Lisa Ellis, PhD Profile and Contact Information

• Honorary Alumnus, Houston Christian University
• PhD in Biology, Texas A&M University
• BS with Honors in Biology, Summa Cum Laude, Sam Houston State University

• Natural Science
• Introductory Biology
• Human Anatomy & Physiology I
• Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• General Biology I
• General Biology II
• Genetics
• Global Health
• Nutrition
• Integrating Biological Concepts (Capstone)
• Research
• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Ethics
• First Year Seminar

Dr. Ellis’ areas of interest span the breadth of the biology department and include courses for majors and non-majors. She enjoys teaching all levels of students, from introducing foundational concepts to freshmen and honing critical thinking skills and specialized knowledge in upperclassmen and graduate students. Dr. Ellis integrates metacognitive learning strategies into her courses to empower students in their academic journeys.

Research Interests

Dr. Ellis’ research focuses on genetic and environmental effects on Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) development and behavior. She has published research articles in several journals including Genetics and Development. Her article in Genetics was selected for a EurekAlert! press release. She is a member of the Genetics Society of America, Texas Genetics Society, Human Anatomy & Physiology Society, and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society.

University Service

Dr. Ellis currently serves as the Beta Beta Beta South Central Region District II Director and co-sponsor’s HCU’s Iota Omicron Chapter (“TriBeta”). She chairs HCU’s Institutional Review Board and serves on the QEP Implementation Committee, after proposing and designing the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) (Mission: Metacognition) in 2019. Dr. Ellis co-chairs COSE’s Mentorship Committee and aids COSE recruiting efforts. She is the co-Director of HCU’s EMBARK summer program and serves on the Athletic Affairs Committee, First Year Experience Committee, First Year Seminar Advisory Board, and several HCU academic technology committees. Dr. Ellis coordinates the Honors in Biology or BCMB program and manages the social media accounts of COSE (@hcucose) and the department (@hcubiology). She reviews research articles for several scientific journals. Dr. Ellis was Faculty Assembly President (2025-2026).

Hjelmen CE, Parrott JJ, et al. Effect of Phenotype Selection on Genome Size Variation in Two Species of Diptera. Genes 11: 218. Special edition.

Coggins W, Hamrick D, Ellis LL. The trend of courtship and mating behavior of Drosophila melanogaster fit ^T15 mutants based on caloric restriction. BIOS.

Ellis LL, Huang W, Quinn AM, et al. Intrapopulation genome size variation in D. melanogaster reflects life history variation & plasticity. PLoS Genetics 10: e1004522.

H uang W, Massouras A, Inoue Y, et al. Natural variation in genome architecture among 205 Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel lines. Genome Research 24: 1193-1208.

Saleem S, Schwedes CC, Ellis LL, al. 2012. Drosophila melanogaster p24 trafficking proteins have vital roles in development & reproduction. Mechanisms of Development 129: 177-91.

Ellis LL, Carney GE. 2011. Socially-responsive gene expression in male Drosophila melanogaster is influenced by the sex of the interacting partner. Genetics 187: 157-169. Press release in EurekAlert! January 2011.

Ellis LL, Carney GE. 2010. Mating alters gene expression patterns in Drosophila melanogaster male heads. BMC Genomics 11:558 .

Ellis LL, Carney GE. 2009. Drosophila melanogaster males respond differently at the behavioral & genome-wide levels to Drosophila melanogaster & Drosophila simulansJ. Evolutionary Biology 22: 2183-91 .

Boltz KA, Ellis LL, Carney GE. 2007. Drosophila melanogaster p24 genes have developmental, tissue-specific, & sex-specific expression patterns & functions. Developmental Dynamics 236: 544-55.

Posters

Moreno S, Pooparayil M, Romero A, Sandoval J, Ellis LL. 2024. Tracking Pupa Obesity Based on Various Diets in DGRP Fruit Flies. 22^nd Annual Celebration of Scholarship Symposium, HCU, Houston, TX. 1^st place winner.

Johnson A, Ellis LL. The Effect of Turmeric in Alleviating Parkinson’s-like Symptoms in Drosophila melanogaster Induced by Iron-Enriched Diets. 16 ^th Annual Celebration of Scholarship Symposium. HCU, Houston, TX

DeForke S, Abraham S, Ellis LL. Apr 24, 2017. Effects of Sound on Drosophila Behavior and Reproduction. 15 ^th Annual Celebration of Scholarship Symposium, HCU, Houston, TX.

Mendoza Y, Sheneman T, Ellis LL. Apr 24, 2017. Circadian Rhythms and 15 ^th Annual Celebration of Scholarship Symposium, HCU, Houston, TX.

Olsen D, Mathew M, Ellis LL. Apr 24, 2017. Aspartame Causes Increased Food Intake Which Leads to Weight Gain and Increased Body Fat in Drosophila melanogaster. 15 ^th Annual Celebration of Scholarship Symposium, HCU, Houston, TX.

Oral Presentations

Henderson T, Blank ML, Ellis LL, et al. April 26, 2021. Man versus Microbes: Is it really a competition? 19 ^th Annual Celebration of Scholarship Symposium, HCU, Houston, TX

Ellis LL. Aug 21, 2018. Freshmen Focus: Engaging First Year Students in the Classroom. Professional Development Breakout Session, HCU, Houston, TX.

Eyler JR, Miller Jr, JH, Ellis LL. Feb 16, 2017. Teaching. 6th Annual Presidential Career Symposium. Houston, TX.

Tarone AM*, Picard CJ, Ellis LL, Johnston JS. Nov 12, 2013. Consequences of genome size variation in forensic entomology. 61 ^st Annual Entomological Society of America Meeting, Austin, TX.

Ellis LL, Carney GE. May 1, 2009. fit ting it all together: How courtship- & mating-responsive genes affect male reproductive behaviors. Data Blitz Session, 1 ^st Annual Texas A&M University & Health Science Center Faculty of Neuroscience Symposium, Bryan, TX.

Ellis LL, Carney GE. March 2009. fit ting it all together: How social interactions affect gene expression & behavior. Student Research Week Competition, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Dr. Ellis has won several HCU awards for her teaching and service. She is an Opal Goolsby Outstanding Teacher (2026), Minnie Stevens Piper Professor (2025), Outstanding Chapter Advisor (2025), Outstanding Demonstrations of Service (2024), Best in COSE (2019), and First Year Advocate (2016). The HCU Alumni Association awarded her the Hallmark Award (2025) making her an honorary HCU alumnus.

Dr. Ellis was the 2025 District II Outstanding Chapter Advisor from Beta Beta Beta. Iota Omicron won Outstanding District II Chapter (2025, 2017, 2016), 1 ^st Place in Chapter History at Regional (2022, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2016) and National (2026) Conventions. Iota Omicron hosted the 2024 and 2022 Regional Conventions and won HCU’s Organization of the Year (2016) and Program of the Year (2018).

At Texas A&M University, she won the Biology Graduate Teaching Award (2010). In 2009, Dr. Ellis won the outstanding graduate student poster presentation award from the Texas Genetics Society.

Because of her professional achievements and her service to the Deer Park, TX community, Dr. Ellis is a Felton F. Waggoner Hall of Honor nominee, which is awarded to an outstanding Deer Park High School graduate.

Dr. Ellis enjoys writing poetry and song lyrics, watching or playing sports, and participating in various HCU events. She was a guest coach for women’s basketball and volleyball, the Rec Sports Volleyball Player of the Week (2019), and her FYS Class won the Dodgeball Tournament (2019).

Dr. Ellis is active in her home church of Monument Baptist Church (Deer Park, TX). She has been a member of that church for over 25 years. At MBC, she teaches all age groups including children’s church, youth group, Women’s Sunday School class, and women’s retreats and small groups. She chaperones youth events and summer camp. Dr. Ellis loves music; she sings in the church choir and plays her clarinet for special events. Previously, she directed and taught the College and Career Sunday School class.