Biography

I am broadly interested in the application of science to conservation issues with a special interest in genetics. My doctoral research investigated the conservation challenges of managing lions on small reserves in South Africa, with a strong genetic component. I followed this with a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of Pretoria studying the genetics of colour variants in the game industry before joining the FitzPatrick Institute at the University of Cape Town as a postdoctoral fellow in 2017 where I started applying my genetic knowledge to avian systems.

From January 2021 until March 2023 I took on the part-time role as Manager of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence at the Fitz while continuing to pursue research projects on Lesser Sheathbill genetics, avian malaria in Cape Sugarbirds and Orange-breasted Sunbirds, Australian Dingo population genetics and Lion metapopulation management.

In June 2023 I joined the African Honeyguide team to provide logistical, administration support as well as molecular genetics support for the honeybee component of the project.

Selected research outputs

(Please see Google Scholar for a full publication list)

• Selier, J., Miller, S.M., Coverdale, B., Ferreira, S., Kruger, J., Parker, D.M. 2024. WIld lions in small, fenced reserves in South Africa conform to a meta-population. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 5: e12341.
• Miller, S.M., Behrendorff, L., Allen, B.L., Andrew, R., Ballard, G., Ballard, J.W.O., Cairns, K.M., Conroy, G.C., Fleming, P.J.S., Grueber, C.E., Oakey, J., Smith, D.A., Stephens, D., Wade, C., Bishop, J.M. 2024. Isolation, small population size, and management influence inbreeding and reduced genetic variation in K’gari dingoes. Conservation Genetics 25: 955-971
• Miller, S.M., Kotze, A., Harper, C.K., Bishop, J.M., Williams, V.L., Rossouw, C., Schoeman, J., de Bruyn, M., Dalton, D.L., Selier, S.A.J. 2023. Genetic diversity and origin of captive lion (Panthera leo) in South Africa: an assessment and comparison to wild populations. Conservation Genetics 24: 721-737.
• Ryan, P.G., Ward, V.L., Miller, S.M. 2023 First record of a common diving petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix from continental Africa, and a summary of diving petrel distribution in the Southern Ocean. Marine Ornithology 50: 211-214.
• Becker, M.S., Almeida, J., Begg, C., Bertola, L., …, Miller, S.M., … Hunter, L. 2022. Guidelines for evaluating the conservation value of African lion (Panthera leo) translocations. Frontiers in Conservation Science 3: 963961.
• Bertola, L.D., Miller, S.M., Williams, V.L., Coals, P., Dures, S.G. Henschel, P., Chege, M., Sogbohossou, E.A., Ndiaye, A., Kiki, M., Gaylard, A., Iknada, D.K., Becker, M.S, Lindsey, P. 2022. Genetic guidelines for translocations: maintaining intra-specific diversity in the lion (Panthera leo). Evolutionary Applications 15: 22-39.
• Miller, S.M., Barnes, K.N., Bloomer, P., Ryan, P.G. 2021. Phylogenetic and morphometric variation of the Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata complex. Ostrich 92: 94-104.