Janet Simkin

Janet Simkin is a plant ecologist and lichenologist at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK. She was president of the British Lichen Society 2014–2016.

Personal life Janet W. Simkin became interested in lichens at school. She took an M. A. degree in natural sciences at University of Cambridge in 1978 and later a Ph.D. in 2007 at University of Newcastle.

Career Simkin initially worked in software management and development but in 1996 began working as a freelance ecological consultant. Her research on lichens in grassland contaminated by lead mining (calaminarian grassland) led to her doctoral degree in grassland ecology. From 2007 she has held various academic post at University of Newcastle as a plant ecologist with a specialist knowledge of plants, lichens and bryophytes as well as vegetation surveying.

Honours She has been data manager at the British Lichen Society since 2000 for their recording scheme and spatial records database and was webmaster 2012 - 2020. She was the society's president from 2014 until 2016.