MERIT Employee Spotlight is a series featuring team members introducing themselves, outlining their role at MERIT, and explaining why they chose to work in the clinical trials industry.
What is your role at MERIT?
I am a Product Development Specialist here at MERIT. My role involves coordinating between our software development team and the ophthalmology operations group to resolve platform issues and gather feature requirements. This helps us continuously improve our EXCELSIOR platform and ensure it meets the evolving needs of our users.
What do you like about working at MERIT?
I was first drawn to MERIT by how intuitive the EXCELSIOR platform is and by the clear, prompt communication I received even before joining the company. Since coming on board, I’ve been even more impressed by how everyone goes out of their way to help each other and share ideas for improving processes. I also appreciate that we have strong leaders in every department who truly strive for excellence.
Why did you get into clinical research?
I began my career in commercial photography and marketing, but by chance I was introduced to ophthalmic photography and started working as a clinical imager. My curiosity grew when I began handling imaging tasks for clinical research. I’ll never forget one patient I imaged for a clinical trial – after being treated with an investigational drug, he broke down in tears and told me it was the first time in decades he could see clearly. That moment solidified my belief that clinical research advances science and transforms lives by helping restore patients’ vision.
How do you see your position/department fitting into the company as a whole?
My team is part of the software development arm, but I see my role as a conduit that turns ophthalmology user needs into actionable outcomes. How well we translate those needs directly impacts how we enhance the user experience and keep MERIT ahead of the competition.
What do you do in your free time?
Outside of work, I enjoy fixing things and making how-to videos, mountain biking, and traveling. I’m a big-time cat parent and currently have 6 adopted cats.
Connect with Li on LinkedIn