Walter Jennings Jones (April 28, 1865 – February 28, 1935) was an American biochemist and a professor at Johns Hopkins University who was among the early investigators of the composition of the nucleic acids including the presence of nucleotides, sugar and phosphate.

He published his results in the 1920 book Nucleic Acids: Their Chemical Properties and Physiological Conduct.

He joined Johns Hopkins University in 1884 and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1888 with studies in chemistry, and minors in mineralogy and geology.

[1][2][3][citation needed] Jones worked as an acting professor of natural science at Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio.

From 1923 to 1927, Jones served as DeLamar Professor of Physiological Chemistry, a role named after school benefactor De Lamar.

[1] In 1899 he visited Germany and was inspired by the work of Albrecht Kossel which led to a focus on the study of nucleic acids.