Franklin Delano West

Professor

Areas of expertise

NeurosciencesClinical SciencesPsychologyBiochemistry and Cell BiologyCognitive SciencesCardiorespiratory Medicine and Haematology

About

Reproductive challenges in both human and livestock populations are of significant concern and are often a direct result of abnormal germ cell (oocyte and sperm) development. Aberrant germ cell development significantly affects human fertility, is the leading cause of early pregnancy loss and results in birth defects such as Down’s syndrome and Klinefelter’s. Failed gametogenesis in livestock has significantly increased because of intense selection for commercial traits and decreased emphasis on reproductive success. To address aberrant germ cell development, my lab has developed novel technologies enabling systematic study of gametogenesis in humans and livestock utilizing stem cells and advanced molecular and genetic tools. These systems enable us to address our long term goal of identifying and understand germ cell regulatory signaling in humans and domestic livestock species that could provide invaluable insight into the mechanistic causes of abnormal gametogenesis.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Animal Sciences, General

University of Georgia, GA, United States (2008)

Bachelor of Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Morehouse College, GA, United States (2003)

Awards and Honors

Student Career Success Influencer Award 2023 (2024)
Named a member of the University of Georgia Alumni Association 40 Under 40 Class of 2020 (2020)
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Science Young Alumni Award Recipient (2019)
Emerging Scholar 2012 (2012)
Georgia Trends Top 40 Under 40: Georgia’s Best and Brightest (2010)
MARC U*STAR Research Fellow (2003)
ARC Scholar (2003)
Cornell REU Scholar (2002)
Princeton REU Scholar (2001)
David and Lucile Packard Research Fellow (2000)

Courses

RBIO 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
NEUR 8040: Laboratory Group Meeting (Fall 2025)
NEUR 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2025)
ADSC 3130: Animal Biotechnology (Fall 2025)
ADSC 7000: Master's Research (Fall 2025)
ADSC 7300: Master's Thesis (Fall 2025)
RBIO 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
NEUR 8040: Laboratory Group Meeting (Spring 2026)
ADSC 3700: Special Problems in Animal and Dairy Science (Spring 2026)
ADSC 7000: Master's Research (Spring 2026)
NEUR 9000: Doctoral Research (Spring 2026)
RBIO 4990R: Undergraduate Research Thesis (or Final Project) (Spring 2026)
ADSC 8700: Special Problems in Animal and Dairy Science I (Spring 2026)
NEUR 9000: Doctoral Research (Summer 2026)
NEUR 8040: Laboratory Group Meeting (Summer 2026)
ADSC 7000: Master's Research (Summer 2026)
RBIO 4960R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research I (Summer 2026)
RBIO 9000: Doctoral Research (Summer 2026)
RBIO 8700: Special Problems in Regenerative Bioscience I (Summer 2026)
RBIO 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2026)
RBIO 4970R: Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research II (Fall 2026)
NEUR 8040: Laboratory Group Meeting (Fall 2026)
ADSC 3130: Animal Biotechnology (Fall 2026)
ADSC 7990: Supervised Teaching Practicum in Animal and Dairy Science (Fall 2026)
ADSC 7000: Master's Research (Fall 2026)
NEUR 9000: Doctoral Research (Fall 2026)