether historical coal mining and mine dewatering in the Lower Rhine Graben produced stress changes that may have influenced the occurrence of the 1992 Roermond earthquake.

You will work at the intersection of geology, hydrogeology, geomechanics and seismology to reconstruct the history of mining and groundwater extraction in the Lower Rhine Graben and assess how these human activities may have altered stresses in the subsurface. The project combines literature research, geological data analysis, GIS mapping and quantitative geomechanical modelling.

The project is structured in several phases. First, you will reconstruct the history of coal extraction, mine closure, groundwater pumping and mine dewatering in the Dutch and German coalfields. For this, you will compile analyze spatial datasets describing fault geometry, mining extent, coal production, groundwater extraction and water-level changes through time and tectonic information on the Lower Rhine Graben and the Peel Boundary Fault using GIS and geological datasets.

In the next phase, you will quantify mining-related stress changes using relatively simple but powerful elastic modelling approaches. This includes calculating stress perturbations caused by mass removal through coal extraction and groundwater withdrawal.

Finally, you will quantify how historical coal mining and groundwater extraction altered subsurface stress conditions in the Lower Rhine Graben by combining geomechanical and poroelastic modelling approaches, ultimately assessing whether these anthropogenic activities could have significantly influenced the timing of the 1992 Roermond earthquake through changes in Coulomb failure stress on the Peel Boundary Fault. These analyses form the core of the MSc thesis and are designed to result in a complete and scientifically valuable graduation project.

Depending on your interests and progress, this last phase can be extended with more advanced analyses, including comparisons with regional tectonic stressing rates or finite-element modelling of the Lower Rhine Graben basin structure.

Throughout the project you will use tools such as:

• Python (NumPy, SciPy, pandas, matplotlib);
• GIS software (QGIS or ArcGIS);
• Geological and hydrogeological databases;
• Numerical modelling tools for stress calculations.

You will translate your findings into geological interpretations, stress models, figures, maps, and ultimately an MSc thesis. There may also be opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

During the internship you will develop skills in:

• Geomechanics;
• Hydrogeology;
• Numerical modelling;
• Scientific programming;
• GIS and spatial analysis;
• Earthquake physics;
• Scientific communication.

You will work within the Geological Survey of the Netherlands and interact with researchers working on induced seismicity, subsurface processes, surface deformation, groundwater systems, and geomechanical modelling. You will further have the opportunity to contribute with your own ideas within the after mining effects team of the Advisory Group for Economic Affairs and Climate.

For this internship, we are looking for a Master's student with a background in Geoscience, Applied Earth Sciences, Geophysics, Hydrogeology, Geological Engineering, Civil Engineering, Physics, or a related quantitative discipline, who has an interest in topics such as earthquakes, fault mechanics, hydrogeology, geomechanics, numerical modelling, or induced seismicity.

It is helpful if you have basic experience with one or more of the following:

• Python or MATLAB;
• GIS software (QGIS or ArcGIS);
• Data analysis and visualization;
• Numerical modelling;
• Geology, geophysics, hydrogeology, or mechanics.

However, prior experience with advanced topics such as finite-element modelling, poroelasticity, Coulomb stress modelling, or earthquake mechanics is not required. The project is intentionally designed so that students can successfully complete the thesis while learning these methods during the internship.

It helps if you bring your curiosity, analytical skills, and willingness to explore complex scientific questions using quantitative methods. In any case, we are happy to support you in developing areas you want to learn more about.

The intended duration of the internship is approximately 6-9 months, depending on university requirements and the scope of the project. The exact duration and focus can also be tailored to your interests and background.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who is excited to investigate a fascinating scientific question:
Can more than a century of coal mining and groundwater withdrawal modify the stress field of the Lower Rhine Graben sufficiently to influence the timing of a tectonic earthquake?

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges.

Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next. You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.

In addition, we offer you:

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
• Personal and dedicated supervision, with focus on your learning objectives, development and study assignment.
• Room to develop: you gain relevant work experience, develop both your subject‑specific and professional skills, and build a valuable network.
• Use of a laptop and the facilities you need to perform your work effectively.
• A monthly internship allowance of € 615 for a full-time internship, for MSc, BSc and vocational education (MBO) students.
• Up to eight hours of leave per internship month for a full-time internship, allowing you to balance your internship with your studies and personal life.
• A contribution towards travel expenses if you are not entitled to a student travel card.
• A free membership to Jong TNO: the network for young colleagues, where you can meet other TNO colleagues and participate in sports activities, professional and personal development activities, and social events such as the annual ski trip.

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.

At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

You can apply for this internship position until the 2nd of September, 2026. After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.

TNO will arrange an appropriate internship agreement. If you have any questions about the content of the internship or the application procedure, you can contact the person listed below.

If you start an internship with us, we will also ask you to provide a Certificate of Conduct (VOG).

Important to know before applying:

• Before the start of the internship, an internship agreement must be signed. For students enrolled at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences, TNO uses the UNL-template, supplemented with several TNO‑specific agreements. For students from foreign educational institutions and MBO (secondary vocational education) programmes, the TNO internship agreement applies. TNO does not sign any other internship agreements.
• Before the start of the internship, the educational institution will need to confirm in writing that:
  1. you are enrolled at the educational institution for the duration of the internship, and;
  2. the internship forms part of your study programme.

The confirmation of educational institution takes place by signing the UNL template or forms prepared by TNO.

• Interns at TNO must have a registered residential address in the Netherlands at the start of the internship. Carrying out internship activities from abroad is not possible.
• Are you an international student? Please note that you must have a BSN (Dutch citizen service number) before the start of your internship. Applying for a BSN can take several weeks, so make sure to start this process well in advance.