Dr. Laura Matz is the Chief Science and Technology for Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, driving innovation and digitalization in Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany across the 3 business sectors, Life Sciences, Healthcare, and Electronics. She possesses 20 years of experience in semiconductor manufacturing and a decade of experience running semiconductor materials businesses.
Prior to becoming the CSTO, she was a senior vice-president within EMD Electronics (previously Versum Materials and Air Products Electronics division). She has always been a key contributor to the growth in semiconductor materials, driving for a strong R&D presence to enable business growth.
Laura is a strong advocate for science and engineering in young talent. She has collaborated with ASU over the past 5 years to build a strong pipeline of interns. In 2020, Laura joined the AICHE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers) ILI board (Institute for Learning and Innovation) which serves as a conduit for advancing chemical engineering talent for the U.S. Given that artificial intelligence and machine learning are enablers for the continued growth in the semiconductor industry, she is a member of the SEMI Smart Manufacturing board as well as the local AZ SEMI board.
Laura has a PhD in analytical chemistry from Washington State University and an undergraduate degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. When she is not working, Laura enjoys watching soccer games and running in the beautiful Arizona weather.