Andre Ellis

Photograph of Andre Ellis wearing a navy blue coat, white shirt and red tie
Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Office of DEI / Department of Geosciences and Environment
SSB 8358
Phone
323-343-3846
Email
aellis3@calstatela.edu
Website
https://www.calstatela.edu/diversity

Present Position:

Associate Vice-President For Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (/diversity)
Professor of Geosciences
California State University Los Angeles

 

Recent Positions/Service:

Director: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Inclusive Excellence @ Cal State LA
Co-Director: LSAMP and LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Program
University WSCUC Steering Committee: (Lead for Chapter on Assessment, Program Review and Use of data and evidence)
Education and Outreach Lead: Research Management Team: Center for Energy and Sustainability - NSF CREST

 

Other Positions/Service:

Director/Program Coordinator: MS Environmental Science Program
Graduate Advisor: Hydrology Option - MS Environmental Science Program
General Education Assessment Coordinator and member of the Campus Assessment Team
College Assessment Coordinator: College of Natural And Social Sciences
Co-chair of IT Subcommittee and Member of University Quarter to Semester Steering Committee
Acting Department Chair (Winter 2015)
Associate Department Chair (Summer 2013 - Spring 2016)
Graduate Advisor (MS Geology)
Undergraduate Advisor (BS Geology: Option in Environmental Geosciences)
Chair: Academic Information Resources Sub-committee 
Chair: Educational Policy Committee - Academic Senate
Advisory Board: Center for Effective Teaching and Learning

 

Previous Positions:

Assistant Professor (University of Texas at El Paso) 2005-2009

Post-Doc Northwestern University 2003-2005(Geochemistry, Weathering fluxes, and global climate implications- of rivers draining Tibet and Western China)

 

Education:

Ph.D. (2003) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

~Stable Isotopes of Se and Cr and the Fate of Redox-Active Elements in the Environment 

M.S. (1997) Indian Institute of Technology- Bombay

B.S. (1995) University of Bombay- St. Xavier's college

 

Grants/Awards:

Howard Huges Medical Institute (2018) - Inclusive Excellence Initiative
Role: Project Director      Amount Awarded: $1,000,000

National Science Foundation (2018): 2018 CSU-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at California State University, Los Angeles (Cohort 15)
Role: Co-PI     Amount Awarded: $1,075,000

National Science Foundation (2017): 2017 CSU-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at California State University, Los Angeles (Cohort 14)
Role: Co-PI     Amount Awarded: $1,075,000

National Science Foundation (2016): 2016 CSU-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at California State University, Los Angeles (Cohort 13)
Role: Co-PI     Amount Awarded: $1,075,000

National Science Foundation (2015): 2014 CSU-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at California State University, Los Angeles (Cohort 12)
Role: Co-PI     Amount Awarded: $987,000

CSU Chancellors Office (2014): Promising Practices- Redesign Geol 150 Earth Revealed
Role: PI Amount Awarded: $18,997

National Science Foundation (2014): 2014 CSU-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at California State University, Los Angeles (Cohort 11)
Role: Co-PI; Amount Awarded: $987,000

National Science Foundation (2011): MRI: Acquisition of an Ultra-Centrifuge to Enhance Geoenvironmental Research and Education at California State University Los Angeles”
Role: Co-PI; Amount Awarded: $441,737

RSCA Mini-Grant: 2011: Title: Effects of Climate Change on Water Chemistry in a Hyper Sensitive Permafrost Region of Central Alaska
Role: PI; Amount Awarded $5000

National Science Foundation (2009): Chromium Isotopes as Redox Indicators- Oxidation and Isotopic Equilibration Experiments, 
Role: PI; Amount Awarded $163,513

Previous Grants:
NSF-MRI; $718,550 - 2008 Co-PI
USEPA SCERP Grant; $44,851 - 2006 PI
UTEP-University Research Initiative (2005); $2,850 - 2005 PI

 

Students Mentored:

Doctoral Degree (University of Texas at El Paso)

Alejandro Villalobos-Aragon – Ph.D. May 2009

            Title: Using chromium stable isotopes to monitor chromium reactive transport: oxidation

Experiments and field studies

Jeffery Langman – Ph.D. December 2008

Title: A multi-tracer study of saltwater origin, cross-formational flow, and the geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Southern High Plains aquifer along the Western Caprock Escarpment, east-central New Mexico

Abdul Aziz M. – Ph.D. Co-chair with Dr. Diane Doser: December 2007

            Title: Effects of land use on water resources in the Nile Delta-Egypt.

*Xie Xianjun – Ph.D. *International Co-Advisor, China University of Geosciences - faculty at CUG.

 

MS Thesis/Project Students

Supasiri Rittiron: MS Geology- Thesis. Supasiri (Mos) studies the impact of wildfires on sediment/soil geochemistry and the potential for mobilization of metals.

David Yousavich: MS Geology- Thesis David studies mechanisms responsible for metal sequestration and removal by a rain garden constructed to reduce stormwater contamination from entering Ballona Creek in Culver City. David worked in collaboration with Karina Johnson of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Committee and John Dorsey of Loyola Marymount University

Ricardo Lopez-Maldonado – MS Geological Science (general option)-Thesis: Thesis title “Carbonate Clumped Isotope Reconstruction of Temperatures And Water 18O/16O Ratios From Last Glacial Maximum And Holocene Climatic Optimum Age Calcic Paleosols In The Palouse Loess (Washington, USA).” Ricardo conducted this study in collaboration with Aradhna Tripati at UCLA.

Kenisha Shipley – MS Environmental Science (Env-Hydrology Option)-Thesis. Kenisha was an LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate Fellow and studied the controls on arsenic sources and mobilization surface and ground waters around Mammoth Mountain, CA.

Ngoc Luu - MS Geology - Thesis: Ngoc studied long-term changes in the geochemistry of the two lakes in Mammoth Lakes, CA to determine effects of seasonal variations over a 4 year period.

Kimberly Henry: MS Geology - Project. Water Quality of the San Gabriel River at Whittier Narrows Nature Center - seasonal controls

Jwan Amin: MS Geology - Project. Water Quality of the San Gabriel River at Whittier Narrows Nature Center - short-term and seasonal controls on water quality

Sean Bowen: MS Geology - Project. remediation strategies to clean up a gasoline contaminated site: 1-D modeling and predictive analyses.

Dalia Ahmed: MS Geology - Project.  Seasonal Controls on water Chemistry of the Upper San Gabriel river

Chaemi Lee: MS Geology - Project. Sulfur and Sulfur isotopes in the Upper San Gabriel river

Erum Razzak – MS Environmental Science (Env. Hydrology Option) - Thesis: Erum examined the effects of tidal gates and urban run-off on a coastal wetland and related restoration efforts. Erum worked in collaboration with Karina Johnson of the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Committee and John Dorsey of Loyola Marymount University

Karina Hunt – MS Environmental Science (Engineering option) - Thesis: As a CEaS Fellow, studied the trace-element and arsenic geochemistry of springs in Mammoth Lakes, CA

Samuel Raskin – MS Geology - Thesis: As a CEaS Fellow, Samuel studied the geochemistry and isotope geochemistry of groundwater and springs in Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Rosie Santilena – MS Geology - Thesis: On a CEaS Fellowship, Rosie studied the geochemistry of Horseshoe Lake, a sub-project of the CEaS Carbon sequestration component.

Swati Joshi – MS Environmental Science - Thesis: Swati funded on my NSF grant worked on developing Cr stable isotopes to monitor fate and geochemical transformation of toxic chromium in natural waters.

Shauna Davis – MS Geology-Project: Shauna worked on using river geochemistry as an indicator of permafrost degradation in Alaska. Currently employed at Arcadis.

Caitlin Dwyer – MS Geology - Thesis: Caitlin was awarded a fellowship by the new Center for Energy and Sustainability (CEaS). She completed a study on the potential effects of elevated carbon dioxide concentrations on water quality at Mammoth Mountain, CA. The site is being used as a natural analogue for a carbon sequestration site. Currently employed at SLR Consulting.

Christiane Ortega – MS Geology - Thesis: Christiane evaluated an in-situ chemical treatment of toxic hexavalent Cr in groundwater using calcium poly sulfide. She conducted a suite of geochemical analyses to determine the effectiveness of the remediation technology employed. Currently employed at URS Corp.

 

Undergraduate Students:

David Wang: David was an undergraduate Biochemistry major and lead researcher on my NSF-funded project on Cr isotopes. David completed a Ph.D. in the MIT-WHOI Joint Doctoral Program and is currently at Exxon-Mobil.

Diana Fregoso: Diana was working alongside David Wang on the chromium project.

Adriana Caire Adriana worked alongside Swati Joshi on the chromium project.

Jessica Roethe: Jessica worked alongside Swati Joshi on the chromium project.

Jocelyn Luna: Jocelyn worked with the CEaS group (Sam Raskin and Ngoc Luu) on the Mammoth Lakes Carbon Dioxide Project.

 

Publications/Proceedings:

  1. Xiangli Wang, Thomas M. Johnson, Andre S. Ellis, (2015) Equilibrium isotopic fractionation and isotopic exchange kinetics between Cr(III) and Cr(VI), Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 153, v15, 72-90
  2. Ricardo Medina, G.B. Menezes, C.S. Khachikian, and A. Ellis (2015) Use of Fly Ash as Soil Amendment to Offset Anion Exclusion Effect on Nitrate Transport. Vadose Zone Journal, v. 14
  3. Helen Sanchez, Gustavo Menezes, Andre Ellis, Claudia Espinosa-Villegas, and Crist Khachikian, (2014) Laboratory Investigations of Weathering of Soils from Mammoth Mountain, CA, a Naturally CO2-Impacted Field Site. Environmental Science & Technology 48 (20), 12056-12062
  4. Yanxin Wang, Xianjun Xie, Thomas M. Johnson, Craig C. Lundstrom, Andre Ellis, Xiangli Wang, Mengyu Duan, Junxia Li (2014) Coupled iron, sulfur and carbon isotope evidences for arsenic enrichment in groundwater. Journal of Hydrology, Volume 519, Part A, 27 November 2014, Pages 414-422
  5. Xianjun Xie, Yanxin Wang, Andre Ellis, Chongxuan Liu, Mengyu Duan, Junxia Li (2014) Impact of sedimentary provenance and weathering on arsenic distribution in aquifers of the Datong basin, China: Constraints from elemental geochemistry, Journal of Hydrology, Volume 519, Part D, 27, Pages 3541-3549
  6. Xianjun Xie, Thomas M. Johnson, Yanxin Wang, Craig C. Lundstrom, Andre Ellis, Xiangli Wang, Mengyu Duan, Junxia Li. (2014) Pathways of arsenic from sediments to groundwater in the hyporheic zone: Evidence from an iron isotope study, Journal of Hydrology, Volume 511, 16, Pages 509-517
  7. Xianjun Xie, Thomas M. Johnson, Yanxin Wang, Craig C. Lundstrom, Andre Ellis, Xiangli Wang, Mengyu Duan (2013) Mobilization of arsenic in aquifers from the Datong Basin, China: Evidence from geochemical and iron isotopic data. Chemosphere. 9:6:1878-1884
  8. Xianjun Xie, Yanxin Wang, Andre Ellis, Chunli Su, Junxia Li, Mengdi Li, Mengyu Duan (2013) Delineation of groundwater flow paths using hydrochemical and strontium isotope composition: a case study in high arsenic aquifer systems of the Datong Basin, northern China. Journal of Hydrology. 476: 87-96
  9. Jeff B. Langman and Andre Ellis (2012) Geochemical indicators of interbasin groundwater flow within the southern Rio Grande Valley, southwestern USA. Environmental Earth Science.DOI 10.1007/s12665-012-1827-4.
  10. Alejandro Villalobos-Aragon, Andre Ellis, Maria, Aurora-Armienta, S. Morton and Thomas Johnson (2012) Geochemistry and Cr Stable isotopes of Cr-Contaminated Groundwater in Leon Valley, Guanajuato, Mexico.  Applied Geochemistry.27(9): 1783-1794
  11. Andre Ellis, Thomas Johnson, Thomas Bullen, David Wang and Swati Joshi (2012) Cr Isotopes and Monitoring Fate and Transport of Cr–A Review. Proceedings of the XII International Symposium on Environmental Geotechnology, Energy  and Global Sustainable  Development, International Society for Environmental Geotechnology. 1:69-79
  12. Xianjun Xie, Yanxin Wang, Andre Ellis, Chunli Su, Junxia Li, Mengdi Li (2011) The sources of geogenic arsenic in aquifers at Datong basin, northern China: Constraints from isotopic and geochemical data. Journal of Geochemical Exploration.110(2): 155-166
  13. Christiane Ortega, Andre Ellis and Diana C. Fregoso (2010) Quantifying & Evaluating CPS Treatment to Remediate a Cr(VI) Contaminated site. Proceeding of the 6th Environmental Science and Technology Conference, American Academy of Sciences, Houston, TX, 2:39-44.
  14. Jeff B. Langman and Andre Ellis (2010). Geologic influences on source-water mixing along a paleochannel in the Southern High Plains aquifer, New Mexico. Carbonates and Evaporites, 25(3): 247-265.
  15. Alejandro Villalobos-Aragon, Andre Ellis, Maria, Aurora-Armienta and S. Morton (2010) “Chromium contamination in León valley, Guanajuato, México: a Cr stable isotope perspective”Water-Rock Interaction XIII. Editor(s):  Peter Birkle and Ignacio Salvador Torres Alvarado. CRC Press.
  16. Jeff B. Langman and Andre S. Ellis (2010) “A multi-isotope (δD, δ18O, 87Sr/86Sr, and δ11B) approach for identifying saltwater intrusion and resolving groundwater evolution along the Western Caprock Escarpment of the Southern High Plains, New Mexico” Applied Geochemistry. 25(1):159-174.
  17. Xie Xianjun, Andre Ellis, Yanxin Wang (2009) “Redox Geochemistry and Sulfur Isotopes of Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater in Datong Basin, China” Science of the Total Environment. 407(12):3823-3835.
  18. Hyonjeong Noh, Youngsook Huh, Jianhua Qin and Andre Ellis (2009) “Chemical Weathering in the Three Rivers Region of Eastern Tibet.” Geochimica et Comochimica Acta, 73(7):1857-1877.
  19. Melissa Carney, Andre Ellis, Thomas Bullen and Jeff Langman (Accepted) “Geochemistry of Yukon and Copper River Tributaries, Alaska” Proceedings of the World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers.
  20. Andre Ellis, J. Deluhery, and N. Rajagopalan (2005) “Effects of Organic and Metal Contamination On Etch Rate Of Acid Baths - Implications For Extended Acid Use.” Plating and Surface Finishing, 92(2):42-47. 
  21. Andre Ellis, Thomas M. Johnson, and Thomas Bullen (2004) “Quantifying Cr(VI) Reduction and Lack of Chromium Stable Isotope Fractionation During Adsorption“ Environmental  Science and Technology, 38: 3604-3607.
  22. Andre Ellis, Thomas Johnson, Mitchell Herbel and Thomas Bullen (2003) “Selenium Stable Isotope Fractionation in Unamended Sediment Slurries by Natural Microbial Consortia.”Chemical Geology, 195: 119-129.
  23. Andre Ellis, Thomas Johnson, and Thomas Bullen (2002) “Chromium Isotopes and the Fate of Hexavalent Chromium in the Environment” Science, 295: 2060-2062.

 

Conference Abstracts:

  1. Yousavich, Ellis, Dorsey and Johnston (2017) “Stormwater Effects on Heavy Metal Sequestration in a Bioretention System in Culver City, California.” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA

  2. Wilson, John, Salinas, Azael, Mickler, Patrick, Horton, Robert A., Ellis, Andre And Baron, Dirk (2014) Geological Carbon Sequestration and Enhanced Oil Recovery: Possible Impact On A Shallow Freshwater Aquifer Near A Proposed Sequestration Site, Southern San Joaquin Valley, California. Geological Society of America National Meeting

  3. Luu and Ellis (2013) “ Four year geochemical analysis of surface waters surrounding Horseshoe Lake and McLeod Lake at Mammoth Lakes, CA. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA

  4. Raskin, Ellis, Khachikian and Luna (2012) “Geochemistry of Springs in a Region Impacted by Natural Leakage of CO2, Around Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA

  5. Hunt, Ellis, Raskin, and Khachikian (2012) “Trace Element and As Geochemistry of Surface Waters around Mammoth Mountain, CA. AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA

  6. Crowe, Basu, Doessing, Ellis, Fowle, Mucci, Johnson, Canfield (2012) “Cr isotopes in a ferruginous lake” Goldschmidt Conference 2012, Montreal, Canada

  7. Joshi, Ellis, Johnson, Bullen. (2012) “Cr Isotope fractionation During Oxidation by Manganite”XII International Symposium on Environmental Geotechnology, Energy  and Global Sustainable Development, International Society for Environmental Geotechnology. Los Angeles, CA

  8. Joshi, Ellis, Johnson and Bullen (2011) “Stable Isotope Fractionation during Cr(III) oxidation by manganese oxides” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA

  9. Raskin, Nafis, Ellis and Khachikian (2011) “Geochemistry of Springs and Groundwater in a Region Impacted by Leakage of Natural Carbon Dioxide Around Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, CA” AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA
  10. Szutu, Santilena, Ellis and Khachikian (2011) " Geochemistry of a Lake Impacted by Natural CO2 Leakage: Case Study of Horseshoe Lake, Mammoth Lakes, California" AGU Fall Meeting.San Francisco, CA
  11. Dwyer, Ellis and Khachikian (2010) “Water Quality in an Elevated CO2 Region: a Field Study at Mammoth Lakes, CA” AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA
  12. Santilena, Szutu, Ellis and Khachikian (2010) "Major Ion Geochemistry of Horseshoe Lake, Mammoth Lakes, California: Water Quality in a Region with Elevated CO2 from Sub-Surface Leakage"AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA
  13. Wang, Ellis, Johnson, Bullen and Fregoso (2010) "Stable Isotope Fractionation during Chromium(III) Oxidation by MnO2" AGU Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA
  14. Ortega and Ellis (2010)“Quantifying & Evaluating the Effectiveness of CPS Injections at a Cr(VI) Contaminated Site” Environmental Science and Technology Conference, American Academy of Sciences, Houston, TX
  15. Ellis, Carney and Langman (2009) “Weathering in Central Alaskan Rivers – Sulfur Sources and Cycling using S and O Isotopes” AGU Fall Meeting.
  16. Hibbs and Ellis (2009) “Geologic and Anthropogenic Controls on Selenium and Nitrate Loading to Southern California Streams” AGU Fall Meeting.
  17. Carney, Ellis, Bullen and Langman. (2008) “Isotope Geochemistry of the Yukon and Copper Tributaries in Alaska: Continental Weathering in a Changing Environment” AGU Fall Meeting.
  18. Villalobos-Aragon, Ellis and others (2008) “Chromium Contamination in Leon Valley Mexico: Insights from Chromium Stable Isotopes” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  19. Ellis, Johnson, Villalobos-Aragon and Bullen. (2008) “Environmental Cycling of Cr Using Stable Isotopes: Kinetic and Equilibrium Effects” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  20. Xianjun, Ellis and Wang (2008) “Hydrogeochemistry and Sulfur Isotopes of High Arsenic Groundwater of Datong Basin, China” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  21. Andrus, Hibbs and Ellis (2007) “Stable Isotopes of Selenium and Common Elements (N, O, S) Reveal Redox Controls on the Mobility of a Naturally Occurring Source of Selenium” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  22. Langman and Ellis (2007) “Multi-isotope (B, Sr, O, H) and Age-Dating (3H-3He, 14C) Study of Saline-Water Intrusion and Cross-Formational Flow in the Southern High Plains Aquifer” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  23. Villalobos-Aragon, Ellis and others (2007) “ Fate and Reactive Transport of Chromium in Leon Valley, Guanajuato, Mexico Using Stable Isotopes” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  24. Abdulaziz M. Abdulaziz and Andre Ellis (2007). “Application of Three-Dimensional GIS-Based Groundwater Flow Modeling in Groundwater Resources Management of the Quaternary Aquifer, East Nile Delta, Egypt”  10th Annual AAPG, SEG Student Expo, Houston, TX.
  25. Ellis et al. (2007) “Monitoring Fate and Transport of Hexavalent Chromium Using Stable Isotopes” ACS meeting – invited, Chicago, IL
  26. Ellis and Huh (2004) “Geochemistry of the Chang Jiang  - Constraints on the Weathering Flux Associated with the Indo-Tibetan collision” GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO.
  27. Ellis and Huh (2003) “Geochemistry of the Red River and Chang Jiang  - Constraints on the Weathering Flux Associated with the Indo-Tibetan collision” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  28. Ellis, Johnson and Bullen (2003) “Chromium Stable Isotope Fractionation During Adsorption”AGU Spring Meeting, Nice, France.
  29. Ellis, Johnson and Bullen (2001) “Chromium Stable Isotope Fractionation – An Indicator of Hexavalent Chromium Reduction” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
  30. Ellis, Johnson, Herbel and Bullen (1999) “Selenium Isotope Fractionation by Natural Microbial Consortia in Unamended Sediment Slurries” AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA