Program Coordinator
Merritt Cahoon joined Duke as the Deep Tech Program Coordinator in 2025, supporting programs across semiconductors, AI, cybersecurity, quantum, and climate finance. Merritt recently completed her MA in Bioethics and Science Policy with a concentration in Tech Ethics and Policy at Duke, where she focused on the ethical and policy challenges of emerging technologies. While at Duke, she conducted independent research with the Center for Humane Technology on AI and the dignity of work, and collaborated on a project exploring AI deception and public trust.
Merritt also holds a BS in Computer Science and Mathematics from Samford University, where she was a Division I softball player and active student leader. She participated in two NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs—at the University of Rochester, where she worked on augmented reality tools for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, and at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she researched robotics for people with disabilities.