Kristin Johnson-Finn is an Assistant Professor in Chemistry and Chemical Biology (with a courtesy appointment in Earth and Environmental Sciences) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She earned her BS in Chemistry, with minors in Geology and Mathematics, from Youngstown State University. Kristin received her PhD in Chemistry/Organic Geochemistry from Arizona State University, where she probed the kinetics and mechanisms of organic compounds at hydrothermal conditions. Her current research interests focus on exploring the reaction pathways possible for organic compounds in geologic settings through a combination of experimental studies and thermodynamic modeling.