Valerie Merkle

About Valerie Merkle

I am an organized and self-motivated engineer that thrives in a collaborative team environment. Through my 6 years previously as a Lead Reviewer and as an acting Senior Lead Reviewer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, I have demonstrated strong leadership and the ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple complex regulatory submissions, including preparation for and presentation at a meeting of the Circulatory System Devices Panel. Through my graduate research experience at The University of Arizona and FDA, I have experience in the very early stages of product development. At UA, my dissertation work focused on the fabrication of a novel material for potential cardiovascular applications with specific laboratory experience in nanofibrous scaffold fabrication, cell-material interactions, and platelet activation. At The University of Arizona, I have also completed coursework related to teaching at the collegiate level, inclusive of coursework on how people learn and how to tailor messages to address different learning styles. This education instilled a strong value of communication, which is essential between team members, management, industry, and other stakeholders.

Experience

1. Senior Director, Medical & Scientific Affairs

   Terumo Aortic

   Jun 2023 — Present

Education

• Bucknell University

  B.S.

  2003 — 2007

• University of Arizona

  Ph.D.

  2009 — 2013