Tara K. Miller

 tkingmil@bu.edu

SUMMARY

Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, researching ecosystem responses to climate change. Strong analytic, organizational, and communications skills. Experience includes:

• Field research - ecology, forestry, and wildlife biology
• Lab research - botany and genetics
• Fluency in French, conversance in Spanish, beginning level Norwegian
• Proficiency with GPS, ArcGIS, and ENVI
• Proficiency with statistics program R
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office
• Environmental community organizing

EDUCATION

Boston University, Boston, MA. Doctor of Philosophy, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, August 2022.                    GPA 4.0/4.0.  Advanced Graduate Certificate in Biogeoscience, Spring 2021.

Boston University, Boston, MA. Master of Arts, Biology, January 2022.

Williams College, Williamstown, MA. Bachelor of Arts, June 2015.                                                                         GPA 3.86/4.0. Biology major GPA 4.0/4.0.

Lansing High School, Lansing, NY. Graduated June 2011. Valedictorian.

HONORS AND AWARDS

Boston University                                                                                                                                           Outstanding Graduate Student Elevator Pitch Award, Biogeoscience Symposium, 2021.    Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation Award, Biogeoscience Symposium, 2020.                    Outstanding Graduate Student Presentation Award, Biogeoscience Symposium, 2019.

Williams College                                                                                                                                                       Magna Cum Laude, 2015.                                                                                                                                           Phi Beta Kappa, 2015.                                                                                                                                             Sigma Xi (scientific honor society), 2015.                                                                                                             Dean's List, each semester, 2011-2015.

American University Center of Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France                                                                     Test d'Évaluation de Français (TEF) - Level C1 (proficient: "utilisateur expérimenté")                           Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) - 138/145 (highest level: "adaptation")

FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS

   BOSTON UNIVERSITY

NSF Urban Program Fellowship, Summer 2022, $32,700.

Graduate Student Organization Travel Grant, Spring 2022, $500.

NSF Urban Program Travel Award, Spring 2022, $1,100.

Biology Department Travel Award, Fall 2021, $500.

NSF Urban Program Research Award, Spring 2021 $1,500. 

Biogeoscience Student Research Award, Spring 2021, $500. 

NSF Urban Program Research Award, Summer 2020, $1,000.

Biogeoscience Student Research Award, Spring 2020, $675.

NSF Urban Program Fellowship, 2019-2020, $97,500.

Biology Department Travel Award, Spring 2020, $200.

NSF Urban Program Travel Award, Fall 2019, $1,000.

Dean's Fellowship, Spring 2019, $42,500.

Teaching Fellowship, Fall 2018. Taught BI107 Biology 1 lab sections.

   OTHER FELLOWSHIPS

Fulbright Fellowship, 2015-2016.

Friedberg Travel Fellowship, 2014. Researched the French nuclear industry, including interviewing French people about their opinions of nuclear energy and analyzing why nuclear energy is successful in France.

EMPLOYMENT

Policy Research Specialist Senior, Repair Lab, University of Virginia, February 2023 to Present. I support the environmental justice work of Practitioners-in-Residence by researching, developing, writing, and implementing policy solutions. I carry out many duties, including project management, administrative support, coordination of scientific studies, identification of and relationship building with research and community partners, education and outreach, media engagement, grant writing, scientific writing, policy writing, and production of project deliverables for policy, communications, and outreach work.

Ph.D. Candidate, Boston University, August 2018 to August 2022. Studying plant and animal phenological responses to climate change in Dr. Richard Primack's lab. Mentored four undergraduate students and two Masters students. Managed the lab blog. Trainee in the Graduate Program in Urban Biogeoscience & Environmental Health (NSF-funded).

Editorial Assistant, Biological Conservation journal, January 2020 to March 2021. Supporting the Editor's work, inviting and managing reviewers for submitted manuscripts.

Board of Directors, Adirondack Wildlife Inc., August 2018 to Present; Secretary, January 2019 to Present.  I provide expertise on programming, education, outreach, and grant-writing to support the mission of supporting wildlife education and rehabilitation in northern New York.

New York Outreach Consultant, Defenders of Wildlife, October 2017 to September 2018. Built a successful base of citizen activists, influential constituents, and a coalition of environmental organizations. Secured numerous constituent meetings with members of Congress and staff. Influenced three U.S. Representatives to sign a dear colleagues letter to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Improved the pro-wildlife voting record of five U.S. Representatives from 10-40% to 20-100%. Published constituent op-eds and letters to the editor, landed radio and TV interviews, and produced multiple organizational sign-on letters from local groups.

Forest Ecology Field Technician, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, June to September 2017. Installed permanent forest monitoring plots, including identifying, tagging, and measuring overstory and understory trees and ground-layer vegetation. Monitored plant phenology. Led and instructed groups of volunteers, technicians, and interns.

Biological Technician, Student Conservation Association-AmeriCorps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, September 2016 to March 2017. Checked camera traps at wildlife waters and managed a photo database. Fed, monitored, and captured endangered Sonoran pronghorn in a captive breeding program. Provided assistance with wildlife surveys and scientific studies. Performed visitor services, public outreach, and maintenance tasks.

Fulbright Fellow, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, August 2015 to June 2016. Researched the potential effects of climate change on Arctic spring ecosystems. Conducted field work in remote locations, taking water chemistry measurements and collecting plant samples. Identified moss species in the lab. Analyzed the data to study differences in species composition along climate gradients. Currently editing a scientific report.

French Peer Tutor, Williams College, Spring 2015. Tutored students in French at all levels.

Biology Peer Tutor, Williams College, Fall 2014. Tutored students in cell biology and genetics.

Angel Mounds Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Fellow, Indiana Univ.-Purdue Univ. Indianapolis & Indiana Geological Survey, Summer 2014. Studied climate change in geologic record of Native American civilization at archeological site in Illinois. Performed geologic lake coring in Indiana, processed lake core sediments and prepared stable isotope analyses. Co-wrote a poster for the 2014 Midwest Archaeological Conference.

Volunteer Teaching Assistant, American University Center of Provence, Spring 2014. Tutored French students in Aix-en-Provence in English as a second language.

Climate Summer Intern, Better Future Project, Summer 2013. Organized dozens of grassroots events to build the climate movement while travelling solely by bicycle around New Hampshire and Vermont. Researched and prepared visual materials for presentations. Engaged communities in environmental education and political activism.

Genetics Research Assistant, Williams College, Full-time Summer 2012; part-time Fall 2012 to Spring 2013. Conducted experiments on frog genetics, statistical analysis and synthesis of results in an evolutionary biology lab. Presented findings at 2012 First Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology, Ottawa, Canada.

TEACHING

   BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Guest Lecture, Forest Ecology, Spring 2020.

Guest Lecture, Conservation Biology, Fall 2019.

Guest Lecture, Conservation Biology, Fall 2018.

Teaching Fellow, BI107 Biology 1, Fall 2018, 2 lab sections.

Masters students mentored: Lahari Indraganti, Phoebe Erickson

Undergraduate students mentored: Alyssa Helmling, Tiara Burton, Ava Fisher, Grace Maggiacomo

   SCHOODIC INSTITUTE, mentored undergraduate intern Emma Howard

ACTIVITIES

   BOSTON UNIVERSITY

STEPUP. President 2020-2022. Vice President. 2019-2020. Graduate Student Science Policy group.

Biogeoscience Program. Professional Development Subcommittee 2020-2021. Graduate Student and Postdoc-Invited Seminar Speaker Subcommittee 2019-2020. Outings and Outreach Subcommittee 2018-2019.

Biology Department. Prospective Scholars Program Subcommittee. Website. Recruitment of students from under-represented backgrounds.

   WILLIAMS COLLEGE

Divest Williams. Leader and Alumni Liaison Fall 2013-2015. Collected over 750 petition signatures, spoke on a divestment panel, hosted State Senator Benjamin Downing to speak, and met with the Trustees to advance a proposal.

Williams Environmental Council. Co-president 2013. Member 2012-2015. Developed goals for new emissions reduction standards, raised money for non-profit against mountaintop-removal coal mining, and worked with the dining halls to reduce waste.

Winter Blitz (community service weatherizing local homes). Team leader 2011, 2012, 2014.