Simon joined the Institute of Criminology in 2016 after nearly ten years at the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Glasgow, and prior to that the Criminology Department at Keele University. He has held research grants and contracts from various funders including the European Commission, UK research councils (ESRC and AHRC), government justice departments, police, and the European Research Council (ERC). The ERC supported the Trafficking Culture research programme (see www.traffickingculture.org), and is currently funding the Trafficking Transformations project (2020-2025) which follows global illegal markets in collectible goods like antiquities, fossils and wildlife. Simon's most recent book is Transnational Criminology (2020), which develops a practical and theoretical understanding of global criminal trade, including trafficking in drugs, humans, arms, wildlife, diamonds and antiquities.