Sierra N. Miller, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Office: Natural Sciences Building 344
Email: snmiller@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2574
Professional Profile
Dr. Miller joined the Department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences at WTAMU in 2025. She received her B.S. in Chemistry with minors in Biology and Mathematics from West Texas A&M University. She worked as a lab technician for the United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service in Bushland, Texas before earning her Ph.D. in Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Her doctoral research focused on the role of neuropeptides in food consumption and mood. Dr. Miller completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she investigated neuronal activity underlying motivation and impulsivity.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Miller teaches courses in Biology, including Basic and Contemporary Biology, Cell Biology, and various upper level courses in the department. She serves as advisor for pre-medical students and is the faculty advisor for the Pre-Healthcare Club. She is also the Faculty Director for the Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) at WTAMU. She is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviors, and the Texas Association of Advisors for the Health Professions.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. Miller uses rodent models to study neurocircuitry regulating motivation, with a special interest in motivation for high-fat, high-sugar foods. Her research also investigates how these pathways are altered by metabolic state, other internal factors, and stress, with the goal of identifying suitable pharmacological targets for obesity and mental health interventions.