Program Coordinator, Duke Tech Policy
Merritt Cahoon joined Duke as the Deep Tech Program Coordinator in January 2025, overseeing strategic partnerships and research funding across semiconductors, AI, cybersecurity, quantum, and climate finance that connect academia, industry, and policy leaders. She manages research teams in these emerging technology areas and assists with the execution of executive education programs at Duke and in partnership with international academic partners. Her published research includes co-authoring Hyperscaler Data Center Buildout: A Sustainability Bane, Boon, or Both? and contributing to The AI Tech Stack: A Primer for Tech and Cyber Policy for Paladin Global Institute.
Merritt holds an MA in Bioethics and Science Policy with a concentration in Tech Ethics and Policy from Duke, where she conducted independent research with the Center for Humane Technology on AI and the dignity of work. She earned her BS in Computer Science and Mathematics from Samford University where she also was a Division I softball player for five years. Merritt participated in two NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs, working on augmented reality tools for deaf and hard-of-hearing children at the University of Rochester and robotics for people with disabilities at the University of Texas at Arlington.