Jon EldonI am an agricultural scientist with a background in ecology and epistemology that I combine with years of hands-on experience in agriculture and natural resource management.
My research focuses on understanding how farming systems work and how they can be managed to work better, which requires integrating ecology with agronomy, economics, sociology, politics, and a range of other topics. My aim is to inform better decision making by farmers, managers, scientists, and policy makers. Geographic focus: United States, West Africa, Pacific Islands |
Educational Background |
Ph.D. Environmental Studies, U California – Santa Cruz, 2014-2017
Focal Areas: agroecology, soil science, rural development M.A. Environmental Studies, University of California – Santa Cruz, 2011-2014 M.S. Tropical Conservation Biology and Environment Science, U Hawaii – Hilo, 2007-2010 Focal Areas: evolutionary ecology, biogeography, genetics B.S. Biology, Stanford University, 2001-2005 B.A. Philosophy, Stanford University, 2001-2005 |
Work Background |
Technical lead
Concern Universal, Senegal and The Gambia, 2013-2016 Instructor/teaching assistant UC Santa Cruz 2011-2013, Soils and Plant Nutrition (laboratory instructor and lecture assistant) Sustainable Agriculture (discussion section leader and lecture assistant) Agroecosystems and Watershed Management (lecture assistant) UH Hilo 2007-2010 Field Ecology Methods (laboratory instructor and lecture assistant) Researcher UH Hilo, Price lab (Ecological genetics), 2007-2010 UC Santa Cruz, Cheng lab (Soil science) and Shennan lab (Agroecology), 2011-2017 Farmer, forester, land manager Multiple employers including self-employed, Hawaii, 2005-2010 Journeyman carpenter and concrete finisher Multiple employers including self-employed, Alaska/Hawaii, 2005-2011 Commercial deckhand Gillnetter/longliner, Alaska, 2002, 2005 Private motoryacht, Tahiti, 2004 Wildland firefighter Skookum Reforestation, 2003 Field research assistant UC Berkeley - Gump Research Station (ethnobotany), Moorea (French Society Islands), 2004 Stanford University (ecology), West Indies, 2003 Oregon State University Agricultural Extension (cereal breeding), Oregon, 2001 |