Jennifer West

Jennifer L. West completed her Bachelor of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992, followed by a Ph.D. from the University of Texas, Austin in 1996. After obtaining her doctoral degree, she joined the faculty at Rice University. During her time at Rice, she held positions as an associate professor in bioengineering and chemical engineering. Her research focused on gene therapy, biomaterials, and tissue engineering. In 2000, she co-founded Nanospectra Biosciences in Houston, a company dedicated to developing a cancer therapy utilizing gold nanoparticles to destroy tumor cells. This work was recognized internationally, and she was listed by MIT Technology Review as one of the 100 most innovative young scientists and engineers worldwide in 2003. She also served as chair of the Department of Bioengineering and as the Isabel C. Cameron Professor of Bioengineering and director of Rice’s Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering.

In 2013, Jennifer West transitioned to Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering as the Fitzpatrick Family University Distinguished Professor of Engineering, with appointments in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering and materials science. Her research continued to advance, notably with developments in destroying soft-tissue tumors using gold-covered nanoshells and creating hydrogel coatings for controlled drug release. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2016 for her contributions to photothermal and theranostic therapies and bioabsorbed scaffolds for tissue regeneration. In 2017, she was also inducted into the National Academy of Inventors. Her work has resulted in 20 patents, which have been licensed by ten different companies. Nanospectra Biosciences, a company she co-founded, is currently conducting human clinical trials for a cancer therapy she invented.

Currently, Jennifer L. West serves as the 14th Dean of the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. Her leadership priorities include enhancing the school’s research trajectory, expanding experiential learning opportunities for students, and fostering clear pathways to entrepreneurship for both faculty and students. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, including positions in the National Academy of Medicine and appointments as an HHMI Professor. Her published works exceed 200 scholarly articles, demonstrating her consistent impact on the fields of biomaterials, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering.