Assistant Professor

Program: Environmental Science (Chemistry)

Phone: (709) 639-2500

Email: ccuss@mun.ca

Office: AS 251

Social Media: Google Scholar

 

Credentials

BSc (Hon.), PhD (Trent University)

 

Research interests

Our Laboratory for Environmental and Analytical Nangeochemistry (LEAN) Team is deeply engaged in building the foundation for environmental nanogeochemistry through the development of analytical methods and natural nanoparticle system standards, and characterizing the range of natural nanoparticle systems. As part of building this foundation, we undertake interdisciplinary research at the frontiers of analytical chemistry, chemometrics/data science, complex systems, environmental geochemistry, nanogeochemistry, and separation science. With collaborators in France, Switzerland, the USA, and elsewhere in Canada, we also serve as the hub for the Interlaboratory Collaboration for Analytical Nanogeochemistry (ICAN), undertaking inter-laboratory and multi-method comparisons to standardize and compare the analysis of natural nanoparticle systems using methods such as asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation coupled to ICP-MS, and single-particle ICP-time-of-flight-MS.

Specializations: Environmental (nano)geochemistry, trace elements, field-flow fractionation, ICP-MS, single particle ICP-MS, chemometrics and machine learning, self-organizing maps, complex systems.

 

Representative scholarly contributions

Exploring environmental nanobiogeochemistry using field-flow fractionation and ICP-MS-based tools: background and fundamentals (2025) (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/en/d5en00095e) 

Exploring environmental nanobiogeochemistry using field-flow fractionation and ICP-MS-based tools: progress and frontiers (2025) (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/en/d5en00096c)

Self-organizing maps for the detection and classification of natural nanoparticles, nanoparticle systems and engineered nanoparticles characterized using single particle ICP-time-of-flight-MS (2025) (https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ja/d5ja00179j)

Online Coupling of Flow Field-Flow Fractionation ( FlFFF ) to Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry ( ICPMS): Considerations for the Routine Separation and Analysis of Trace Elements at the Micro- and Nano-Scales (2025) (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9783527698073.ch7)

Field-Flow Fractionation Methods for the Characterization of Natural Applications, Challenges, and Considerations for Trace Element Analysis in Natural Waters Using Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation - Ultraviolet - Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (2025) (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9783527698073.ch6

 

Current research projects and grants

“Sustainable utilization and upcycling of paper sludge and wood ash for agricultural and industrial applications” (NSERC Alliance Advantage, 2025–2027)

"Scorched Earth: The impact of increased wildfire activity on soils and associated ecosystems" (France-Canada Research Fund with Mitacs Globalink Internship, 2024-2026)  

"Ash as a soil amendment for low fertility farmlands: impacts on soil fertility and heavy metals content" (Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026)

“Catalyzing the environmental nanogeochemistry of climate change” (NSERC Alliance International Catalyst grant, 2024–2025)

“Building the Foundation for Environmental Nanogeochemistry” (NSERC Discovery grant and ECR supplement, 2023–2029)

Cross-Campus Initiative Fund (Memorial University, 2021 and 2025)

 

Awards and recognitions

President’s Gold Medal (Trent University)

 

Memberships and affiliations

(Past and current)

American Geophysical Union
Canadian Geophysical Union
Canadian Society for Chemistry
European Geophysical Union

 

Honours, graduate and post-graduate supervision

(Past and current)

Primary Supervision:

• Two Undergraduate Honours theses 
• Two NSERC USRA award recipients
• One MSc student
• One PhD student

Co-Supervision:

• Five Undergraduate Honours theses 
• Four MSc theses 
• Four PhD theses 
• Three Postdoctoral Fellows/Research Associates 

Eight Scientific Staff/Technicians