Southern Illinois University CarbondaleStarted September 2026 · Plant Biology
Soybean genomics and breeding
I’m currently working in the lab of Dr. Khalid Meksem on soybean genomics and breeding.
Plant 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.
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01 / About
Hello, I’m Eli.
I’m a Plant Biology student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, graduating in 2028. 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.
More about me02 / Labs & universities
Research, labs, and universities.
Southern Illinois University CarbondaleStarted September 2026 · Plant Biology
Michigan State UniversityREU host institution · East Lansing
REU in the Lebeis Lab
At Michigan State University, I characterized morphological variants of Paenibacillus isolates for potential agricultural bioinoculants.
View summer research poster
Kansas State UniversityJohnson Lab partnership
Big bluestem climate response
I worked in partnership with the Johnson Lab to quantify phenology, growth, and photosynthetic rate across approximately 200 Andropogon gerardii individuals.
03 / 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 soon04 / Experience
Resume
B.S. Plant Biology · Southern Illinois University Carbondale · 4.0 GPA · Chancellor’s Scholar · Expected May 2028