Chonnettia Jones, PhD

President & Executive Director, Addgene

Chonnettia Jones has more than two decades of experience in science and health research strategy, funding and policy in the US, UK/Europe and Canada.

Chonnettia is currently President and Executive Director at Addgene, a non-profit biorepository whose mission is to accelerate research and discovery by improving access to high-quality research materials and information for more than 100 countries worldwide.

Prior to joining Addgene, Chonnettia was Vice President, Research at Michael Smith Health Research BC, where she directed the foundation’s research strategy, funding programs and strategic partnerships to maximize the impact of British Columbia’s investment in research for the betterment of the health and well-being of the people and communities in British Columbia.

Chonnettia previously held an executive leadership role at the Wellcome Trust in London, where she provided strategic leadership to maximize the impact of Wellcome's funding and strategic initiatives in global health research. At the Janelia Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, she managed an international research program that developed innovative research tools for science.

Chonnettia serves on international advisory boards on science and technology, scientific publishing, open science, research assessment and anti-racism in research.

Chonnettia initially trained as a scientist in the U.S. and holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry, cell and developmental biology from Emory University.