Presenter

Darian S. James, PhD is an engineer, scientist, and dedicated STEM advocate focused on creating positive, practical impact. She is a Senior Scientist and Human Factors Lead on the Device Development & Technology — Systems & Human Factors team at Merck, with more than four years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Her work centers on devices and combination products across multiple therapeutic areas, contributing to both clinical and commercial designs. A committed advocate for end users, Darian concentrates on improving usability and the overall user experience.

She earned a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from South Carolina State University and both an M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her doctoral research focused on applying minimally invasive imaging techniques via microscopy, to better understand disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a life-threatening lung condition.