Molly Costanza-Robinson arrived at Middlebury College in 2005. Previously, she held postdoctoral and teaching positions at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. Important undergraduate experiences include studying abroad in Germany and working at Argonne National Laboratory's Environmental Research Division.
Research interests include the transport and retention of organic contaminants in the subsurface environment. Most recently, she has been using synchrotron x-ray microtomography at Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source to investigate the morphology and magnitude of the air-water interface in wetted soils, an important physical domain in soils that adsorbs organic contaminants.
Current courses taught are:
ENVS 0112 Natural Science & the Environment
ENVS/CHEM 0170 Chemistry in the Environment
ENVS 0401 Environmental Studies Senior Seminar
2006: Pest Control Issues in VT
2008: Sustainability & Transportation
CHEM 311 Instrumental Analysis Laboratory
ENVS/CHEM 0270 Environmental Chemistry
ENVS 0360 Environmental Science Practicum
2007: Investigation of VT Maple Syrup Flavor Profiles and
Possible Geochemical Determinants
INTD 1055 CSI: Middlebury (with lab)
Recent Publications
Costanza-Robinson, M. S.; Harrold, K. H.*; Lieb-Lappen, R. M.*; X-ray Microtomography Determination of Air-Water Interfacial Area-Water Saturation Relationships in Sandy Porous Media. Environmental Science and Technology, 2008, 42, 2949-2956.
M.S. Costanza-Robinson, M.L. Brusseau. “Gas-Phase Dispersion in Porous Media” in: Gas Transport in Porous Media, C.K. Ho, S.W. Webb, J. Wilson (Eds.), Springer, 2006.
M.L. Brusseau, S. Peng, G. Schnaar, M S. Costanza-Robinson. “Relationships among air-water interfacial area, capillary pressure, and water saturation for a sandy porous medium.” Water Resources Research, 42, W03501, doi:10.1029/2005WR004058, 2006.
F.L. Stoller, J.K. Jones, M.S. Costanza-Robinson, M.S. Robinson. “Demystifying disciplinary writing: A case study in the writing of chemistry”. Language and Learning Across the Disciplines, 2005.
M.L. Brusseau, N.T. Nelson, M.S. Costanza-Robinson. “Partitioning Tracer Tests for Characterizing Immiscible Fluid Saturations and Interfacial Areas in the Vadose Zone”. Vadose Zone Journal, 2:138-147, 2003.
T.D. Carlson, M.S. Costanza-Robinson, J. Keller, M.L. Brusseau. “Evaluation of Gas-Phase Partitioning Tracers for Measurement of Soil-Water Content in an Intermediate Scale System”. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 67:483-486, 2003.
M.S. Costanza-Robinson, M.L. Brusseau. “Air-Water Interfacial Areas in Unsaturated Soils: Evaluation of Interfacial Domains”. Water Resources Research, 38(10), doi: 10.1029/2001WR000738, 2002.
M.S. Costanza-Robinson, M.L. Brusseau. “Gas-Phase Advection and Dispersion in Unsaturated Porous Media”. Water Resources Research, 38(4), 1036, doi:10.1029/2001WR000895, 2002.
Recent Grants
Trubek, A. (PI, University of Vermont) with Almena-Aliste, M. (UVM); Costanza-Robinson, M. S. (Middlebury); Elder, J. (Midd); Munroe, J. (Midd). "The Taste of Place-Maple Syrup Project". Cornelius King Charitable Trust, January-December 2008, $20,000.
M. S. Costanza-Robinson. "RUI: Measurement and Microtomographic Imaging of the Air-Water Interface in Unsaturated Porous Media." National Science Foundation, September 2007-2010, $200,000.
M. S. Costanza-Robinson. "Microtomographic Imaging of the Air-Water Interfacial Area in Unsaturated Porous Media." American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, Type GB, September 2007-2009, $40,000. M.S. Costanza-Robinson. “Xe-enhanced Synchrotron X-ray Computer-assisted Microtomography of Porous Media”. Vermont Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, June 2006-February 2007, $9,383.
Menking, Kirsten (project coordinator), and 14 participating faculty members. “A Watershed Research Consortium for Undergraduate Institutions”. Mellon Cluster Awards, Inter-institutional Initiative. May 2006 – September, 2007, $44,675.
M.L. Brusseau (PI), M.S. Costanza-Robinson (Senior Collaborator). “Measurement and Three-dimensional Imaging of Air-Water Interfacial Areas in Unsaturated Porous Media”. USDA National Research Initiatives. September 1, 2004 – September 1, 2007: $307,812.
D.E. Anderson (PI), M.S. Costanza-Robinson (co-PI). “REU Site: Shima’ nahasdza’a’n bee ‘iina’ (Mother Earth Gives Life)”. National Science Foundation, Environmental Science Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates: February 1, 2003 – February 28, 2006: $212,251.
R.D. Foust (PI), M.S. Costanza-Robinson (co-PI). “Arsenic Accumulation in Motobdella Montezuma”. State of Arizona, Proposition 301. July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004: $25,000.