Salomon was born to a physicist father and occupational-therapist mother in Vancouver, British Columbia. She lived near the University of British Colunbia and spent a lot of time at the Jericho Sailing Centre. She started sailing when she was five and credits catching her first fish as her inspiration for studying the ocean. Growing up, Salomon cited primatologist Jane Goodall as an inspiration. She stated Goodall was "inspiring a generation of women to explore the remote corners of our planet, observe nature and her mysteries and do whatever we can to conserve them." Salomon stated that when she was researching at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, all projects involving Huu-ay-aht lands were brought to the Huu-ay-aht First Nation for approval. This heavily influenced how she conducted her own research.
Education
Salomon earned her PhD from the University of Washington. As a women in the field of academia, she has experienced sexual harassment. In one case, early in her career, she was sexually harassed by the head scientist of an organization she was researching for. The scientist was eventually terminated after she reported it.
Career
After earning her Phd, Salomon did her post-doctoral work at the Marine Science Institute in the University of California Santa Barbara. In 2008, Salomon accepted the David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellowship. Following this, Salomon accepted a position at Simon Fraser University as an Assistant Professor of their School of Resource and Environmental Management. In 2013, Salomon was the recipient of a PEW Fellowship to research sea otter recovery in North America. Her research, which was in collaboration with First Nations groups and the Hakai Beach Institute, synthesized data of sea otter recovery and the impact it had on fisheries. She simultaneously directed SFU's Coastal Marine Ecology and Conservation Lab. That year, she also received the International Recognition of Professional Excellence Prize, which included a $4,000 endowment, by the International Ecology Institute. The next year, Salomon and local First Nations tribes began to petition to allow sea otter populations to return along the entire coast of B.C, which would trigger dramatic ecological changes, reshaping the Pacific near-shore ecosystem. She also helped launch the "Outer Shores Research Program," which worked alongside the Hakai Beach Institute and Central Coast First Nations to "understand the major drivers of changes and their effects on near shore coastal ecosystems." Her research interests also extended to studying ancient clam gardens in the Pacific Northwest. With fellow researchers Amy Groesbeck, Dana Lepofsky, and Kirsten Rowell, Salomon helped create the first study that proved ancient clam gardens were superior productivity. After that academic term, Salomon was promoted to associate professor. As an associate professor in 2015, Salomon received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision. This was due to Salomon involving herself in supervising 31 students, in addition to those she supervises informally, within six years. She later earned a grant to study Ecosystem Tipping Points In an Era of Global Change. In 2019, Salomon was elected a Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists of the Royal Society of Canada.
