Melanie Fillingham

Introduction and Research Interests

Hi! My name is Melanie Fillingham, and I am currently working towards my Masters in Applied Science in Environmental Engineering. I completed my bachelors here at Carleton University, also in Environmental Engineering, graduating in 2015.

My thesis project is on assessing the impact of grid resolution on forward and backward sensitivity results from air quality models. I am looking at how changing the grid size in which a domain is modeled over changes the accuracy of the results, both through forward and backward sensitivities. Specifically, I will be looking at the health burdens related to ozone, and the ozone sensitivity to changes in ozone precursors (NOx and VOCs).

The forward sensitivity method involves the usage of the decoupled direct method (DDM) applied to CMAQv5.0.2 in which the sensitivity between model input (grid size) and the model output (predicted concentrations) is determined through parametric differentiation with respect to the horizontal grid size. The second approach involves running CMAQv4.5.1-adjoint at progressively refined resolutions of 36km, 12km, 4km and 1km, with the smallest resolution domain being over the Greater Toronto Area.

Teaching Experience

Besides research, I am a teaching assistant. I truly enjoy teaching and appreciate the reward gained knowing that I have successfully taught a student something new. Being able to play a role in the learning process of many students is beyond fulfilling. My opportunity to assist in teaching at Carleton has opened my eyes to the potential in pursuing a career involving some aspect of teaching. I obtained the EDC (Educational Development Centre) award for Outstanding TA of the year, at both the department level (Civil and Environmental Engineering) as well as being one of five recipients at the university level. I received this award for my contribution to teaching CIVE2700 (Civil Materials) in 2016. I am now honoured to be on the selection committee for selecting the 2017 EDC Outstanding TA award recipients, working alongside the VP of Academics. I am also working towards my EDC Certificate, to help with my teaching development. The following are a list of classes that I have had the opportunity to TA:

• ECOR3800: Engineering Economics. Spring 2014.
• CIVE2700: Civil Materials. Fall 2015 & 2016.
• ENVE2001: Process Analysis for Environmental Engineers. Winter 2015.
• ENVE3001: Water Treatment Principles and Design. Winter 2015.

List of Conference Presentations and Publications:

Fillingham, M., Oztaner, B., Zhao, S., Hakami, A. 2015. “Assessing the impact of grid resolution on forward and backward sensitivity results.” Community Modeling and Analysis Systems (CMAS) 15^th Annual Conference, Chapel Hill, N.C. October 24-26^th, 2016. Oral Presentation.

Fillingham, M., Oztaner, B., Zhao, S., Hakami, A. 2015. “Assessing the impact of grid resolution on forward and backward sensitivity results.” Community Modeling and Analysis Systems (CMAS) 15^th Annual Conference, Chapel Hill, N.C. October 24-26^th, 2016. Extended Abstract.

Fillingham, M., VanderZaag, A., Burtt, S., Balde, H., Ngwabie, M., Smite, W., Hakami, A., Wagner-Riddle, C., and MacDonald, D. 2015. “Emissions of methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide from solid liquid separation and composting of dairy manure.” Dairy and Environmental Systems and Climate Adaptions Conference. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Poster Presentation.

Fillingham, M., VanderZaag, A., Burtt, S., Balde, H., Ngwabie, M., Smite, W., Hakami, A., Wagner-Riddle, C., and MacDonald, D. 2015. “Emissions of methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide from solid liquid separation and composting of dairy manure.” Dairy and Environmental Systems and Climate Adaptions Conference. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Conference Proceedings Paper.

Fillingham, M.A., 2013. “Method development for detection of chlorine, mercury, and arsenic using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).” NRCan Database, Government of Canada. System Code: CDEV-2013-1994-OA.

Singh, J., Fillingham, M., VanderZaag, A.C., MacDonald, J.D., Colla, A., Kinsley, C., and Burtt, S.D. 2014. “Yet another use for ePTFE: Removing ammonia from stored liquid manure.” Agricultural and Biological Engineering Conference (NABEC), Kemptville, Canada, July 2014, Presentation.

Babatunde, O., Fillingham, M., and Arboleda, P., 2015. “Determining acidic and elemental contaminants in crude oil,” NRCan Database, Government of Canada, System Code: CDEV-2015-2574-RT.

List of Awards:

Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 2016-2017, Ontario Provincial Government

EDC Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Departmental (Civil and Environmental Engineering) and University Wide, 2016, Carleton University

Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), 2015-2016, Canadian Federal Government

NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA), 2015, Canadian Federal Government

Best Social and Environmentally Sustainable Project: Student Capstone Project Papers Night, Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), 2015

Dean’s Honors List, 2010-2015, Carleton University

E.J. Lambert Scholarship, 2010, Royal Canadian Legion

Michael Oliver Scholarship, 2013-2014, Carleton University

David A. Golden Scholarship, 2012-2013, Carleton University

Volunteering:

Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
EDC Outstanding TA Award Selection Committee Member
2016-2017

Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
OWWA/WEAO (Ontario Water Works Association and Water Environment Association of Ontario) Carleton Joint Student Chapter Executive Member: VP of Social Media
Sept 2016- Present

Let’s Talk Science, Ottawa, Ontario
Sept 2015- Present

Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
Student Rep. of the Cyclical Review Program (CRP) of the B.Eng Environmental Engineering Program
September 2014 – April 2015

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