PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION
University of Maine: Zoology, B.A., 1965
University of Massachusetts : Zoology, Ph.D., 1970
University of California- Davis: Genetics, Postdoctoral, 1970-1973

FUNDING
Professor Sawyer has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Education. Presently he has funds from the Department of Education and the GK-12 Program of the National Science Foundation.

TEACHING
Professor Sawyer has taught Introductory Biology (BIOL 101 & 102), Anatomy & Physiology (BIOL 242), Developmental Biology (BIOL 505) and Pro-seminars in the Honors College. However, his favorite class is Histology (BIOL 530), which he first taught as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He also had an opportunity to develop and teach a Comparative Histology class while he was a Research Anatomist at the University of California, Davis.

PERSONAL STATEMENT
Rumor has it that no matter what the topic of a conversation or who the audience I will always make sure that there is some discussion of feathers, birds, alligators or even dinosaurs. Perhaps I exaggerate, but I have observed that many of my colleagues at USC exhibit a similar passion for their scholarly endeavors, and rightly so. In most cases, decades and seemingly lifetimes have been invested in pursuing and creating new knowledge in a particular discipline. This enthusiasm carries over into the courses these faculty members teach, and it is this enthusiasm that attracts undergraduate and graduate students to join them in their scholarly pursuits. This year our University admitted its largest and most talented freshman class. Why are these students choosing USC? I like to believe it is because of the Faculty!