Travis W. Sawyer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Optical Sciences
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Assistant Professor, Health Sciences Design
Research Assistant Professor, Medicine
Faculty Affiliate, Applied Mathematics
Member, UArizona Cancer Center
Member, BIO5 Institute
Travis Sawyer, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Optical Sciences and Health Sciences. His laboratory focuses on research to develop new imaging techniques and technologies for the early detection of cancers, including ovarian, skin, esophageal and stomach cancers. He also has extensive experience in animal studies and optical design and has collaborated with the University of Cambridge to develop endoscopes using hyperspectral and phase imaging. Previously, Dr. Sawyer has developed visual recognition software for detailed image capture, enabling discoveries in astronomy, art preservation and the biomedical sciences.
Dr. Sawyer received his BS in Optical Sciences from UArizona (2017) before attending the University of Cambridge to receive his MPhil in Physics (2018). He then returned to UArizona to pursue his PhD in Optical Sciences (2021), where he focused on developing novel imaging techniques for ovarian cancer detection. After graduating, he joined the faculty at the College of Optical Sciences to establish the Biomedical Optics and Optical Measurement Lab. Dr. Sawyer is also a strong supporter of science outreach, regularly organizing and supporting efforts to educate the community and encourage careers in Science.