Shayla Sawyer

Shayla Sawyer is a Professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where she also directs the Mercer XLab. Her research focuses on nano-bio optoelectronics, exploring hybrid inorganic/organic materials for advanced optoelectronic devices and sensors. Notably, her work integrates nanomaterial synthesis from bacteria with sensor development for applications in environmental and biomedical fields.

Dr. Sawyer earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from RPI (2006) and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Hampton University (2003), where she was a Merit Scholar and standout basketball player. Her industry experience includes roles at GE Global Research and National Security Technologies Laboratory.

Her teaching innovations, particularly in remote learning during the pandemic, have been nationally recognized. In 2020, she received RPI’s highest teaching honor, the Trustee’s Outstanding Teacher Award, for her Electric Circuits course. She pioneered the Omega Design Labs, integrating engineering principles with global challenges like sustainability.

Dr. Sawyer’s research has produced 47 indexed publications, emphasizing ultraviolet photodetectors, hybrid perovskite materials, and biofilm-mediated nanomaterial synthesis. Her work bridges fundamental science and practical applications, aiming to enhance sensor sensitivity in qualitative measurement domains.

• Awards: Trustee’s Award (2020), DHS Fellowship, Female Student Athlete of the Year (2000-2003).
• Labs: Mercer XLab, Omega Design Labs.
• Key Focus Areas: Optoelectronics, sensor fabrication, bio-inspired nanomaterials.