Kristin Slade

Kristin Slade is a Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, where she has been a faculty member since 2011. She holds a B.S. from the University of Richmond and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina.

• Institution: Hobart and William Smith Colleges
• School: School of Arts and Sciences
• Department: Department of Chemistry
• Academic Rank: Professor
• Email: slade@hws.edu

Research Interests

Dr. Slade's research centers on macromolecular crowding and its impact on enzyme kinetics, particularly focusing on dehydrogenases and histone deacetylases in Tetrahymena. Her work investigates how the densely packed intracellular environment influences biochemical reaction rates and enzyme behavior. She employs in vitro systems with crowding agents to simulate cellular conditions, aiming to understand metabolic implications in aging and disease.

Publication Trends

Her recent publications (2009–2016) reflect a strong focus on biophysical biochemistry, particularly using NMR and fluorescence techniques to study protein dynamics in crowded environments. Key themes include enzyme kinetics under macromolecular crowding, protein diffusion in E. coli, and structural studies of proteins like α-synuclein. Her work bridges biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology, often in collaboration with prominent researchers such as Gary J. Pielak.

Scientific Awards

• Cottrell College Science Award

Advising and Grants

Dr. Slade actively mentors undergraduate researchers, having supervised numerous students in her lab. Her research is supported by competitive external funding, including the Cottrell College Science Award, highlighting the significance and quality of her scholarly work.

Labs and Research Teams

She leads a research laboratory focused on enzyme kinetics and macromolecular crowding, where students apply chemical, analytical, and biological techniques to investigate fundamental biochemical questions in physiologically relevant conditions.