Kristin Valente PhD Merck & Co., Inc.

Kristin Valente is an Executive Director of Drug Substance Purification for Merck's portfolio of late-stage biologics and vaccines. She has over 15 years of technical experience in vaccines and biologics, encompassing process development, commercialization, and support of commercial manufacturing . In her current role, she leads a team of scientists and engineers to characterize late-stage large molecule assests for launch and commercial manufactuirng. In her prior roles, she has advanced the field of host cell protein impurities, developed drug substance manufacturing processes, and provided technical support for commercial manufacturing of drug substance, drug product, and packaging. Kristin holds a bachelor's degree (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and a doctorate degree (University of Delaware), both in Chemical Engineering, has published several impactful peer-reviewed manuscripts, and currently holds an Adjucnt Faculty Position at the University of Delaware. She has been active in the PDA since 2018, with participation in conference planning, ECP engagement, and the science advisory board.