Spotlight Story: Natalie Miller
Natalie Miller's journey with IDEA began long before she became a Research expert - it started in an Ohio State classroom. As an undergraduate in Michael Neblo's "Debating Democracy" course, she discovered more than a topic of interest. She found a field that made her want to lean in, ask questions, and understand how people reason together in a democracy.
That spark led Natalie to join IDEA as a Research Assistant, where she contributed to deliberative town hall (DTH) research and supported coding for ongoing projects. The deeper she went, the more she wanted to explore. Ultimately, she completed an original undergraduate thesis grounded in IDEA's work, her first step as an independent researcher.
The IDEA Culture
What keeps her connected to IDEA is the culture. Weekly lab meetings are a highlight: rooms full of energy, ideas bouncing between colleagues, and a genuine sense of shared purpose.
"Everyone is genuinely invested in helping others produce their best work," she says. "I often leave feeling inspired."
Recently, Natalie has been particularly excited about IDEA's work using artificial intelligence to improve survey measurement and deepen our understanding of public opinion. For a researcher fascinated by how digital technologies shape political communication, this project is the perfect fit.
Now, Natalie is taking the next step in her academic career, with aspirations to continue into a political science PhD program. In a few years, she hopes to be deep into graduate research - following the same curiosity that first brought her to IDEA.
Life Outside the Lab
Outside the world of research, Natalie brings her love of movement and connection into her daily life. A committed runner, she completed the Cleveland Marathon in 2024 and is already training for the Columbus Marathon next year. When she's not running, she enjoys music, movies, and time with friends.
If her work had a soundtrack, she chose "America" by Simon & Garfunkel - a song about exploration and searching, fitting for someone whose academic path began in a class.
Natalie's story reflects the heart of IDEA's mission: supporting and empowering students as they grow into researchers, leaders, and contributors to democratic life. IDEA is proud of Natalie and proud to support the kind of hands-on, collaborative learning that propels students like Natalie toward meaningful futures.
Want to learn more about Natalie? Here is her LinkedIn profile.
If Natalie's interests inspire you, here are a few IDEA publications to explore: