Her scientific research involves the study of the composition, dynamics, and cloud structure in jovian planet atmospheres, primarily from spacecraft observations. She is PI of the Hubble Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program, a productive yearly observing program. Dr. Simon is an author on more than 175 scientific publications on giant planet atmospheres, small body surface composition, instrumentation and more.
Dr. Simon is also involved in multiple robotic flight missions, as well as future mission concept development. She was a co-investigator on the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and the Deputy Instrument Scientist for the Landsat 9 TIRS2 instrument. She is currently the instrument scientist for the OSIRIS-REx Visible and near-IR Spectrometer (OVIRS) and Project Scientist for OSIRIS-APEX, and is the Lucy L'Ralph instrument Deputy PI. She has led myriad mission concept studies and a New Frontiers mission proposal.
Dr. Simon is active in education and outreach and gives frequent public lectures. She also serves the community and has served on various professional society committees. She was a convener of several major workshops including a 2013 AGU Chapman conference and the 2024 Uranus Flagship workshop. She served on the steering group, as the vice chair of the giant planets panel, for both the 2013-2022 Visions and Voyages and 2023-2032 Original, Worlds, and Life Planetary Science Astrobiology Decadal Surveys. Dr. Simon was the 2023 recipients of the Division for Planetary Sciences Claudia J. Alexander prize, was awarded a 2022 Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Public Service, and has asteroid 84994 amysimon named in her honor.