Department of Biology

Education:

• Ph.D., Physiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA, Thesis Mentor: Shyama Masilamani, Ph.D., 2007 – 2011
• B.S., Biology, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, USA, 2004 – 2007

Professional Experience:

• Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University, Department of Biology, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, USA, Cardiorenal Physiology, 2020 – Present
• Assistant Professor, Georgetown University, Department of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA, Cardiorenal Adaptations of Pregnancy, 2016 – 2020
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University, Department of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA, Immune Modulation of Blood Pressure, Mentor: Kathryn Sandberg, Ph.D., 2015 –2016
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florida, Department of Physiology & Functional Genomics, Gainesville, FL, USA, Renal Physiology, Mentor: Chris Baylis, Ph.D., 2011 – 2015

Areas of Interest:

• Blood Pressure Regulation
• Renal Physiology
• Cardio/renal Adaptations to Pregnancy

Research Statement:

Dr. West is a broadly trained cardio/renal integrative physiologist specializing in the hormonal regulation of sodium balance and blood pressure homeostasis in health and disease.  One of Dr. West’s long-term research interests is to understand the role of renal sodium transporters/channels along the aldosterone sensitive distal nephron in the sodium retention, plasma volume expansion, and blood pressure regulation of pregnancy.  This research provides the field of women’s health with the base information necessary to better understand the plasma volume contracted pathologies of pregnancy such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction which are leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Publications:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1744-1537