Derek Sawyer

Derek Sawyer is a Professor and Associate Director for Administration in the Department of Earth Sciences at The Ohio State University, serving as Earth Sciences Transfer Credit Coordinator. He leads the Marine Geology and Geohazards Laboratory, focusing on sediment transport, natural hazards (submarine landslides, tsunamis), and subsurface stress analysis using advanced field methods and numerical modeling. His expertise spans marine geology, geophysics, and energy-related geoscience.

Education: Ph.D. in Geology (2010, University of Texas at Austin), M.S. (2006, Penn State University), B.S. (2002, Eckerd College). Sawyer has extensive experience in marine expeditions, including roles with the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) as a shipboard scientist and Science Evaluation Panel member. He teaches courses on sedimentation, seismology, coastal geology, and energy-environmental systems.

Research emphasizes submarine landslide mechanics, gas hydrate systems, and seafloor stability. Notable contributions include studies on Japan Trench paleoseismology, Gulf of Mexico sediment strength, and submarine hazard mitigation. Active in fieldwork using sonar mapping, subbottom profiling, and drone technology, his work bridges geology, geophysics, and environmental science.

Collaborative projects include IODP expeditions and seismic interpretations of continental margin processes. His lab integrates field data with numerical models to address geohazard risks and sedimentary processes. Current investigations explore gas hydrate reservoirs, landslide-induced deformation, and subduction zone dynamics.