The Division of Biological Sciences congratulates Zachary (Zack) Miller on being selected for the Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award by the Ecological Society of America. Miller was one of only 23 graduate students nationwide chosen for the award.

The award provides Miller an opportunity to gain policy and communication training and experience. Miller and the other students will meet virtually in April to learn about the legislative process and federal science funding. They will also meet with their Members of Congress on Capitol Hill and hear from ecologists working in federal agencies.

Miller is a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Sciences, where he works with Dr. Candace Galen to investigate climate change impacts on pollination ecology. Using alpine ecosystems as study sites, Miller uses novel acoustic techniques alongside long-term climate and floral data to understand how shifts in climate affect bumblebee health and pollination services. His work helps to demonstrate the viability of alternative, non-lethal methods for studying important pollinators. 

Miller is passionate about science outreach and education. He worked on an NIH SEPA grant with MU's Linking Science & Literacy for All Learners to develop and implement middle school science curricula, and he presently serves on the executive team of Science on Wheels, an MU-based science outreach organization. Miller seeks a career at the intersection of science and policy to help propel climate change mitigation action in Missouri. He is currently supported by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. 

Prior to MU, Miller served as a Sustainable Agriculture Extensionist in the United States Peace Corps in Paraguay and earned a B.A. in Environmental Studies at Truman State University.