Eli is a first-year DPhil candidate in International Relations at Nuffield College, Oxford. His research explores the relationship between art and peace in post-conflict societies. His DPhil thesis, supervised by Dr. Laura Sjoberg and Dr. Samuel Ritholtz, uses ethnographic methods to examine the everyday peacebuilding practices of ex-combatant artists in Colombia. His project incorporates ideas from many disciplines, including art theory, literary criticism, and anthropology.

In general, Eli's work engages with the theoretical and methodological aspects of critical peace research. It exhibits art-based peacebuilding as a promising alternative to conventional peacebuilding projects while also developing how ethnography and participatory research methodologies can contribute to local forms of peacebuilding.

Eli's research interests broadly include peacebuilding, art, ex-combatant reintegration, transitional justice, and the philosophy of social science.

Eli holds an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Oxford and a Bachelor of Arts with Highest Honors and Highest Distinction in political science, international studies, and Spanish from the University of Michigan. 

In Jaunary 2026, Eli began a Lecturership in Politics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Please direct all teaching inquiries to eli.harris-trent@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.