| Myrna Simpson | |
| Birth Name: | Myrna Joyce Salloum |
| Alma Mater: | University of Alberta |
| Thesis Title: | Sorption of organic compounds to soil and geologic samples that vary in mineral content and diagenic properties |
| Thesis Url: | https://doi.org/10.7939/R39G5GR4Z |
| Thesis Year: | 1999 |
| Website: | M Simpson Lab |
Myrna Simpson (born 1970) is a Canadian research chemist who is the Canada Research Chair in Integrative Molecular Biogeochemistry at the University of Toronto. She is also 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.
Simpson became interested in chemistry at high school.[1] She completed undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of Alberta. After graduating, she spent a year as an analytical chemist. She became particularly interested in environmental chemistry, and eventually returned to and graduate studies at the University of Alberta.[2] Her doctoral research considered sorption of organic compounds in soil.[3]
Simpson has argued 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.[4] [5] In 2003, she secured funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to purchased Canada's first high-field NMR spectrometer for environmental research.[6] [7] The high-field NMR spectrometer was installed in 2007.[8]