Sieh's principal research interest is earthquakegeology, which uses geological layers and landforms to understand the geometries of active faults, the earthquakes they generate, and the crustal structure their movements produce. His early work on the San Andreas Fault led to the discovery of how often and how regularly it produces large earthquakes in southern California.[1]
In 2009, Sieh became the director of Nanyang Technological University's Earth Observatory.[3] He is the first holder of the AXA-NTU Chair on Natural Hazards in Southeast Asia[4] established in 2012.
"The Earth in Turmoil: Earthquakes and Volcanos and Their Impact on Humankind" with Simon LeVay. W. H. Freeman & Sons (1998) ISBN0-7167-3151-7
"Living on an Active Earth: Perspectives on Earthquake Science" as part of the Committee on the Science of Earthquakes, National Research Council. National Academies Press (2003) ISBN0-309-06562-3