John King

John King is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of New Mexico (UNM), with a courtesy appointment in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. He holds a PhD from the University of Michigan (2016) and a BS from SUNY Fredonia (2013). His research focuses on biophysical catalysis, soft matter physics, and single-molecule spectroscopy, with a particular emphasis on understanding protein dynamics and phase separation. He has held positions at the Institute for Basic Science (2016–2023), Lehigh University (2023–2024), and the University of Illinois (postdoc, 2013–2016).

• Education: PhD in Chemistry (University of Michigan, 2016), BS in Chemistry (SUNY Fredonia, 2013)
• Research Interests: Biological catalysis, nonequilibrium thermodynamics, super-resolution microscopy, and biomolecular condensates

His lab develops advanced optical techniques like cavity-amplified scattering spectroscopy and employs single-molecule methods to study protein-DNA interactions and phase transitions. Notable publications include work on protein unfolding thermodynamics and non-Fickian transport in biomolecular droplets. He has received awards such as the Spotlight on Early Career Investigators (2018) and has mentored over 10 students.

John’s teaching spans physical chemistry, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. He actively recruits students at all levels and collaborates internationally, with invited talks at MIT, Stanford, and institutions in Korea and Nepal.