Meredith Niles, PhD

Professor

PRONOUNS she/her

Meredith.Niles@uvm.edu
(802) 656-4337
Meredith Niles
Meredith.Niles@uvm.edu
+18026564337

109 Carrigan Drive
355 MLS Carrigan Wing
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
Meredith T. Niles
Pronouns she/her
Alma mater(s)
  • Ph.D., Ecology, University of California-Davis
  • B.A., Political Science, The Catholic University of America
Affiliated Department(s)
  • Food Systems Graduate program
  • Food Systems Research Center (FSRC)
  • Gund Institute
  • Board of Directors, Public Library of Science
  • Board of Directors, Rural Vermont
  • Associations- Ecological Society of America, Agronomy Soil and Crop Science Societies

BIO

Dr. Meredith Niles is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Vermont and also teaches and advises in the food systems program.  Meredith thrives conducting applied research that can help bring together diverse stakeholders- from farm to federal agency- to help solve pressing problems facing our world's food system.  Meredith is an interdisciplinary food systems scientist whose research focuses on advancing efforts to achieve sustainable food security and improve health and environmental outcomes from food systems. Her primary areas of focus include sustainable food production with farmers and food and nutritional security during crises, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Meredith is deeply committed to ensuring academic research is available to the public and stakeholders to meet a land-grant mission, evidenced through policy briefs and open science principles.  Meredith has received notable honors and recognition for her research, most recently being named an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar for 2022-2025 by the National Academy of Medicine.  Meredith previously served as the Associate Director of the UVM USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Food Systems Research Center and as Acting Director of the Gund Institute for Environment at UVM.  Prior to her academic career, Meredith worked for the United States Department of State in HIV/AIDS public health and for several food and environmental non-profit organizations. 

Courses

  • NFS 4286: Senior Seminar: Nutrition, Sustainability and Society Concentration

Publications

Google Scholar

Awards and Achievements

Area(s) of expertise

  • Food Systems Sustainability
  • Food Security
  • Farmer Behavior
  • Social-Ecological Systems

Bio

Dr. Meredith Niles is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the University of Vermont and also teaches and advises in the food systems program.  Meredith thrives conducting applied research that can help bring together diverse stakeholders- from farm to federal agency- to help solve pressing problems facing our world's food system.  Meredith is an interdisciplinary food systems scientist whose research focuses on advancing efforts to achieve sustainable food security and improve health and environmental outcomes from food systems. Her primary areas of focus include sustainable food production with farmers and food and nutritional security during crises, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Meredith is deeply committed to ensuring academic research is available to the public and stakeholders to meet a land-grant mission, evidenced through policy briefs and open science principles.  Meredith has received notable honors and recognition for her research, most recently being named an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine Scholar for 2022-2025 by the National Academy of Medicine.  Meredith previously served as the Associate Director of the UVM USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Food Systems Research Center and as Acting Director of the Gund Institute for Environment at UVM.  Prior to her academic career, Meredith worked for the United States Department of State in HIV/AIDS public health and for several food and environmental non-profit organizations. 

Courses

  • NFS 4286: Senior Seminar: Nutrition, Sustainability and Society Concentration

Publications

Google Scholar

Awards and Achievements

Areas of Expertise

  • Food Systems Sustainability
  • Food Security
  • Farmer Behavior
  • Social-Ecological Systems