Naomi Miller

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Portland Office
620 SW FIFTH AVE, SUITE #810
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 417-7571
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Biography
Naomi Miller has enjoyed 13 years at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Portland OR as a designer/scientist in the advanced lighting team. Working to bridge the gap between technology and application, she is promoting the wise use of LEDs, and working with industry to overcome the hurdles facing this technology and its control. Some people call her The Flicker Queen, some with humor, some without.
Recent work includes publishing an extensive literature review on temporal light modulation (TLM, aka "flicker") in Lighting Research & Technology. She and PNNL colleagues conducted a human subjects study on the visibility of two forms of flicker: the stroboscopic and the phantom array effects. That study showed clear response differences between the two, and was able to identify TLM-sensitive subjects who are more likely to experience headaches, migraines, nausea, or other negative responses from TLM. The results have been submitted to a journal for review, and it is hoped will lead to a metric that will help identify and mitigate problematic TLM.
Current work focuses on discomfort glare, examining human responses to glare sources in different areas of the visual field, and the effect of spectral power distribution on discomfort. Another interest is whether spatial frequency of LED arrays contributes to discomfort glare. In addition, she is an active member of CIE and IES committees developing recommendations on outdoor glare, flicker, and light's effect on human health.
Her background is in lighting design, applications engineering, and encouraging the use of energy-effective lighting. Over 30 architectural lighting design awards hang on her wall, for projects ranging from churches to university science buildings, boutique hotels, supermarkets, and even simple parking lots. She chaired the Illuminating Engineering Society's (IES) Quality of the Visual Environment committee for 8 years and was a principal member of the writing team for the IES's Light + Design: A Guide to Designing Quality Lighting for People and Buildings. She is both a Fellow of the IES and the IALD and served on the Illuminating Engineering Society's Board of Directors for 4 years.
Research Interests
- Lighting quality
- The aging eye
- Health effects of light and dark
- Glare and flicker issues
- Dark skies
- Sustainability and energy efficiency
Education and Credentials
- BS in Art and Design (Architecture), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978
- MS in Lighting, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2000
PNNL Publications
2022
- Abboushi B.K., and N.J. Miller. 2022. "What to Measure and Report in Studies of Discomfort Glare from Pedestrian-Scale Luminaires?." Lighting Research & Technology. PNNL-SA-161982. doi:10.1177/14771535221087133
- Hickcox K.S., S. Fotios, B.K. Abboushi, and N.J. Miller. 2022. "Correspondence: A new two-step approach for evaluating discomfort from glare." Lighting Research & Technology 54, no. 1:91-92. PNNL-SA-167574. doi:10.1177/14771535211071133
2021
- Kyba C., A. Ruby, H.U. Kuechly, B.R. Kinzey, N.J. Miller, J. Sanders, and J. Barentin, et al. 2021. "Direct measurement of the contribution of street lighting to satellite observations of nighttime light emissions from urban areas." Lighting Research & Technology 53, no. 3:189-211. PNNL-SA-146904. doi:10.1177/1477153520958463
2020
- Baier R., E. McCreedy, N.J. Miller, E.N. Waggoner, S. Stringer, D.R. Gifford, and R. Uth, et al. 2020. "Impact of Tuned Lighting on Skilled Nursing Center Residents' Sleep." Senior Housing & Care Journal 28, no. 1:3-9. PNNL-SA-154726.
2019
- Leon F.A., J.A. McIntosh, A.J. Rutz, N.J. Miller, and M.P. Royer. 2019. Characterizing Photometric Flicker - Handheld Meters. PNNL-28203. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Characterizing Photometric Flicker - Handheld Meters
- Miller N.J., and F.A. Leon. 2019. "Fighting Flicker." LD+A Magazine 49, no. 2:16-20. PNNL-SA-140257.
2018
- Miller N.J., and B.R. Kinzey. 2018. "Home Nighttime Light Exposures: How much are we really getting?." LD+A Magazine. PNNL-SA-131837.
2017
- Kinzey B.R., T.E. Perrin, N.J. Miller, M. Kocifaj, M. Aube, and H.A. Lamphar. 2017. An Investigation of LED Street Lighting's Impact on Sky Glow. PNNL-26411. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. An Investigation of LED Street Lighting's Impact on Sky Glow
- Miller N.J., F.A. Leon, and J. Davis. 2017. CALiPER Report 24 Supplemented: Photometric Testing, Laboratory Teardowns, and Accelerated Lifetime Testing of OLED Luminaires. PNNL-25932-Sup1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CALiPER Report 24 Supplemented: Photometric Testing, Laboratory Teardowns, and Accelerated Lifetime Testing of OLED Luminaires
2016
- Miller N.J. 2016. OLED Lighting in the Offices of Aurora Lighting Design, Inc. PNNL-25337. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. OLED Lighting in the Offices of Aurora Lighting Design, Inc.
2015
- Royer M.P., M.B. Merzouk, N.J. Miller, and T.A. Beeson. 2015. CALiPER Report 23: Photometric Testing of White-Tunable LED Luminaires. PNNL-24595. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CALiPER Report 23: Photometric Testing of White-Tunable LED Luminaires
2014
- Miller N.J., T.E. Perrin, and M.P. Royer. 2014. CALiPER Report 21.3: Cost-Effectiveness of Linear (T8) LED Lamps. PNNL-23378. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CALiPER Report 21.3: Cost-Effectiveness of Linear (T8) LED Lamps
- Miller N.J., T.E. Perrin, M.P. Royer, A. Wilkerson, and T.A. Beeson. 2014. DOE CALiPER Program, Report 21.2: Linear (T8) LED Lamp Performance in Five Types of Recessed Troffers. PNNL-23366. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. DOE CALiPER Program, Report 21.2: Linear (T8) LED Lamp Performance in Five Types of Recessed Troffers
2013
- Miller N.J., and M.E. Poplawski. 2013. Dimming LEDs with Phase-Cut Dimmers: The Specifier's Process for Maximizing Success. PNNL-22945. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Dimming LEDs with Phase-Cut Dimmers: The Specifier's Process for Maximizing Success
- Miller N.J., M.P. Royer, and M.E. Poplawski. 2013. CALiPER Exploratory Study: Recessed Troffer Lighting. PNNL-22348. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CALiPER Exploratory Study: Recessed Troffer Lighting
- Miller N.J., R. Koltai, and T. McGowan. 2013. Pedestrian Friendly Outdoor Lighting. PNNL-23085. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Pedestrian Friendly Outdoor Lighting
- Royer M.P., M.E. Poplawski, and N.J. Miller. 2013. DOE CALiPER Program, Report 20.1 Subjective Evaluation of Beam Quality, Shadow Quality, and Color Quality for LED PAR38 Lamps. PNNL-22907. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. DOE CALiPER Program, Report 20.1 Subjective Evaluation of Beam Quality, Shadow Quality, and Color Quality for LED PAR38 Lamps
- Royer M.P., R. Tuttle, S.M. Rosenfeld, and N.J. Miller. 2013. Color Maintenance of LEDs in Laboratory and Field Applications. PNNL-22759. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Color Maintenance of LEDs in Laboratory and Field Applications
2012
- Miller N.J. 2012. CALiPER Exploratory Study Office and Classroom Recessed Troffer Lighting - ARRA Report. PNNL-21825. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. CALiPER Exploratory Study Office and Classroom Recessed Troffer Lighting - ARRA Report
- Miller N.J., and J. Druzik. 2012. Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps at an Exhibit of 19th Century Photography at the Getty Museum. PNNL-21225. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps at an Exhibit of 19th Century Photography at the Getty Museum
- Miller N.J., and S.M. Rosenfeld. 2012. Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC. PNNL-21476. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
2011
- Lehman B., A. Wilkins, S. Berman, M.E. Poplawski, and N.J. Miller. 2011. "Proposing Measures of Flicker in the Low Frequencies for Lighting Applications." LEUKOS - The Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America 7, no. 3:189-195. PNNL-SA-77242.
- Miller N.J. 2011. Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. PNNL-20711. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Demonstration of LED Retrofit Lamps at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art
- Poplawski M.E., and N.J. Miller. 2011. "Exploring Flicker in Solid State Lighting: What you Might Find, and How to Deal With It." In Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Annual Conference, October 31-November 1, 2011, Austin, Texas, 52-56. New York, New York:Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES). PNNL-SA-83201.
- Richman E.E., B.R. Kinzey, and N.J. Miller. 2011. Laboratory Evaluation of LED T8 Replacement Lamp Products. PNNL-20404. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Laboratory Evaluation of LED T8 Replacement Lamp Products
2010
- Miller N.J., and K.J. Curry. 2010. Demonstration Assessment of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Retrofit Lamps at Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, CA. PNNL-20019. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Demonstration Assessment of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Retrofit Lamps at Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, CA
- Miller N.J., and K.J. Curry. 2010. DOE Solid-State Lighting in Higher Ed Facilities. PNNL-19551. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. DOE Solid-State Lighting in Higher Ed Facilities