People

Lucas D. Ellis, Ph.D.

December 2021 - current - Assistant Professor

2019 - 2021 - Director's Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

2018 - Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, Ryland Fellow, GAANN Fellow, USDA-NIFA Predoctoral Fellow.

2011-2013 - Research Associate II, Mascoma Corporation

2011 - M.S. Engineering Sciences, Dartmouth College

2008 - Research Technician III, University of Maine

2007 - B.S. Chemical Engineering Focus (Engineering), magna cum laude, California Polytechnic State University - SLO. Domestic Study Abroad at West Virginia University, International Study Abroad at University of Canterbury.

Google Scholar: Link, ORCID: 0000-0001-6026-1825

If you’re interested in learning more, please email: Lucas.Ellis@oregonstate.edu.

Current Graduate Students

Dimitri Gatzios

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Iowa

Ph.D. Student, Target Defense Date: Spring 2026

My research focuses on understanding the structure-property relationship of promoters that improve heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalysts. This type of reaction can be used to address certain chemical shortages and to chemically break down plastics to useful products.

**Author on multiple publications in the group!**

Coleman Jennewein

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Purdue University

Post-Baccalaureate Intern - National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Ph.D. Student, Target Defense Date: Spring 2028

Joseph "Yoshi" Funk

B.S. Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Duluth

Ph.D. Student, Target Defense Date: Spring 2029

Co-Advised with Prof. Chih-hung Chang

My research is focused on controlling the spatial arrangement of bifunctional tandem catalysts to better understand heterogeneous olefin metathesis and its activation mechanisms. This work contributes to our understanding and implementation of hydrocarbon synthesis and plastic upcycling.

Elena M. Meza Wynkoop

B.S. Chemistry, Linfield University

Ph.D. Student, Target Defense Date: Spring 2029

Current Undergraduate Students

Andrew Tran

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: June 2026

Project: Tandem Dehydrogenation & Olefin Metathesis, Ethenolysis, and more

Specialties: gas-phase reactions, GC-FID, kinetic investigations, data processing

**2024 Barry Goldwater Scholarship Recipient for Research in the Ellis Lab**

**Co-author on one publication in our group!**

Stephen Stockton

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: June 2026

Project: Understanding silica-supported Mo single site structure during in-situ treatment with reductants using DRIFTS.

**Co-author on two publications in our group!**

Samantha Hoffmann

B.S. Computer Science Engineering, Target Graduation Date: 2027

Samantha pioneered our 3D-printable heterogeneous educational toys including HY-Zeolite, Zeolite 4A, and our nanoparticle "lego-style" sets. Check out our 3D Printing tab of our website to learn more!

Ella Farrell

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: 2028

Ella helped incorporate magnets into our 3D-printable heterogeneous educational toys to teach about adsorption. Check out our 3D Printing tab of our website to learn more!

Mia Chang

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: 2027

2025 URSA Engage Fellow, Summer 2025 Johnson Fellow

Project: Understanding silica-supported Mo single site structure during in-situ treatment with reductants using UV-Vis DRS.

Jose Naranjo Mendez

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: June 2025

**2023 Barry Goldwater Scholarship Recipient for Research in the Ellis Lab**

**Co-author on one publication in our group!**

Tyler Emerson

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Graduated June 2025

Project: Understanding how surface dopants tune H2 promotion of heterogeneous olefin metathesis.

Henry Seely

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: June 2026

Co-Advised with Skip Rochefort (Rochefort Lead PI)

Project: Analytical characterization of waste plastic pyrolysate.

Andreas Palmateer

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Graduated June 2025

**Honors Thesis for Research in the Ellis Lab Successfully Defended, Spring 2025**

Andreas is pursuing a M.S. at the University of Oregon

**Co-author on one publication in our group!**

Kahlil Holavarri

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: 2028

2025 URSA Engage Fellow

Lillian Gress

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Target Graduation Date: 2028

2025 URSA Engage Fellow

Emeritus Members

Selena Moore

B.S. Chemical Engineering, Minor in Physics, University of Colorado

M.S. Chemical Engineering, Oregon State University, GEM Fellow, Graduated June 2024

Selena was the lead researcher in understanding the role of the dehydrogenation catalyst in Tandem Dehydrogenation & Olefin Metathesis (i.e., Alkane Metathesis).

**First-author publication!**