Louise Meunier

Assistant Professor & CHE2 Program Advisor

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 focuses 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, and incorporating innovative teaching approaches in the engineering curriculum.

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

2018-22      Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Discovery Grant

2018-20      Natural Research Council of Canada Research Associate Program Fellowship

2018-21      Queen’s School of Graduate Studies – Doctoral Award (Support for New Faculty)

2018-19      Queen’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science – Dean’s Research Fund (in collaboration)

2017-22      Queen’s University Research Initiation Grant

2012-13      NSERC Industrial Research and Development Fellowship (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          Engineering Squadron Commanding Officer’s Commendation – Leadership.

1996          Canadian Forces Decoration – Distinguished Service Medal.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

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. J. Enviro Occup. Sci. 2019, 8(2) 8-19.

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. In: Canadian Engineering Education. Ottawa, Canada. Jun. 2019. (Refereed conference proceeding; panel presentation).

Meunier L, Hudon, N. Translating Problem Statements into Actionable Solution Procedure. In: Canadian Engineering Education. Ottawa, Canada. Jun. 2019. (Refereed conference proceeding; presented by Hudon).

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).

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).

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.

Russel 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. 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. Bioaccessibility of Arsenic Species from Gold Mine Tailings. Canadian Society for Analytical Science and Spectroscopy. Toronto, 2018; 11-14 June. (Invited Conference Talk)

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

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

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. (Refereed journal).

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. (Refereed journal).

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. (Refereed journal).

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).

Meunier L, Lord-Hoyle M, Koch I, Reimer KJ. The Effect of a Glycine Buffer in Estimating the Bioaccessibility of Arsenic from Soils. Metals in the Human Environment (MITHE) Annual Symposium, Gatineau, QC, Canada, 20-21 January 2009. (Conference poster).

Jamieson HE, Walker SR, Meunier L, Parsons MB, Koch I, Reimer KJ. The relationship between mineralogy and bioaccessibility in complex arsenic-contaminated materials. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), 5th World Congress, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney Australia, 3-7 August 2008. (Conference proceedings).

Lord-Hoyle M, Meunier L, Koch I, Wragg J, Ollson C, Reimer KJ. Comparison of three published methods on the bioaccessibility of arsenic and iron. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), 5th World Congress, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney Australia, 3-7 August 2008. (Conference poster).

Meunier L, Lord-Hoyle M, Walker SR, Koch I, Wragg J, Jamieson HE, Parsons MB, Reimer KJ. Choosing a robust method to estimate the bioaccessibility of arsenic from contaminated substrates. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), 5th World Congress, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sydney Australia, 3-7 August 2008. (Conference poster).

Meunier L, Walker SR, Gordon R, Koch I, Jamieson HE, Parsons MB, Reimer KJ. Mineralogy and Bioaccessibility of Arsenic in Tailings and Soil from Nova Scotia Gold Mines. Advanced Photon Source Advisory Council Review of Environmental, Geo- and Planetary Sciences at X-Ray Operations and Research Supported sectors. Argonne, IL, USA, 9-10 July 2008. (Conference poster).

Koch I, Moriarty M, Smith P, Jackson C, Meunier L, Reimer KJ. XAS and microprobe analysis of biological and environmental samples. 14th Biennial National Atomic Spectroscopy Symposium, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 7-9 July 2008. (Conference proceedings).

Meunier L, Jackson C, Moriarty M. Arsenic in the Environment. Presentation to the Advanced Photon Source X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure Scientific Interest Group, Argonne, IL, USA, 24 June 2008. (Conference proceedings).

Walker SR, Meunier L, Koch I, Jamieson HE, Parsons MB, Reimer KJ. Mineralogy and Bioaccessibility of Arsenic in Mine Tailings and Soil. Geological Association of Canada / Mineralogical Association of Canada Joint Annual Meeting, Quebec City Convention Centre, Quebec City, QC, Canada, 26-28 May 2008. (Conference proceedings).

Meunier L, Walker SR, Koch I, Jamieson HE, Parsons MB, Reimer KJ. Mineralogy and bioaccessibility of arsenic in tailings and soil from Nova Scotia gold mines. Metals in the Human Environment (MITHE) Annual Symposium, Gatineau, QC, Canada, 21-23 January 2008. (Conference poster – Best poster award).

Meunier L. Green Roofs over Ontario. Air and Waste Management Association – Ontario Section. Centennial Awards Presentation, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3 January 2008. (Conference proceedings – Centennial award).

Meunier L, Koch I, Wragg J, Reimer KJ. Contaminants and Soil Composition: Effects on Bioaccessibility. Metals in the Human Environment (MITHE) Annual Symposium, Gatineau, QC, Canada, 24-25 January 2007. (Conference poster).

Meunier L. Bioaccessibility and Mineralogy. Presentation to the Metals in the Human Environment (MITHE) Workshop, Guelph, ON, Canada. 14 August 2006. (Workshop proceedings).

Meunier, L. Various Project Development Plans, Project Implementation Plans, Statements of Capability Deficiency, Standard Repairs Manuals, Common Work Instructions, and Technical Reports produced for the Department of National Defence (1990-2004).

CURRENT TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

CHEE 221 Chemical Processes and Systems
CHEE 380 Biochemical Engineering
CHEE 223 Fluid Mechanics
CHEE 361 Engineering Communications, Ethics and Professionalism
CHEE 420 Laboratory Project II – Chemical Engineering (Supervisor)
CHEE 421 Chemical Engineering 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 408 Bioengineering Research Project (Supervisor, 2018-2019)
CHEE 421 Chemical Engineering Research Project (Supervisor, 2017-2018)
ENCH 417 Engineering Chemistry Research Project (Supervisor, 2017-2018)
CHEE371 Mitigation of Industrial Pollution (2017)
CHEE330 Heat and Mass Transfer (2011, 2016)
CCF204 Chimie militaire (2016-2017)
GMF333 Métallurgie et matériaux (2015-2016)
CHEE311 Phase and Reaction Equilibrium (2015)
CHEE370 Waste Treatment Processes (2015)
GAF333 Matériaux aérospatiaux (2014-2015)
GCF474 Guerre biologique et chimique (2014)
MEE311 Fluid Mechanics (2013)
CHEE223 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