Eli joined the University of Oxford's Department of Biology in 2026, with affiliation to the Oxford Global Health Initiative (OGHI) to study fungal-plant interactions.

He was appointed to his role as part a push by the OGHI to develop a critical mass of fungal research in Oxford, and along with his co-hires, is studying fungal threats to global health and food security. A shared thread among this research is the evolution of antimicrobial resistance among fungal pathogens (of both animals and plants) and identifying novel solutions to combat this rapidly emerging threat.