Archives
Obituaries
Philip Miles, professor emeritus of biological sciences
Philip G. Miles, a professor emeritus of biological sciences, died Friday in his Williamsville home. He was 84.
An expert in experimental mycology, the study of the genetics and biology of fungi, Miles was a UB faculty member for 51 years. Even though he officially retired in 2002 at the age of 80, he continued to travel to campus three or four times a week to teach and serve on committees. He was honored for 50 years of service at last year's Celebration of Academic Excellence.
Before joining the UB faculty, Miles served as a research associate at the University of Chicago and spent three years as a research fellow at Harvard University.
He was co-chair of the UB biology department from 1968-70 and chair from 1972-74. He is credited with playing a major role in developing UB's biological sciences curriculum.
He received numerous teaching awards, including the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1998 and the Milton Plesur Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2004.
Miles taught at Okayama University in Japan as a Fulbright Research Scholar during the early 1960s. He also traveled overseas as a visiting scientist at such universities as National Taiwan University, Academia Sinica in China, Tottori Mycological Institute in Japan and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
He was author of 45 scientific papers and five books.
Miles received a bachelor's degree from Yale University, where he played varsity basketball and tennis, and a doctorate from Indiana University. He served for three years in the Army Air Force during World War II.
A memorial service will be held in August.