Dr. James West

Biography

James West is known worldwide as the co-inventor of the foil electret microphone, a type of condenser microphone that forms the basis for about 90 percent of microphones used today, including those in telephones, sound recording equipment, and hearing aids. He developed this significant invention in 1962 with his research partner Gerhard Sessler at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. Over a career spanning more than 40 years at Bell Laboratories, he has invented or co-invented more than 60 U.S. patents and over 200 foreign patents focused on polymer foil electrets and transducers. He has also authored and contributed to over 150 technical papers and books in the fields of acoustics, solid-state physics, and materials science. After retiring from Bell Labs in 2001, West joined the Johns Hopkins University as a research professor, where he found an environment similar to that of Bell Labs, which allowed him to collaborate across various disciplines. His current research efforts at Johns Hopkins include enhancing teleconferencing technology and developing new transducers. James is also an active mentor, involved in programs to encourage minorities and women to enter STEM fields. He graduated from Temple University in 1957 with a degree in physics.

Research Interests

Experience