Lorraine Maltby

Lorraine Lucy Maltby (born 1960, née Ward)  is a British biologist and who is a professor of environmental biology at the University of Sheffield. She serves as deputy Vice-President for research and innovation and chair of the board of trustees of the Freshwater Habitats Trust. Her research investigates interactions in the riparian zone and the environmental impacts of agri-plastics.

Early life and education
Maltby became interested in freshwater ecology during her A-Levels, where she completed a project on urban ecology. She moved to Newcastle University for an undergraduate degree in zoology. She then moved to the University of Glasgow for graduate studies, where she studied the life history of freshwater Erpobdella leeches.

Research and career
Maltby was awarded a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) postdoctoral research grant, and moved to the University of Sheffield in 1984. Maltby joined the Faculty at the University of Sheffield in 1988, and was appointed a professor in 2004 and served as head of department from 2008. In 2017 she was appointed Deputy Vice President of Research. Her research investigates aquatic-riparian interactions and the environmental impacts of plasticulture. She has been part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) activity around sustainable plastics in agriculture. She has studied chemical pollution in Yorkshire rivers. Maltby is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Freshwater Habitats Trust.

Awards and honours

 * 2019 Elected Fellow of the Freshwater Biological Association
 * 2020 Appointed officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to Environmental Biology, Animal and Plant Sciences.