Jennifer L. West

Jennifer L. West is the Dean of the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science and holds the Saunders Family Professorship in Engineering. She is a dual professor in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Dean West has a 30-year record as a researcher, educator, inventor, and entrepreneur, focusing on biomaterials, nanotechnology, and tissue engineering to address unmet medical needs, particularly in cancer therapy.

Her education includes a B.S. from MIT (1992) and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (1996). Before UVA, she was at Duke University as the Fitzpatrick Family Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Associate Dean for Ph.D. Education.

Research Interests:

• Biomaterials and biosynthesis
• Nanotechnology and tissue engineering
• Cancer therapy through engineered materials

Scientific Awards:

• Member of the National Academy of Medicine (2023)
• Member of the National Academy of Engineering (2016)
• Over 20 patents, including foundational work for Nanospectra Biosciences’ clinical trials in cancer therapy

Grants & Initiatives:

• Leading UVA Engineering’s focus on research, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship
• Recipient of a $900,000 grant for character-building education initiatives

Labs & Teams:

• Developed hydrogel platforms for tissue integration, vascularization, and drug delivery
• Pioneered gold nanoshell-based photothermal cancer therapy