Earl K. Miller
Short Biography
Earl K. Miller is the Picower Professor of Neuroscience at MIT. He has faculty positions in The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. He holds degrees from Kent State University (B.A.) and Princeton University (M.A., Ph.D.). He received an honorary Doctor of Science from Kent State University in 2020.
Professor Miller’s work centers on neural mechanisms of cognition, particularly working memory, attention, and executive control. His notable contributions include a theory on the prefrontal cortex’s role in rule learning and goal maintenance, pioneering work on multifunctional ‘mixed selectivity’ neurons, and research on neural dynamics and brain wave frequencies in cognitive processes. Miller’s research integrates experimental and computational methods, advancing understanding of cognition and related disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Professor Miller has received numerous accolades and serves on advisory boards as well as editorial boards for major neuroscience journals. His 2001 paper with Jonathan Cohen is one of the most cited in the history of neuroscience. Professor Miller has funded the Earl K. Miller First Generation Scholarship at Kent State University to support disadvantaged first-generation college students.
PDF of Earl K. Miller’s Short Biography
Education
1990 Ph.D. in Psychology and Neuroscience, Princeton University
1987 M.A. in Psychology and Neuroscience, Princeton University
1985 B.A. summa cum laude with honors in Psychology, Kent State University
Current Positions
2003 Picower Professor of Neuroscience, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2014 Co-founder and Chief Scientist, SplitSage
2023 Co-founder, Neuroblox
Awards and Honors
2025 Excellence in Graduate Mentoring, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT
2020 Doctor of Science (honoris causa), Kent State University
2019 George A. Miller Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience
2018 Excellence in Graduate Teaching, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT
2017 Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
2017 Miller and Cohen (2001) identified as the 5th most-cited paper in Neuroscience
2017 Paul and Lilah Newton Brain Science Award
2016 Goldman-Rakic Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Cognitive Neuroscience
2016 Commencement Address, Kent State University
2016 Elected to the Memory Disorders Research Society
2015 Professional Achievement Award, Kent State University Alumni Association
2014 Amar G. Bose Research Fellow
2014 Antzoulatos and Miller (2014) selected as one of Neuron’s best papers of 2014-2015
2013 Distinguished Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars
2010 MERIT Award, National Institute of Mental Health
2008 Miller and Cohen (2001) designated a Current Classic by Thomson Scientific
2007 Mathilde Solowey Award in the Neurosciences
2006 Elected to the International Neuropsychological Symposium
2005 Elected Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
2003 Picower Professorship (endowed chair)
2002 Elected to the International Society for Behavioral Neuroscience
2000 Society for Neuroscience Young Investigator Award
2000 National Academy of Sciences Troland Research Award
1999 Tenured at MIT two years ahead of schedule
1999 Class of 1956 Career Development Professorship (endowed chair)
1998 John Merck Scholar Award
1996 Pew Scholar Award
1996 McKnight Scholar Award
1996 Whitehall Foundation Fellowship
1996 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow
1987 National Research Service Award Predoctoral Fellowship
1986 National Institutes of Health Predoctoral Training Fellowship
1985 Graduated summa cum laude with honors, Kent State University
1985 Phi Beta Kappa
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