W. Gregory Sawyer’s efforts in tribology and biotribology have focused on experimental and theoretical studies involving interfacial dynamics during direct contact shear. During his career, he has developed instrumentation to study the evolution of these interfaces and gather a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms leading to durability, dynamicity, and low friction. Sawyer has developed tribological materials and approaches for diverse application areas, including: space, high temperature, cryogenic temperatures, electrical contacts, fluoropolymer systems, hydrogels, and biological surfaces.
Sawyer was born in rural Virginia and received his Bachelor of Science (1994), Master of Science (1996) and Doctorate (1999) in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. As a student Sawyer worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a part of the Mars Rover design team. The challenges faced during the design of the Mars Rover and the need to operate in the unique environment of Mars inspired Sawyer to focus his research in the field of tribology. Following his doctorate, Sawyer joined the faculty at the University of Florida, building a tribology laboratory that worked across disciplines on a variety of projects from nanomaterials for space to the biology of the ocular surface.
In 2013, Sawyer used the tools developed in tribology to establish a center for cancer engineering. The goal of this center was to develop precise 3D miniature tumors and the systems need to maintain viability and function, incorporate advanced in situ imaging, mechanically interact with the tumor, manipulate and measure the tumor microenvironment, track immune cell motion and activity, perform drug testing, and make quantitative measurements of cell signaling dynamics. Sawyer joined Moffitt Cancer Center in 2023 as Chief Bioengineering Officer and chair of the Department of Bioengineering, a first-of-its-kind department for a U.S. NCI-Designated comprehensive cancer center.
A few of Sawyer’s honors including being a member of the National Academy of Inventors, a Fellow of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, and a UF Distinguished Teaching Scholar. He holds more than 20 U.S. patents, has authored over 200 scientific publications, and has been cited over 17,000 times. Teaching continues to be an important part of his career, having mentored dozens of doctoral students, many of whom are now faculty members and researchers working at the interfaces between engineering, science, and biomedicine.
Therefore, Prof. W. Gregory Sawyer is a worthy winner of the 2023 Tribology Gold Medal.