Meredith Niles is an assistant professor in the Nutrition and Food Sciences Department and the Food Systems Initiative at The University of Vermont. Meredith completed 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. As a graduate student at UC Davis she served as the External Chair for the graduate student association and as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students. She conducted more than 200 meetings with policymakers and their staff at the state and US federal level related to open access and science and research funding. She worked with a consortium of people in California to pass AB-609, the first US state regulation for open access. Meredith received the 2014 OpenCon award and also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Library of Science (PLOS).