Cynthia Coles
Associate Professor, P. Eng.,
B. Eng., M. Eng., Ph.D., McGill

Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Office: EN-3004
Phone: (709) 864-8704
Fax: (709) 864-4042
Email: ccoles@mun.ca

Education
B. Eng., Civil Engineering (Structures), McGill Univeristy
M. Eng., Civil Engineering (Water Resources), McGill University
Ph.D., Civil Engineering (Geo-environmental Engineering), McGill Univeristy

Industrial Experience
Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, Waterloo, Ontario - Municipal Section
Construction Supervision, Sierra Leone, West Africa - Degrémont Scheme Water Supply Projects, C.A.R.E. Feeder Roads Project, and other water supply and building projects

Undergraduate Courses Taught
ENGI 5713 - Fluid Mechanics
ENGI 7713 - Hydrology and Water Resources
ENGI 7718 - Environmental Geotechniques
ENGI 8713 - Municipal Engineering
ENGI 8717 - Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Control
ENGI 8793 - Special Topics in Civil Engineering: Soil Remediation Engineering

Graduate Courses Taught
ENGI 9601 - Environmental Pollution and Mitigation
ENGI 9605 - Water and Wastewater Treatment
ENGI 9613 - Soil Chemistry and Behavior
ENGI 9614 - Renewable Energy and Resource Conservation
ENGI 9621 - Soil Remediation Engineering
ENGI 9630 - Pollution Prevention

Research
Metal interactions with clay soils, peat soils, and sediments
Metal adsorption, speciation, pH effects, adsorption kinetics, and adsorption isotherms
Arsenic distribution in groundwater and arsenic removal
Mining contributions to mercury in groundwater

Journal Publications

Coles, C.A., Rohail, D., 2020, Effect of aeration, iron and arsenic concentrations, and groundwater matrix on arsenic removal using laboratory sand filtration, Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 14 pages, DOI 10.1007/s10653-20-00671-7

Asapo, E.S., Coles, C.A., Lye, L.M., 2015, Modeling the sorption of Ni2+ and Co2+ on saprist peat using the response surface methodology, Journal of Waste Management, Volume 2015, Article ID 571213, 10 pages, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/571213

Coles, C.A., Arisi, J.A., Organ, M., Veinott, G.I., 2014, Leaching of chromiun, copper and arsenic from CCA-treatetd utility poles, Applied and Environmental Soil Science, Volume 2014, Article ID 167971, 11 pages, http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/167971

Asapo, E.S., Coles, C.A., 2012, Peat characterization and uptake of nickel (II) and cobalt (II) in a saprist peat column, Adsorption Science and Technology 30(5):369-381

Asapo, E.S., Coles, C.A., 2012, Characterization and comparison of saprist and fibrist Newfoundland sphagnum peat soils, Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, 11:709-718

Coles, C.A., Patel, T.R., Akinnola, A.P., Helleur, R.J., 2009, Influence of bulking agents, fertilizers and bacteria on the removal of diesel from a Newfoundland Soil, Soil & Sediment Contamination, 18(3):383-396.

Coles, C.A., Yong, R.N., 2006, Use of Equilibrium and Initial Metal Concentrations in Determining Freundlich Isotherms for Soils and Sediments. Engineering Geology, 85:19-25.

Coles, C.A., Yong, R.N., 2006, Humic Acid Preparation, Properties and Interactions with Metals Lead and Cadmium. Engineering Geology, 85:26-32.

Miranda-Trevino, J.C., Coles, C.A., 2003, Kaolinite properties, structure and influence of metal retention on pH. Applied Clay Sciences, 23:133-139.

Coles, C.A., Yong, R.N., 2002, Aspects of kaolinite characterization and retention of Pb and Cd. Applied Clay Sciences, 22:39-45.

Coles, C.A., Rao, S.R., Yong, R.N., 2000, Lead and Cadmium Interactions with Mackinawite: Retention Mechanisms and the Role of pH. Environmental Science & Technology, 34:996-1000.

Refereed Conference Publications

Obeng, D., Coles, C.A., 2017, Climate change impacts on water balance and unfrozen water content and the implications for tailings managment in Northern Canada, 70th Canadian Geotechnical Society Conference, Oct. 1 - Oct. 4, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Rasheed, K., Coles, C.A., 2017, Memorial University of Newfoundland On-campus Cycling Study, Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Conference, May 31 - June 3, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Rageh, O.M., Coles, C.A., 2014, Continuous flow system for arsenate uptake by horticultural peat impregnated with Fe, 67th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, Regina, Saskatechewan, Canada.

Zhang, M., Coles, C.A., 2013, Electric Trolleybus System Proposed for Downtown St. John’s for Private Vehicles Control and Climate Change Mitigation, EIC 2013 Climate Change Technology Conference, 27-29 May, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Asapo, E.S., Coles, C.A., 2010, Batch and Kinetic Studies of Ni Adsorption on Highly Humified Newfoundland Peat, Proc. International Mine Water Association Symposium, 5-9 September, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Coles, C.A., 2009, Ability of the Geo-environment and Oceans to Support the Global Population, Accepted for the 62nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 10th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference, Sept. 20-23, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Canada.

Coles, C.A., 2009, Review of Geothermal Heating and Cooling of Buildings, Proc. EIC 2nd Climate Change Technology Conference, 12-15 May, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Xiao Jiang, Coles, C.A., Asapo E.S., 2008, Review of pre-treated peat applied in treating domestic wastewaters and oily waters, Proc. 61st Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 9th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference, Sept. 21-24, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Asapo, E.S., Coles, C.A., 2008, Characterization of a Horticultural Peat for Treating Mining Wastewater, Proc. International Conference on Waste Engineering and Management, 28-30 May, Hong Kong SAR.

Coles, C.A., 2008, Estimating Retardation from the Freundlich Isotherm for Modeling Contamiant Transport, Proc. International Conference on Waste Engineering and Management, 28-30 May, Hong Kong SAR.

Rageh, O.M., Coles, C.A., Lye, L.M., 2007, Statistical Analysis of Newfoundland Drinking Water Sources Containing Arsenic, OttawaGeo2007, Proc. 60th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 8th Joint CGS/IAH-CNC Groundwater Conference, Oct. 21-24, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Coles, C.A., Cochrane, K., 2006, Mercury Cyanide contamination of Groundwater from Gold Mining and Prospects for Removal, Sea to Sky Geotechnique, Proc. 59th Canadian Geotechnical Conference and 7th Joint CGS-IAH Groundwater Speciality Conference, pp. 1118-1122.

Arisi, J.A., Coles, C.A., Organ, M., 2006, Leaching of Chromium, Copper and Arsenic from Utility Poles Treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate, Opportunities, Challenges and Responsibilities for Environmental Geotechniques, Proc. 5th ICEG Environmental Geotechniques Congress, pp. 1091-1098.

Other Articles

Coles, C.A., 2010, A Vision of a Happy, Sustainable St. John's, for the Happy City Website, www.happycity.ca