Faculty

Dr. Barry Hibbs
Co-PI, Professor
Phone: 323-343-2414
Email: [email protected]
Research website

Professor within the Department of Geosciences and Environment, Dr. Hibbs is interested in the connections between hydrology and agriculture in urban and rural areas. Dr. Hibbs earned a BS in Geology at Arizona State University (1986), an MS in Hydrogeology at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln (1989), and a Ph.D. in Hydrogeology from the University of Texas at Austin (1993). He was then employed as a research hydrogeologist at the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology and Texas Water Development Board (1993-1997). Dr. Hibbs’ expertise is the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of groundwater basins and terrestrial watersheds. Current field research areas include Los Angeles River Watershed, Malibu Creek Watershed, San Diego Creek Watershed, Coachella Valley-Imperial Valley-Salton Sea, and arid basins in the Mojave and Chihuahuan Deserts. The primary REEU applications in Dr. Hibbs’ Lab include field data acquisition, basic hydrochemical analysis in his wet chemistry lab, and some computer modeling.    

Dr. Petr Vozka
Co-PI, Assistant Professor
Phone: 323-343-2368
Email: [email protected]
Research website

Assistant Professor within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is the co-principal director of the REU Site. Dr. Vozka earned a BS in Chemistry and Chemical Technologies (2012), an MS in Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Environment (2014) at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Czech Republic, and a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry of Fuels from the Purdue University (2019), where he also received a post-doctoral research appointment. Dr. Vozka’s research interests focus on developing novel and improving comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic (GC×GC) and mass spectrometry techniques to analyze complex chemical mixtures. His ongoing research projects include a study of the interactions between microplastics and organic compounds and olefins (alkenes) detection and quantification in petroleum fractions. The primary REEU applications in Dr. Vozka’s Lab include advanced analytical laboratory analysis and some computer modeling.

Dr. Stephen LaDochy
Co-PI, Professor
Phone: 323-343-2222
Email: [email protected]
Research website

Dr. Steve LaDochy is a Professor Emeritus of Geography, Geology & Environment at California State University, Los Angeles. His BA in Meteorology is from UCLA, his MS in Atmospheric Sciences is from Colorado State University, and his Ph.D. in Geography is from the University of Manitoba, Canada. His teaching and research interests include climate change, urban climatology, severe weather meteorology and air pollution meteorology. Dr. LaDochy continues research on western U.S. climate change and how land use changes in urban areas impact heat waves and the urban heat island. The primary REEU applications in Dr. LaDochy’s Lab include urban microclimates, measuring the urban heat island and its properties, mitigating heat risks through vegetation, and environmental inequities within metropolitan areas.

Dr. Christine Scoffoni
Co-PI, Associate Professor
Phone: 323-343-2059
Email: [email protected]
Research website

Dr. Christine Scoffoni is an Associate Professor at the California State University of Los Angeles. She earned a BS in Plant Biology at Aix-Marseille University, France (2006), an MS in Plant Ecophysiology at Bordeaux University, France (2008), and a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCLA (2014). Her research uses experimental and comparative approaches in plant physiology, ecology, and evolution to answer questions regarding the function of plant diversity with an emphasis on plant’s adaptation to environmental stresses such as drought and temperature. Dr. Scoffoni was awarded the Early Career Award of the American Society of Plant Biologists in 2020 and was named among the most highly cited researchers in 2020 and 2021 by Clarivate. Dr. Scoffoni was awarded an NSF-CAREER grant to investigate root-leaf hydraulic responses in C3 and C4 grasses, including major crop species.  The primary REEU applications in Dr. Scoffoni’s Lab include field and lab data acquisition, and computer analysis.

Dr. Evelyn Alvarez
Co-PI, Associate Professor
Phone: 323-343-4748
Email: [email protected]
Research website

Dr. Evelyn Alvarez is an assistant professor of environmental health science in the Department of Public Health at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Alvarez earned a B.S. in French and Francophone Studies, a minor in African Studies at UCLA (2005), an MPH in environmental health science at Columbia University (2008), and a PhD in environmental health science at UCLA (2019).  Her research agenda largely focuses on web-based/smartphone environmental community science applications to address environmental waste, air pollution, and ‘green space deserts’.  Her research also examines underrepresented narratives in the climate change dialogue and aims to demystify sustainability. Her mentees were awarded the 2020 APHA Student Champions for Climate Justice grant to create a micro-library on campus that promotes climate change literacy and addresses textbook insecurity. The primary REEU applications in Dr. Alvarez’ Lab include wearable air quality instruments, waste tracking visualization tools, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Monica Maynard
Collaborator, Lecturer
Phone: 323-343-2418
Email: [email protected]
 

Monica Maynard is a lecturer in the Department of Geography, Geology and Environment. Monica is also a Teacher on Special Assignment for Science programs in the neighboring Montebello Unified School District which serves over 20,000 K-12 students. As a TOSA, Monica oversees the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the Environmental Literacy Initiative, which support educators as transformative leaders who build capacity in their schools through empowering learning experiences. She earned her BS in Natural Science with an emphasis in Geosciences and an MS in Geology with an Environmental Hydrogeology option from Cal State, Los Angeles. Monica earned a GIS Certificate and holds a clear single-subject teaching credential in Geosciences, and has taught various Geology and Earth Science courses at the high school level. Monica currently teaches entry-level Geology courses to non-science majors. Her teaching and research interests include climate change, natural disasters, and GIS. The primary REEU collaboration with Monica Maynard is to assist faculty with field projects during the one-week combined field trip/research activity, engage the REEU in areas related to environmental inequities within the metropolitan Los Angeles region, and act as a Liaison for outreach and recruitment with Montebello Unified School District.