Jerry R. Miller

Dr. Jerry R. Miller serves as a Distinguished Professor and the Whitmire Professor of Environmental Science in the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resources within the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Carolina University. His research focuses on environmental impacts of mining, river contamination, and ecosystem restoration, with fieldwork spanning locations from the Southern Appalachians to Bolivia and South Africa.

Dr. Miller received his educational foundation through:

• Ph.D. in Geology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (1990)
• M.S. in Geology from University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (1985)
• B.S. in Geology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (1982)

His research interests center on heavy metal contamination in river systems, particularly examining the transport and fate of contaminants from mining operations. Dr. Miller has pioneered sediment geochemical fingerprinting techniques using multivariate statistics and isotopic methods to identify pollution sources. His work documents how both natural events and human activities affect sediment yields and river processes, with significant applications for river and riparian ecosystem restoration. He has also developed expertise in continuous water quality monitoring systems for environmental assessment.

Analysis of Dr. Miller's publication record reveals consistent focus on fluvial geomorphology and environmental contamination across multiple continents. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between geology, hydrology, ecology, and environmental health, particularly evident in his research on mining impacts in Bolivia. The geographic scope of his research spans the Southern Appalachian region, Great Basin of Nevada, South Africa, Bolivia, and Australia.

Dr. Miller's notable recognition includes:

• US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Center publication of the year (2005) for Great Basin Riparian Ecosystems: Ecology, Management, and Restoration

Through his extensive publication record including numerous books, edited volumes, and refereed journal articles, Dr. Miller has established himself as a leading expert in contaminated river systems and restoration ecology. His research has involved collaboration with international teams across multiple continents, demonstrating the global significance of his work on mining impacts and river restoration. Dr. Miller teaches advanced courses including GEOL 410/510: Fluvial Geomorphology and GEOL 423/523: Contaminated Rivers, bringing his field experience directly into the classroom.

Dr. Miller maintains an extensive research laboratory equipped with advanced field instrumentation including a Lecia Total Station, various flow velocity meters, pressure transducers, data loggers, sediment samplers, and a Hydrolab for water quality analysis. His computational capabilities include HEC-1, HEC-RAS, RiverTools, and WinXPRO for numerical modeling, along with GIS and statistical packages for data analysis.