Soybean genomics and breeding
I’m currently working in the lab of Dr. Khalid Meksem on soybean genomics and breeding.
View summer research posterPlant Biology · Genomics · Reading
Studying plants, people, and the ideas that shape both.
I’m a Plant Biology undergraduate at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, interested in agriculture genomics and horticultural plant breeding.
Explore the site01 / About
Hello, I’m Eli.
I’m a Plant Biology student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, graduating in 2028. I spent my early childhood in Morehead, Kentucky, and ages 6–12 in Owingsville, Kentucky. I’m especially interested in agriculture genomics and horticultural plant breeding among species native to the United States.
Outside the lab, I read widely and keep notes on the books and papers that make me think differently.
01 / Where I’m from
Morehead → Owingsville → South Dakota → Illinois
Four places, four chapters, one ongoing curiosity.
Morehead, Kentucky / early childhood
Owingsville, Kentucky / ages 6–12
South Dakota → Illinois / the next chapters
02 / Current work
Research & questions
REU in the Lebeis Lab
At Michigan State University, I studied Paenibacillus as part of my summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
View summer research poster03 / Academic homes
Two labs, two kinds of learning.
2028
Expected graduation
2
Research environments
∞
Questions left to ask
04 / Reading desk
Books & articles
A growing record of the books and papers I return to.
Reading notes
Paenibacillus
Papers and research I read this summer
Notes coming soonFavorite authors
Hemingway & Anatole France
Writers I keep coming back to
Reading list coming soonFavorite books
The Decameron & Krishnamurti
Two very different kinds of influence
Reading list coming soon05 / Experience
Resume
Plant Biology · Southern Illinois University Carbondale · Expected graduation 2028