CURRICULUM VITAE
Vanessa Miller, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
Texas Christian University, Forth Worth, Texas
Office Phone: 817-257-7017
E-mail: vanessa.miller@email.ucr.edu
Education:
Ph.D. Cognitive Psychology
(Cognitive Neuroscience)
-University of California, Riverside (March 2011)
PhD Advancement to Candidacy Date Completed (February 13, 2009)
M.A. Clinical Psychology (January 2005)
-Chapman University, Orange, Ca.
B.A. Psychology and Social Behavior (December 2002)
University of California, Irvine
-Magna Cum Laude-
Academic Positions:
Instructor of Psychology (August 2011-Present)
College of Science and Engineering
-Texas Christian University, Forth Worth, Tx.
Research Experience:
* The University of California, Irvine Child Development Center (2002-2011)
(Job Title: Clinical Research Coordinator, Assistant)
-Organize and train other Clinical Research sites for conducting clinical research trials
examining the duration of efficacy and safety of various drugs used to treat children,
adolescents, and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
-Lead trainer on how to recruit and screen participants running in a clinical trial
- Perform the job of Observation Rater for studies (Observe and rate behaviors of
multiple subjects (adults and children) and transfer the ratings into useable notes
and codes for data analysis.
-Conduct structured interviews with subjects in clinical research studies:
Assessing effectiveness of medication and therapy; Administer clinical and
cognitive tests such as the SCAPI, C-DISC, WIAT, WRAT, BDI, BAI
* Cognitive Neuroscience Lab at University of California, Riverside (2005-2011)
-Develop studies examining the hemispheric processing of emotional language
-Responsible for research and development of stimuli, administration and scoring of
measures such as the PANAS and BDI, conduct follow-up interviews, particularly in
regards to suicide risk assessment
-Recruit participants for studies being conducted in the lab via the UCR campus and
surrounding community
-Supervise a team of undergraduate research assistants, training them on administration
of tests, recruitment of subjects
-Organize and run weekly lab meetings
* Elite Clinical Trials, Inc. (September 2007)
-Train and supervise the first clinical trials run through this company
-Perform the job of Observation Teacher (Rater) for studies
developed in conjunction with and to meet the needs of Shire Pharmaceutical
Development Inc.
* Cognitive Science Lab at Chapman University (2003-2004)
-Recruit subjects from Coastline Community College’s Acquired Brain Injury Program to
participate in studies that were developed by myself and in conjunction with colleagues
examining the effect of brain injury on emotional and inference linguistic processing
-Conduct one-on-one interviews and assessments with subjects who have a Brain Injury.
Administer the Apathy Evaluation Scale, review patient medical records and neurological
assessments
-Collect and code these data for research purposes
-Supervise a team of undergraduate students in development of experiments and subject
recruitment
* The Acquired Brain Injury Program at Coastline Community College (2003-2004)
-Aided in cognitive retraining, socialization,
and career development
-Provided group and individual cognitive restructuring
to adults with acquired brain injury
* Research Internship (June 2001-December 2003)
-St. Anselm’s Cross-Cultural Community Center,
Garden Grove, Ca.
-Served as case manager for immigrants and refugees
with PTSD, Severe Depression, and Chronic Anxiety
* Research Assistant (2000-2002)
-John A. Rice, Ph.D. Dissertation Research Project:
“Coping with Aversive Emotions in the Classroom:
The Effects of Emotion Problem Solving and Emotion Suppression on
Children’s Memory”
-Administered tests to children ages 6-11, collected, and coded data
* Research Assistant (2001-2002)
-Eunkook (Mark) Suh, Ph.D. Assistant Professor-Research Project
Subjective Well-Being Study, Measuring Happiness Level Amongst Friends
-Collected and coded data
Teaching Experience:
* EnopiUSA, Fontana, Ca. (May 2011-
-Elementary school English Tutor; SAT Instructor Present)
* King Learning Center, Corona, Ca. (May 2011-
-Lead SAT Critical Reading, Writing, & Essay Instructor Present)
* Lecturer, University of California, Riverside, Ca. (March 2011-
Prepare class lectures, course assignments for lecture and student Present)
discussion sections. Create class syllabus, exams, and quizzes.
Supervise graduate student teaching assistants for the following course.
- Undergraduate Research Methods Class
* Teaching Assistant, University of California, Riverside, Ca. (2006-2011)
Prepare course section syllabus, section lecture material.
Make quizzes and exam questions.
Grade research papers, quizzes and exams for the following courses.
- Undergraduate Introductory Psychology Class
- Undergraduate Human Neuropsychology Class
- Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology Class
- Undergraduate Clinical Psychology Class
- Undergraduate Research Methods Class
- Undergraduate Cognitive Processes Class
* Guest Lecturer, Mt. San Jacinto College, San Jacinto, Ca. (2009)
-Lecturer for Undergraduate Biopsychology Class
* Guest Lecturer, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, Ca. (2008)
-Lecturer for Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology Class
* Guest Lecturer, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, Ca. (2008)
-Lecturer for Undergraduate Introduction to Clinical Psychology Class
* Guest Lecturer, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, Ca. (2007)
-Lecturer for Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology Class
* Graduate Assistant, Chapman University, Orange, Ca. (2005)
-Teaching Assistant for Undergraduate Research Methods Class,
grade undergraduate research papers
* Guest Lecturer, Chapman University, Orange, Ca. (2004)
-Lecturer for Undergraduate Research Methods Class
* Adaptive Services Center, Fullerton College, Fullerton, Ca. (1999-2003)
-Tutored mentally and physically challenged college students
in English, Psychology, Math, French, Reading, Sociology, Speech
-Note taker for blind college students in English and French
* Dr. Hong’s Summit Academy, Buena Park, Ca. (2002-2003)
-Taught English and SAT I Verbal and SAT II
Writing and Literature to native and non-native English speakers
from grades 3-11
* The Princeton Review, Irvine, Ca. (2001-2003)
-Taught SAT I classes and private tutoring
for Verbal and Math
-Taught SAT II classes and private tutoring
for Writing and Literature Subject Test
* The Writing Center, Fullerton College, Fullerton College, Ca. (2001-2002)
- English tutor for academic papers
Publications:
* Miller, V. and Shears, C. (2006). Emotion vs. language processing across the cerebral
hemispheres: Apathy as an emotional and linguistic construct. Brain and Cognition,
60, 315. Tennet XVI Poster Abstracts.
*Shears, C., Miller, V., Ball, M., Hawkins, A., Griggs, J. & Varner, A. (2007). Cognitive demand
differences in causal inferences: Characters’ plans are more difficult to comprehend than physical
causation. Discourse Processes, 43(3), 255-278.
Writing & Editing:
* Introductory Psychology Course Brief Writer, Flat World Knowledge (2011- Present)
-Write weekly briefs combing a current event with current curriculum being taught to
Intro to Psychology students. Briefs are used as a "Tip of the Week" that are sent to Psychology
professors around the country to discuss in the classroom.
Manuscripts Submitted:
Manuscripts in Preparation:
*Miller, V., Kee, T., Siegler, R., Brown, B., Twachtmann, Shears, C. (2011). A comparison of
on-line and paper-pencil norms for emotional inference.
* Miller, V. and Shears, C. (2011). The laterality of emotional language.
* Shears, C. and Miller, V. (2011). Going the distance: Inference processes from physical
vs. planning knowledge.
Conferences, Presentations, and Meetings:
* 1st Annual Meeting of the Southern California Cognitive (March 11, 2011)
Neuroscience Society
-Poster Presentation
* 47th Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Houston, Texas (November 20, 2006)
-Poster Presentation
* 34th Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, (February 4, 2006)
Boston, Massachusetts
-Poster Presentation
Shears, C. and Miller, V. (2006). Going the distance: Inference processes after brain
injury.
* TENNET XVI Theoretical and Experimental Neuropsychology, (June 24, 2005)
Montreal, QC, Canada
-Poster Presentation
* Sigma Chapter, Graduate Women in Science 16th Science
Conference, California State University, Fullerton (March 19, 2005)
-Presented on Emotion vs Language Processing across the
Cerebral Hemispheres: Apathy as an emotional and
linguistic construct.
* Conference Presentations
-Honorary members workshop at the Golden Key
International Honor Society Regional
Conference, Flagstaff, Az. (April 6, 2002)
* Conference Attendance
-Golden Key International Honor Society
International Conference, Atlanta, Ga. (August 2002)
-Southern California Refugee Conference (September 12, 2001)
-WPA Convention
--Irvine, Ca. (2002)
--Portland, Or. (2000)
--Irvine, Ca. (1999)
Awards, Certificates, Grants:
* Certifications
-CBEST (for substitute teaching in California)
* Grants
-Graduate Dean’s Dissertation Research Grant, (May 1, 2009-
University of California, Riverside April 30, 2010)
-Graduate Division Fellowship Award, (September 2005-
University of California, Riverside (June 2006)
-Faculty Sponsored Student Grant, Chapman University (December 2004)
Memberships:
* International Neuropsychological Society
* Professional memberships
-Western Psychological Association
* Scholarly Societies
-Psi Chi (The national honor society in psychology)
-Phi Beta Kappa
-Golden Key International Honor Society
Service:
* Executive Vice President (November 2009-
Graduate Student Association (GSA) 2010)
-Responsible for gathering and disseminating information on the UC Student Association
(UCSA); GSA Elections; GSA Bylaws; or any system-wide, state or federal legislation
that affects the UC and its graduate students
* Academic Affairs Officer, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, (October 1 2009-
Graduate Student Association (GSA) November 2009)
- Serve as a liaison between graduate students, faculty, and administration (July 2007-
- Assisting the GSA’s Vice President of Academic Affairs with regularly June 2008)
meeting the departmental GSA’s in CHASS
- Holding monthly meetings with the Dean of CHASS
*Chair, Graduate Student Association (February 2008-June 2008)
Research Conference Committee, (October 2006-March 2007)
University of California, Riverside
-Manage committee members
-Meet with Deans of various colleges to coordinate funding for conference
-Financial management of budget and expenses for conference
-Responsible for overall organization of conference
* Mentor (2004)
-Serve as mentor to senior undergraduate students
at Chapman University
* Officership
- President: Psi Chi (September 2001-June 2002)
-Community Service Chair: Golden Key
International Honor Society (September 2001-June 2002)
-Vice-President: Psychology Club (September 2000-June 2001)
-Vice-President: Pre-Law Society (September 2000-June 2001)
Research:
My research focuses on hemispheric processing of emotional language. Specifically, I am
interested in the facilitation of hemispheric asymmetries via emotion perception and emotional
mood. My work uses a divided visual field methodology to test the left and right cerebral
hemispheres. Currently my research focuses on laterality of emotional language in a non-clinical
college population. My prior research has explored how brain injury (right, left, and bilateral
hemisphere injury) affects emotional language processing.
References:
Dr. Christine Chiarello
Professor, Department of Psychology
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, Ca. 92521
Christine.chiarello@ucr.edu
Phone: (951) 827-5096
Fax: (951) 827-3985
Dr. Connie Shears
Professor, Department of Psychology
Chapman University
Orange, Ca. 92866
shears@chapman.edu
Phone: (714) 744-7914
Dr. Timothy L. Wigal
Assistant Director, Child Development Center
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, Ca. 92612
tlwigal@uci.edu
Phone: (949) 824-1812