Meredith Niles joins the Nutrition and Food Sciences Department as an assistant professor and faculty with the UVM Food Systems Program after completing a post-doctorate fellowship in sustainability science at Harvard University. Meredith examines food systems sustainability and policy with a focus on food security and climate change and farmer behavior and policy perceptions. Meredith thrives conducting applied research that can help bring together diverse stakeholders- whether on a farm or working with policymakers- to help solve pressing problems facing our world's food system. Meredith is a passionate advocate for open access research to make research more publicly available to maximize the potential of science and its benefits for society.