People

Independent Director, RoRI CIC and President and Executive Director, Addgene

Chonnettia Jones is the President and Executive Director at Addgene, a life sciences repository dedicated to accelerating scientific discovery and innovation by providing researchers around the world with access to high-quality research materials.  

With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Chonnettia has held leadership roles in purpose-driven organizations in Canada, UK/Europe, and US, where she has made contributions to advancing science and health research. In her previous role at Michael Smith Health Research BC, Chonnettia directed strategic initiatives and funding programs to drive impactful outcomes in health research across British Columbia. Her tenure at the Wellcome Trust was marked by her role in evaluating the effectiveness of global health research funding. While at the Janelia Research Campus of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, she managed an international collaborative program that developed cutting-edge tools for scientific exploration. 

As a co-founder of the Research on Research Institute, Chonnettia envisioned that research systems and research cultures can be positively transformed by evidence that can be used to inform how research funding, practices and policies can be made more effective, equitable, and inclusive. Her leadership in championing open science, responsible research assessment, and equitable research is reflected in her participation on various international advisory boards in science, technology, and scholarly communications. 

Chonnettia earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry, cell, and developmental biology from Emory University. Through her career and volunteer work she continues to advocate for transformative change in the global research ecosystem.