Department of Science, Math, & Engineering: Faculty

Audrey LaVallie, Science Instructor

Phone Extension: 1001
Email: alavallie@tm.edu
Office: Room 102
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

Audrey Navarre LaVallie- born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1955, attended University of Michigan and received B.S. in physical science with teaching certificate, completed second major in chemistry at Pan American University (branch of University of Texas) while teaching in Texas, and completed MS in Soils with major in soil chemistry at Texas A & M in 1996.

Academic interests include computer modeling of soil dynamic processes, environmental public health, wastewater and soil pollutants, renewable energy and promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in education.

TMCC duties: Instructor Introduction to Chemistry 115, Introduction to Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry116, College Physics 211, College Physics 212, General Chemistry 121, General Chemistry 122.

Other courses taught in the past: General Biology 150 and 151, Environmental Science 124.

Grant collaborations in the past five years:

1. ND View; P.I. (2007-2009): attended GIS classes and taught GIS workshops for high school teachers. Completed mapping project with student interns- landmarks; residences; mosaics of 1962 maps; water quality levels of dissolved O2, phosphates, nitrates, temperature and pH.
2. AEHAP: P.I. (2006): Worked with student interns on “Quantitative Analysis of Lead in Paint Samples by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation;” poster presentation at CDC/ATSDR Conference on Environmental Public Health in Atlanta, 2006.
3. NASA/USRA; P.I. (2007-2009) -GIS and remote sensing incorporation into physical science curricula presented on NASA/USRA website (space.hsv.usra.edu). Laboratory modules were developed by the director and student interns which demonstrated principles involved in air pollution, sedimentation, emissivity, reflection, cloud formation, ice formation/melting, saline soils, deforestation and oil spills.
4. EPSCoR; P.I. (2007) -Radon Study (EPSCoR): “Parameters Affecting Radon Levels in Local Residences in Rolette County;” included residence testing of gas levels, humidity, age and type of construction materials, soil permeablility. Poster at EPSCoR conference in Fargo, ND, 2007.
5. EPSCoR; P.I. (2008) “Radon Mitigation System Construction Project Feasibility and Cost Analysis;” student interns researched and constructed four radon mitigation systems in high-radon residences, evaluating construction techniques and cost. Completed in 2008; poster at EPSCoR Conference in Grand Forks, 2008.

Current grant projects:

1. REU Project; investigator (summer 2009, 2010): Sample Preparation Comparison and Analysis of VOCs from Soil and Water Matrices by Gas Chromatograph; Student interns analyzed spiked soil and water samples via gas chromatograph for the best suitable method of extracting pollutants; field samples were also evaluated for presence of suspected volatiles. Current work in 2010 involves semivolatile organic compounds, with TCUP as an additional funding agency.
2. ATSDR/CDC Project (summer 2009): Soil Metal Contaminants on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Reservation; Student interns collected field samples and also spiked control samples to test analyte retention throughout the extraction process by microwave. Field samples were later evaluated for Pb, Cd, Ni, Ag, Fe and Cr by atomic absorption spectrometry. Work continues on more field samples in summer 2010, funded by the REU project.
3. EPSCoR; P.I. (2008-2010): Structural Modeling of Terrestrial Gas Movement into Buildings: Relating Soil Properties and Temperature Effects into Gas Flow Equations; Student interns constructed a scale residential model and monitored gas inflow and outflow rates, soil and building gas concentrations, pressure and temperature during heating events on several different soil profiles. Data was input into Excel numerical models simulating flow via Darcy and Fick equations in order to compare soil permeability, barrier permeability and venting effects on gas inflow.