Jennifer L West

Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Jennifer West’s research in biomaterials and tissue engineering involves the synthesis, development, and application of novel, biofunctional materials, and the use of biomaterials and engineering approaches to study biological problems. Current projects include the design of ECM-mimetic hydrogel materials, novel microfabrication strategies for biomimetic patterning, and nanoparticle theranostics.

Appointments and Affiliations

  • Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering
  • Adjunct Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
  • Professor of Chemistry
  • Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center

Contact Information

Education

  • Ph.D. University of Texas, Austin, 1996

Research Interests

Biomaterials, nanotechnology and tissue engineering that involves the synthesis, development, and application of novel biofunctional materials, and the use of biomaterials and engineering approaches to study biological problems.

Awards, Honors, and Distinctions

  • President's Circle Lecturer. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. 2017
  • Capers and Marion McDonald Teaching and Research Award. Duke University Pratt School of Engineering. 2016
  • Member. National Academy of Engineering. 2016
  • Clemson Award. Society for Biomaterials. 2015
  • ACS Editors' Choice Manuscript. ACS Journals. 2015
  • Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher in Materials Science. Thomson Reuters. 2014
  • Admiral of the Texas Navy. Governor of Texas. 2012
  • Best Discovery of 2003. Nanotechnology Now. 2012
  • BioHouston's 2009 Women in Science Award. Unknown. 2012
  • CAREER Award. National Science Foundation. 2012
  • Duncan Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Rice University. 2012
  • Excellence in Research Mentorship Award. Rice University. 2012
  • Fellow. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. 2012
  • Fellow. Biomedical Engineering Society. 2012
  • Frank Annunzio Award. Christopher Columbus Foundation. 2012
  • HSEMB Oustanding Young Scientist Award. Unknown. 2012
  • Hershel M. Rich Invention Award. Rice University. 2012
  • Inventor of the Year Award. State Bar of Texas. 2012
  • J. M. Chance Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Rice University. 2012
  • Most Cited Paper. Annual of Biomedical Engineering. 2012
  • Most Highly Cited Papers. NanoLetters. 2012
  • Nanotechnology Researchers of the Year. Small Times Magazine. 2012
  • O'Donnell Award in Engineering. The Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas. 2012
  • Outstanding Faculty Associate. Weiss College, Rice University. 2012
  • Outstanding Research in Drug Delivery Award. Cygnus-CRS. 2012
  • Outstanding Younger Investigator Award. Society for Biomaterials. 2012
  • Parke-Davis Atorvastatin Research Award. Unknown. 2012
  • Quantum Award. National Institute of Health, NIBIB. 2012
  • Samuel Lunden Scholarship. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2012
  • Secretariat Lecturer. American Chemical Society. 2012
  • Tech Review TR 100 Most Innovative Young Scientists. MIT Technology Review. 2012
  • University Fellow. University of Texas. 2012
  • HHMI Professor. Howard Hughes Medical Institute. 2006
  • Fellows. American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. 2005
  • Young Investigator Award. Society for Biomaterials. 2000

Courses Taught

  • BME 221L: Biomaterials
  • EGR 790: Special Topics in Engineering

In the News

Representative Publications

  • Katz, Rachel R., and Jennifer L. West. “Tunable PEG Hydrogels for Discerning Differential Tumor Cell Response to Biomechanical Cues.” Advanced Biology 6, no. 12 (December 2022): e2200084. https://doi.org/10.1002/adbi.202200084.
  • Katz, Rachel R., and Jennifer L. West. “Reductionist Three-Dimensional Tumor Microenvironment Models in Synthetic Hydrogels.” Cancers 14, no. 5 (February 2022): 1225. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14051225.
  • Chapla, Rachel, Joshua A. Hammer, and Jennifer L. West. “Adding Dynamic Biomolecule Signaling to Hydrogel Systems via Tethered Photolabile Cell-Adhesive Proteins.” Acs Biomaterials Science & Engineering 8, no. 1 (January 2022): 208–17. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01181.
  • Marrotte, Eric J., Khari Johnson, Ryan M. Schweller, Rachel Chapla, Brian E. Mace, Daniel T. Laskowitz, and Jennifer L. West. “Induction of Neurogenesis and Angiogenesis in a Rat Hemisection Spinal Cord Injury Model With Combined Neural Stem Cell, Endothelial Progenitor Cell, and Biomimetic Hydrogel Matrix Therapy.” Crit Care Explor 3, no. 6 (June 2021): e0436. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCE.0000000000000436.
  • Abar, Bijan, Alejandro Alonso-Calleja, Alexander Kelly, Cambre Kelly, Ken Gall, and Jennifer L. West. “3D printing of high-strength, porous, elastomeric structures to promote tissue integration of implants.” Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A 109, no. 1 (January 2021): 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.37006.