Join
or
Renew
Give
Login
Menu
About
History
Nobel Laureates
125th Anniversary of Sigma Xi
Members Talking to Members
Sigma Xi Center
Value of Membership
Connect with Sigma Xi
Support Sigma Xi
Leadership
Current & Past Presidents
Board of Directors
Regional Directors
Constituency Directors
Committees
Officers
Officer Duties
Elections
Organization
Constitution
Bylaws
Mission
Pledge
Code of Ethical Conduct
Political Advocacy Policy
Copyright Information
Privacy Policy
Refund Policy
Terms and Conditions
State Fundraising Notices
Jobs
Sigma Xi Merchandise
FAQ
Contact Us
Annual Report
Strategic Plan
Public Statements
Elections
2024 Election Results
2025 Elections — Call for Nominations
News
Special Feature: Women In STEM 2023
Sigma Xi Today
Keyed In Blog
About
Search Results
Join Sigma Xi
American Scientist's Blogs
Blog Policy
Communities
News Archive
Newsletters
In Memoriam
Chapters
Locate a Chapter
Chapter Awards
Chapter Program Models
Officer Resource Center
Start a Chapter
Reactivate an Existing Chapter
Chapter Grants
Meetings & Events
International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE)
Student Research Showcase
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Fellowship
Science Policy Bootcamp
Sigma Xience
Distinguished Lecturer Adobe Connect Sessions
Volunteer
Calendar
Past Events
Past Annual Meetings
2021
Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
Student Research Conference
Business Meeting
Agenda
Speakers
Conference Tracks
Registration Rates
STEM Art and Film Festival
College and Graduate School Fair
Program Committee
Become a Sponsor
Student Research Showcase
2021 Presentations
Competition Timeline
Awards
Student Resources
Information for Judges
Abstract Tips
2020
Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
Agenda
Business Meeting
Symposia Tracks
Student Research Conference
College and Graduate School Fair
STEM Art and Film Festival
Schedule
Student Research Showcase
Competition Timeline
Abstract Tips
Awards
Student Resources
Information for Judges
2019 Presentations
2020 Presentations
Virtual Student Scholars Symposium
2016
Student Research Showcase
Showcase Registration
Google Hangouts
Tips for the 2016 Student Research Showcase
Resources
Networking & Social Events
2018
Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
Big Data Symposia
Business Meeting
Student Research Conference
Student Research Showcase
Showcase Registration
Information for Participating Students
Information for Judges
2017
Student Research Showcase
See the Total Solar Eclipse with Sigma Xi
Assembly of Delegates
Symposium on Atmospheric Chemistry, Climate, and Health
Student Research Conference
2019
Student Research Showcase
Information for Participating Students
Annual Meeting and Student Research Conference
Left Nav Links
Preliminary Schedule
Speakers
Student Research Conference
Symposia
Business Meeting
Registration Rates
Travel and Hotel
Professional Headshots
Things to Do
Become a Sponsor
Promotional Material
STEM Art and Film Festival
Program Committee
Communication Coaching Program
Preliminary Schedule
Student Research Conference
Symposia
Business Meeting
Policy on Respect
Promotional Material
STEM Art and Film Festival
Schedule
Professional Poster Session
Welcome Letter from the Executive Director and CEO
Membership
Becoming a Member
Renew
Benefits
Federal Grant Opportunities
Member-Get-A-Member
Affiliate Circle
Sigma Xi Explorers
NPA Joint Membership
Sigma Xi Fellows
2020 Fellows
2021 Fellows
2022 Fellows
2023 Fellows
2024 Fellows
Programs
Ethics and Research
Ethics Publications
Ethics Events & Programs
Resources
John F. Ahearne
Webinars
Grants in Aid of Research
Application and Resources
Grant Recipients
History
Special Named Funds
Faces of GIAR
GIAR Generations: Paying it Forward
100 Years of GIAR
Student Research Showcase
Critical Issues in Science
Energy
Ethics
Food Safety
Human Rights
Water
UN-Sigma Xi Climate Change Report
Evolution Resources
Postdoc Survey
Diversity
Quarterly Conversations
Statement on Climate Change
Mental Health and Well-Being of Researchers
Distinguished Lectureships
2025-2026 Lecturers
Past Lecturers
2024-2025 Lecturers
2023-2024 Lecturers
2022-2023 Lecturers
2021-2022 Lecturers
2020-2021 Lecturers
2019-2020 Lecturers
2018-2019 Lecturers
2017-2018 Lecturers
2016-2017 Lecturers
2015-2016 Lecturers
2014-2015 Lecturers
Pariser Global Lectureship for Innovation in Physical Sciences
Becoming a Lecturer
Lectureship Sponsors
Chapter Subsidy
Hosting a Lecturer
Lectureship Visit Report
Previously Recorded Q&A Sessions
Special Series on COVID-19
Prizes and Awards
Gold Key
Linda Mantel Award
William Procter
John McGovern
Walston Chubb
Young Investigator
Ferguson Award
Honorary Membership
Bugliarello Prize
Monie Ferst
Criteria for Curricula Vitae
Submit Award Nominations
Kushner Award
Wyatt Award
Passer Award
Research Partnerships
STEM Partnerships
American Junior Academy of Sciences
Conrad Foundation
Regeneron ISEF
USA Science & Engineering Festival
Research Communications Initiative
Science Communication
Science Cafes
Globally Engaged Workforce
Globally Engaged Workforce Links
SciCommMake
#SciCommMake 2022
#SciCommMake 2021
#SciCommMake: COVID-19
#SciCommMake 2020
#SciCommMake FAQ
American Scientist for High Schools
Publications
American Scientist
Communities
Meetings & Events
Sigma Xience
International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE)
Sigma Xience
Tamara Poles
Director of Programs
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society
Biography
Tamara Poles is the Director of Programs at Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society. She is responsible for operations of a broad array of programs that support researchers in all disciplines from high school to emeritus. Professional development opportunities include, but are not limited to grants, workshops, trainings, and networking.
Prior to joining Sigma Xi, Tamara held the position of Community Engagement Specialist at the University of North Carolina’s Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, where she conceptualized and implemented IMPACTS—North Carolina’s first statewide adult science communication curriculum and training program. Her work with this four-year project changed the lives of more than 500 diverse scientists across the state, as she trained them in the art of science communication and coordinated a myriad of community events throughout the state. The program resulted in more than 17,000 schoolchildren getting to meet and interact with scientists who looked and sounded like them, from similar neighborhoods, and learning that they too, could be scientists. In total, the IMPACTS scientists engaged over 48,000 North Carolinians in less than 4 years.
Her work with the IMPACTS program resulted in national and international recognition in addition to a $1 million grant from the NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation to fund FUTURES, a collaboration with community colleges to train scientists how to share their personal STEM stories with the public. You can read her most recent peer-reviewed publication, Beads and ‘Biomes: A Hands-On Classroom Activity for Understanding the Effects of Antibiotics on the Microbiome in the December 2021 volume of The American Biology Teacher.
Tamara received her BS from Roanoke College, Virginia, and her MEd with concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from Averett University, Virginia.
Submit
Learn More