Louise Meunier

Assistant Professor & CHEE Undergrad Program Chair

Tel: (613) 533-6000 x 78048
Fax: (613) 533-6637
Email: louise.meunier@queensu.ca
Office: Dupuis Hall 211



Dr. Meunier studied mechanical engineering and worked for twenty years as an aerospace engineering officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. She then completed a PhD in chemical engineering specializing in environmental chemistry. Dr. Meunier’s research is focused on the toxicity of contaminants in soils and mine tailings, and on environmental and human health risks associated with exposure to contaminants in water and soil. These investigations include research on inorganic and organic pollutants, as well as novel materials (e.g., nanoparticles, graphene), and contaminant mixtures. For contaminated soils, tailings, and leachates, research results are used to reduce the costs associated with remediation by focusing cleaning efforts to areas where risk has been identified. In the study of novel materials, this research informs the design of new processes and products, with the goals of protecting human and environmental health. Dr. Meunier works in collaboration industrial and academic experts involved in various aspects of interdisciplinary environmental engineering research.  Dr. Meunier is also involved in engineering education research; her interests include improving problem-solving and resilience abilities in engineering students, with the goal of incorporating innovative teaching approaches in the engineering curriculum.

Dr. Meunier does not currently accept new graduate students or research staff in her research group. Responses will not be made to unsolicited enquiries.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Bioaccessibility of contaminants (in liquids and solids) and novel materials, including nanoparticles;
  • Toxicity of inorganic and organic contaminants (in soils, tailings, leachates);
  • Computational fluid modelling and transport of contaminants in the human body;
  • Environmental and human health risk assessments;
  • Engineering education, problem-solving, and curriculum development.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • Bioaccessibility Method Development for Emerging Inorganic Contaminants and Nanoparticles
  • Fluid Dynamics Model and In-Vitro Tests of Suspended Particles in Gastrointestinal and Lung Fluids
  • Absorption of Contaminants through Artificial Porous Media Mimicking Intestinal Epithelium
  • Modelling of Nanoparticle Absorption and Transport in the Human Digestive System
  • Detection of Hexavalent Chromium in Drinking Water
  • Bioaccessibility of Hexavalent Chromium from Chromite Ores
  • Estimation of Exposure to Mercury from Aerosolized Amalgam Particulates in Dental Procedures
  • Bioaccessibility and Environmental Fate of Biodegradable Flocculants
  • Environmental Fate and Remediation of Microplastics
  • Improving the Technical Writing and Communication Curriculum for Engineering Students

  • Investigating the Effectiveness of Problem-Solving Techniques for Chemical Engineering Students

EDUCATION

2011           Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), Kingston, ON;
                   (Physico-Chemical Parameters Influencing the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic from Tailings and Soils)

1995           M.A.Sc. Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Propulsion), RMC, Kingston, ON;
                   (Computational Study of the Porous Catalytic Surface in a Turboreactor Combustion Chamber)

1989           B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering, RMC, Kingston, ON;

1984           Lauréat II (Piano, education and interpretation), École Vincent D’Indy, Montreal, QC.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2011-2016  Consulting Engineer / Adjunct Assistant Professor / Expert Reviewer
(Self-Employed; Royal Military College of Canada; Queen’s University; Ontario Centers of Excellence)

2011-2012  Project Manager – Pilot Operations / Post-Doctoral Research Scientist
Kingston Process Metallurgy, Kingston, ON

2004-2011 Ph.D. Candidate / Research Assistant / Assistant Professor
Royal Military College of Canada; Queen’s University, Kingston, ON

2002-2004 Director of Engineering / Aerospace Engineering Design and Production Flight Commander
Major, Engineering Support, Trenton, ON

2001-2002 Fleet Maintenance and Quality Assurance Officer
Captain, Tactical Helicopter Headquarters, Kingston, ON

1993-2001 Research Engineer / Assistant Professor / Squadron Commander
Captain, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON

1990-1993 Aerospace Systems Engineer and Project Manager
New Shipborne and New Search and Rescue Helicopter Project, Ottawa, ON

 

SELECTED SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

2021-26         Ontario Research Funds – Research Excellence (grant to the Contaminants of Emerging                                Concern – Research Excellence Network)

2018-23         Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) – Alliance Grant

2019-24         Grafoid Industrial Research Grant

2018-19         Frank Knox Teaching Excellence Honorable Mention

2017-18         Frank Knox Teaching Excellence Nomination

2018-23         NSERC – Discovery Grant ($142,500)

2018-20         Queen’s Faculty of Engineering and Science – Dean’s Research Fund grant to Graphene                              Integrated Functional Technologies (GIFT) Research Cluster)

2018-21         National Research Council – Research Affiliate Program

2017-22         Queen’s Research Initiation Grant

2017-             Queen’s Department of Chemical Engineering – Undergraduate Research Support

2017-21         Queen’s School of Graduate Studies – Doctoral Award Support for New Tenure-Stream Hires

2012-13         NSERC Industrial Research and Development Fellowship (IRDF) (Innovations in Metallurgy)

2007-10         NSERC Post-Graduate Scholarship (PGS D) 2007-2010.

2010              Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation – Claudette-MacKay-Lassonde Scholarship.

2008              Air and Waste Management Association – Ontario Section Centennial Prize.

2008              Metals in the Human Environment – Poster Award.

2006-07         Defence Research Development Canada – Scholarship.

2005              Canadian Council of Professional Engineers – Manulife Award.

2005-06         Queen’s University Graduate Award.

2004              First Canadian Air Division Commander’s Commendation – Leadership.

2004              Aerospace and Telecommunications Engineering Support Squadron – Commanding Officer’s                         Commendation – Leadership.

1996              Canadian Forces Decoration – Medal for Distinguished Service.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Obayomi, KS, Lau SY, Zahir, A, Meunier L, Jianhua Z, Dada AO, Rahman MM. Removing methylene blue from water: A study of sorption effectiveness onto nanoparticles-doped activated carbon. Chemosphere 313 (2023) 137533 early print December 2022.

Russell DA, Hutchinson RA, Meunier L. Estimating the bioaccessibility of flocculants in the presence of sediments in model wastewater. Environmental Pollution. 315:120265 December 2022.

Clasky, DP, Meunier, L, Wells, LA. Modeling the Effects of Disease, Drug Properties, and Material on Drug Transport from Intraocular Lenses. Translational Vision Science & Technology, 11(5):14.1-15. May 2022.

Russell DA, Hutchinson RA, Meunier L. Quantitative analyses to estimate the bioaccessibility of a hydrolytically degradable cationic polymer. Heliyon 7(12) e08500 2021.

Rankin P, Meunier L, Kontopoulou M. Characterization and identification of microplastics in freshwater systems.  AIP Conference Proceedings (peer-reviewed), Polymer Processing Society PPS-36 Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, October 2021.

Hudon N, Meunier, L.  Aligning the chemical engineering curriculum around a common problem-solving strategy. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education. (Peer reviewed) June 2020.

Meunier, L., Hudon, N. Implementing a Common Approach to Problem Solving in the Second Year of Chemical Engineering. Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education Association. (Peer reviewed) June 2020.

Russell D, Meunier L., Hutchinson R. Characterization of degradation products from a hydrolytically degradable cationic flocculant Polymer Degradation and Stability. 174(2020) 109097.

Jalink K, Cheng SSY, Ireland SB, Meunier L. Silver nanoparticle uptake in the human lung assessed through in-vitro and in-silico methods. Environmental Pollution. 259(2020) 113880.

Léonard A, Meunier L. Occupational exposure to mercury in dental professionals performing mercury dental amalgam restoration removal procedures: A computational fluid dynamics air quality risk assessment model supported by in vitro results. Journal of Environmental and Occupational Science. 8(2) 8-19, 2019.

Marshall M, Wilkinson L, Yargeau V, Orjuela-Laverde M, Bloom M, Caron B, Meunier L, Zilberbrant G, Okrutny P, Verrett J, Shoen M, Qi E, Teslenko T, Miller K, Golpour H. Preparing Tomorrow’s Engineer-Communicators: A Review of Models for Effective Communication Instruction. Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education. (Peer reviewed) Jun. 2019.

Meunier L, Hudon N. Translating Problem Statements into Actionable Solution Procedure. Proceedings of the Canadian Engineering Education. (Peer reviewed) Jun. 2019.

Russell DA, Meunier L, and Hutchinson RA. Physio-chemical Characteristics and Environment Fate of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Polymer Flocculant. MACRO 2022 – The 49th Polymer Congress (International level), Winnipeg, Canada. 20 July 2022.

Avazzadeh Samani F, Meunier L. Microplastics Serve as A Potential Vector for Naphthalene from The Freshwater System to The Human Gastrointestinal System, MACRO 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 20 July 2022.

Russell DA, Meunier L, and Hutchinson RA. Bioaccessibility and Environment Fate of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Polymer Flocculant. PEOPLE 2022 International Conference on Persistent, Emerging, and Organic Pollution in the Environment – Challenges and Solutions under Climate Change (International level), Charlottetown, Canada. 24 August 2022.

Russell DA, Meunier L., and Hutchinson RA. Characteristics and Environment Fate of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Polymer Flocculant. 39th High Polymer Forum Conference (National level), Gananoque, Canada. August 2022.

Russell DA, Meunier L, Hutchinson RA. PEOPLE 2022 International Conference on Persistent, Emerging, and Organic Pollution in the Environment – Challenges and Solutions under Climate Change (International level), Charlottetown, Canada. 24 August 2022.

Avazzadeh Samani F, Meunier L. Microplastics Serve as A Potential Vector for Naphthalene from The Freshwater System to The Human Gastrointestinal System. PEOPLE 2022 International Conference on Persistent, Emerging, and Organic Pollution in the Environment – Challenges and Solutions under Climate Change (International level), Charlottetown, Canada. 24 August 2022.

Russell DA, Meunier L, Hutchinson RA. Estimating the Bioaccessibility of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculant. Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (virtual presentation) October 2021.

Clasky, D, Meunier, L, & Wells, L.A. (2021, May 13-15). Drug release model from an intraocular lens to treat post-cataract surgery complications [Conference Presentation]. 36th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Biomaterials Society, Waterloo, ON, Canada. May 2021.

Rankin P, Meunier L, Kontopoulou M. Characterization and identification of microplastics in freshwater systems. Poster presented in Polymer Processing Society PPS-36 Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 2021.

Sauvé R, Mills A, Meunier, L. Bioaccessibility of Hexavalent Chromium from Ring of Fire Soils and Mine Waste Dust. Faculty of Engineering Undergraduate Seminar Series, Royal Military College of Canada, 18 January 2021. (Presented by L. Meunier)

Hudon N, Meunier L.  Aligning the chemical engineering curriculum around a common problem-solving strategy. Virtual Conference American Society for Engineering Education. June 2020.

Russell DA, Hutchinson RA, Meunier L. Estimating the Bioaccessibility of Degradation Products from a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculant. Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (National Level), Ottawa (virtual), Canada, 29 October 2020.

Russell DA, Meunier L, Hutchinson R. 69th Characterization of Degradation Products from Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculants. Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference. Halifax, NS, Canada. 20-23 October 2019. Abstract submitted for oral presentation in Polymers and Composite Materials technical session.

Léonard A, Meunier L. Évaluation de l’exposition à long terme aux particules et vapeurs de mercure issus des procédures de restauration des amalgames dentaires. Spectr’Atom 2019 Montreal, Canada. June 2019. (Invited presentation; presented by Meunier).

Mills A, Meunier L. Estimating the Bioaccessibility of Hexavalent Chromium from Chromite Ore and Mine Leachate in the Ring of Fire. 63rd International Conference on Analytical Sciences and Spectroscopy. Montreal, Canada, Jun. 2019. (Invited presentation; presented by Meunier).

Ireland B, Meunier L. Silver Nanoparticles in the Human Lung: Exposure Assessment. 15th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Nanjing, China. May 2019. (Invited presentation; cancelled due to travel advisory).

Meunier L. Sustainability and Our Footprint. Engineers Without Border Event. Queen’s University. Keynote Speaker and Panelist. Mar. 2019.

Meunier L. Engineering Your Life. Let’s Talk Science Challenge. Queen’s University. Keynote Speaker. May 2018.

Meunier L. Lead Toxicity in Swans and Aquatic Systems. Interview for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Eastern Ontario. Apr. 2018.

Meunier L. Mitigation of individual contributions to global environmental pollution. Sustainability Conference at Queen’s University. Jan. 2018. (Invited presentation).

Meunier L, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Chemical Speciation Influencing the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic from Gold Mine Tailings. 62nd International Conference on Analytical Sciences and Spectroscopy. Toronto, Canada, Jun. 2018. (Invited presentation).

Meunier L, Walker SR, Wragg J, Parsons MB, Jamieson HE, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Paramètres physico-chimiques et spéciation influant sur la bioaccessibilité de l’arsenic dans les résidus aurifères. Spectr’Atom 2018 Pau, France May 2018. (Invited presentation; cancelled due to illness).

Russell DA, Meunier L, Hutchinson RA. Estimating the Bioaccessibility of a Hydrolytically Degradable Cationic Flocculant. Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (virtual presentation) October 2021.

Clasky D, Meunier L, & Wells LA. (2021, May 13-15). Drug release model from an intraocular lens to treat post-cataract surgery complications [Conference Presentation]. 36th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Biomaterials Society, Waterloo, ON, Canada. May 2021.

Rankin P, Meunier L, Kontopoulou M. Characterization and identification of microplastics in freshwater systems. Poster presented in Polymer Processing Society PPS-36 Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 2021.

Sauvé R, Mills A, Meunier L. Bioaccessibility of Hexavalent Chromium from Ring of Fire Soils and Mine Waste Dust. Faculty of Engineering Undergraduate Seminar Series, Royal Military College of Canada, 18 January 2021. (Presented by L. Meunier)

Mills A, Meunier L. Bioaccessibilité du chrome hexavalent issu de minerai de chromite et des sols du Cercle de feu (Nord de l’Ontario, Canada). Spectr’Atom 2019, Montreal, Canada, Jun. 2019. (Poster).

Russell D, Meunier L, Hutchinson R. The fate of degradation products from hydrolytically degradable cationic flocculants. In: Beaty Water Research Centre Research Forum. Kingston, Canada, Nov. 2018. (Poster).

Meunier L, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Effects of organic matter and ageing on arsenic bioaccessibility. Environ. Poll. 2011; 159:2530-6.

Meunier L, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Effects of dissolution kinetics on the bioaccessibility of arsenic in soils and tailings. Chemosphere. 2011; 84:1378-85.

Meunier L, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Effects of particle size on arsenic bioaccessibility in gold mine tailings of Nova Scotia. Sci. Total Environ. 2011; 409:2233-43.

Meunier L, Walker SW, Wragg J, Parsons MB, Koch I, Jamieson HE, Reimer KJ. Effects of soil composition and mineralogy on the bioaccessibility of arsenic from tailings and soil in gold mine districts of Nova Scotia. Enviro. Sci. Technol. 2010; 44:2667-74.

Meunier L, Wragg J, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Method variables affecting the bioaccessibility of arsenic in soil. J. Environ. Sci. Health, Part A. 2010; 45:517-26.

Meunier L, Koch I, Reimer KJ. Bioaccessibility of Arsenic from Tailings and Soils of the Gold Mine Districts in Nova Scotia, Canada. Report of the Environmental Sciences Group, Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, ON, Canada. RMC-CCE-ES-09-02, February 2009. (Technical report).

CURRENT TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

CHEE 221 Chemical Processes and Systems
CHEE 380 Biochemical Engineering
CHEE 361 Engineering Communications, Ethics and Professionalism
CHEE 420 Laboratory Project II – Chemical Engineering (Supervisor)
CHEE 408 Biochemical Engineering Research Project (Supervisor)
CHEE 838 Pollution and Risk Assessment
CHEE 884 / CIVL 889 Bioremediation
CHEM 497 Research Project (Supervisor)
ENCH 417 Engineering Chemistry Research Project (Supervisor)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

(Courses taught at the Royal Military College of Canada, or Queen’s University)

APSC 100 Engineering Practice (Supervisor, 2017-2019)
CHEE 421 Chemical Engineering Research Project (Supervisor, 2017-2018)
CHEE 371 Mitigation of Industrial Pollution (2017)
CHEE 330 Heat and Mass Transfer (2011, 2016)
CCF204 Chimie militaire (2016-2017)
GMF333 Métallurgie et matériaux (2015-2016)
CHEE 311 Phase and Reaction Equilibrium (2015)
CHEE 370 Waste Treatment Processes (2015)
GAF333 Matériaux aérospatiaux (2014-2015)
GCF474 Guerre biologique et chimique (2014)
MEE311 Fluid Mechanics (2013)
CHEE 223 Fluid Mechanics (2013)
CCF200 Chimie contemporaine (2011)
CCE485 Environmental Engineering (2010)
GEE267 Engineering Graphics (1996-98)
GMF311 Mécanique des fluides I (1995-98)
GMF313 Mécanique des fluides II (1995-98)
GMF351 Thermodynamique I (1995-1998)
GMF353 Thermodynamique II (1995-1998)
Aircraft Structures Special Course (1996-97)
MEE404 Computer-Aided Design (1997)
MEE/GMF471 Engineering Design (1995-99)
Professional Development (Leadership) (1995-99)
Professional Development (Ethics) (1995-99)
Professional Communications (1995-99)
Thesis/Project supervision