Myrna J. Simpson

Myrna Simpson is a Canadian research environmental chemist who is the Canada Research Chair in Integrative Molecular Biogeochemistry at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She is also the Associate Director of the Environmental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre. Her research consider the molecular level mechanisms that underpin environmental processes, and the development of advanced analytical tools to better understand environmental health.

Early life and education Simpson became interested in chemistry and the environment during high school. She completed undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of Alberta. Her doctoral research considered sorption of organic compounds in soil with emphasis on how soil organic matter controlled these processes.

Research and career Simpson has demonstrated that nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is of particular value when it comes to environmental research. In particular, it can be used to understand the fate of environmental pollutants and how particular ecosystems respond to climate change. In 2003, she secured funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to purchased Canada's first high-field NMR spectrometer for environmental research. The high-field NMR spectrometer was installed in 2004. 2017 University of Toronto Scarborough Faculty Research Excellence Scholar 2020 Appointed Canada Research Chair 2021 Royal Society of Chemistry Analytical Division Horizon Prize Sir George Stokes Award 2023 C.C. Patterson Award from the Geochemical Society 2023 Chemical Institute of Canada Environment Division Research and Development Dikma Award 2023 Geochemistry Fellow 2025 Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada

Selected publications

Personal life Simpson is married to André J. Simpson, also a research chemist, with whom she has published several papers. They have two children.