John Slater

John Slater is an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware, affiliated with the Ammon Pinizzotto Biopharmaceutical Innovation Center. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering (specializing in Nanotechnology) from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

His research focuses on developing biomimetic materials and microfluidic systems to control cell behavior, particularly in cancer dormancy modeling and stem cell differentiation. Key areas include hydrogel engineering, mechanotransduction, and vascular mechanobiology. His lab creates structured biomaterials to study microenvironmental influences on cell fate, with applications in drug screening and tissue engineering.

Recent publications emphasize hydrogel-based models of tumor dormancy, laser-fabricated vascular networks, and traction force microscopy platforms. His work bridges engineering and biology, addressing translational challenges in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

Slater’s contributions include the CAREER grant-funded ischemic microstroke model and collaborations on biomimetic capillary networks. He leads interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of biofabrication and cellular dynamics.