David West

Associate Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences

Ph.D.

Born: 1933, Beirut, Lebanon

• Attended Phillips Academy, Andover, MA.
• 1955 B.A. Zoology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
• 1959 Ph.D. Vertebrate Zoology, Ecology and Genetics, Cornell University
• Assistant Professor of Zoology (1959-60), Cornell University
• NATO & Public Health Service Postdoctoral Fellow (1960-62)
• Joined the Biology Department at Virginia Tech in 1962

For 36 years, West's research and that of his students addressed diverse subjects including avian hybridization, pupal color polymorphism in swallowtail butterflies, Batesian mimicry in butterflies and the primary work of Fritz Muller in Brazil. He taught Introductory Genetics, Principles of Biology, Advanced Genetics, Evolutionary Genetics and Human Genetics for which he received several awards for excellence in teaching. He also taught Ecological Genetics 10 summers at the University of Virginia's Mountain Lake Biological Station. West served as Assistant Professor of Zoology (1962-68) and Associate Professor of Zoology (1968-98) until his retirement in 1998.

From his residence in Blacksburg, West continues to write papers and prepare seminars on Fritz Muller's contributions. He also remains an enthusiast in his passion for classical music.