Prof. Myrna Simpson of UTSC is one of two U of T Chemistry faculty who have been named as Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), an organization dedicated to highlighting specific exceptional achievements by Canadian academics and researchers.
Simpson and Prof. Alán Aspuru-Guzik and were named as new fellows and college members in a press release by the RSC on September 4, 2025.
In a September 8th article, University of Toronto Scarborough News writes:
Professor Myrna Simpson has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, one of the country’s highest honours for academics and researchers.
Simpson says the recognition is both humbling and deeply meaningful. “I’m elated to join the many exceptional scholars who are already Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada. Being elected by my peers is validation of the high-quality and innovative research that my group has been carrying out for more than 20 years.”
Simpson, the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Integrative Molecular Biogeochemistry, focuses on how human activity affects the environment, with a particular emphasis on how ecosystems respond to stress. She emphasized that the honour is shared with her collaborators and students, who have played a vital role in her lab’s success.
At the Environmental NMR Centre – the first environmental-focused Nuclear Magnetic Resonance facility in Canada – Simpson and her colleagues created molecular “maps” of soil organic matter. These maps revealed how soil stores and releases carbon, and how climate warming could speed up decomposition, potentially accelerating carbon dioxide emissions.
Her group also looked at how forests respond to the twin pressures of rising temperatures and nitrogen levels. Their research showed that increased root activity added more carbon to soils, suggesting forests may be more resilient to climate change than once believed.
Another project is exploring whether microbes can survive in bentonite clay used to seal underground nuclear waste facilities—, a crucial safety question for long-term storage. The team’s multi-million–dollar study is testing whether organic matter in the clay could fuel microbial growth and compromise storage integrity. Her group also pioneered the field of environmental metabolomics, now being used as an early warning system for ecosystem decline and environmental monitoring programs.
Although Simpson has received many international awards, she says this recognition feels special because of its broader purpose. “As a Fellow, there is a responsibility to use the platform to make a positive impact, through mentorship, as a role model for underrepresented individuals and by pushing the boundaries of knowledge.”
Over her career, Simpson has secured more than $30 million in research funding, published over 300 articles, and mentored dozens of young scientists. But among her proudest achievement is the inclusive and supportive environment she has fostered in her lab.
“This recognition affirms our group’s unique and novel contributions to science and society,” she says.