Miriam Laytner

Miriam Laytner is a research analyst with expertise in climate and environmental science, science communication, and philanthropic strategy. Her work focuses on synthesizing qualitative and quantitative evidence across scientific, technical, and policy domains to assess innovation, identify emerging trends, and translate complex findings into clear, decision-relevant insights. Trained as a cultural anthropologist, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in public scholarship and  community-centered collaboration.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Miriam worked at Penta Group, where she advised philanthropic and nonprofit clients on climate-focused communications and partnership strategies, including work on methane mitigation, grid improvement, and technical innovation. She has also held research appointments with the New York Botanical Garden, New York Academy of Sciences, the Institute for Religion, Culture & Public Life at Columbia University, and the Center for Applied Social Research at the University of Oklahoma,  leading projects and programming on scientific innovation, food systems, and public engagement with climate science.

Miriam is a doctoral candidate in Cultural Anthropology and former Mellon Public Humanities Fellow at The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY). She holds a MA in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Oklahoma and a BA in Atlantic History from Barnard College, Columbia University.