[1] Wortel subsequently wanted to study geology and had a strong interest in the physical aspects of the field.
[2] In 1980 Wortel obtained his PhD at Utrecht University under N.J. (Nico) Vlaar with a thesis titled: Age-dependent subduction of oceanic lithosphere.
[1] After his studies Wortel worked as scientic employee and later associate professor of theoretical geophysics at his alma mater.
He was chair of the board of directors of the Netherlands Research Centre for Integrated Solid Earth Science.
[1][2][3] The research of Wortel has focused on physical aspects of plate tectonics, especially the geophyisical development of the Mediterranean Sea area.
[5][6] He has also performed research into the dynamics and deformation of the lithosphere, seismic energy release and tectonic processes along convergent plate boundaries.
[11] Wortel won the 2000 Stephan Mueller Medal of the European Geophysical Society, in "recognition of his fundamental contributions to modelling of subduction zone dynamics".