Eli Jones

B.Sc., Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 2024

Eli was born and raised in Jackson, Missouri—a small town two hours south of St. Louis. He attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, where he received his B.S. in chemistry in 2024. While at SIU, Eli worked in Kyle Plunkett’s lab, where he developed a gold-catalyzed benzannulation strategy. Eli also worked in Matt Sigman’s lab at the University of Utah in 2022 and 2023 through REU and SURF programs. There, he studied oxidative addition kinetics for nickel and cobalt catalysts across (hetero)aryl halides and allyl acetates. Outside of the lab, Eli enjoys riding his bike, hiking (specifically in the middle of nowhere), and making poor attempts at cooking.

Fun Facts

• Eli is the only scientist in a family of artists.
• Eli once drove 26 hours from Arizona to Missouri without stopping (with his friend, of course).
• Eli spent two Fourth of Julys working as a pyrotechnic operator and is therefore certified by the ATF to handle commercial fireworks (only in Utah).