Merle obtained a BSc in Psychology at the Erasmus University Rotterdam, specialising in clinical psychology, and completed an MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences at UCL. Afterwards, she worked as a research assistant at the UCL Division of Psychiatry, primarily for the NIHR funded Mental Health Policy Research Unit where she led on a range of projects. This included reviews and quantitative studies on the use of telemental health, treatments for people with a “personality disorder” diagnosis, and ethnic inequalities in Early Intervention in Psychosis Services. She further co-led a Wellcome Trust funded rapid realist review on universal school-based interventions to increase acceptance and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ youth.

Merle is particularly passionate about mental health inequalities among minoritised groups, including LGBTQ+ people and people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. She is interested in using qualitative and epidemiological research methods to explore underlying risk factors and believes that co-producing research with people with lived experiences of mental health problems while applying an intersectional lens is crucial to tackling inequalities in mental health. 

Beyond academia, Merle loves to cycle and explore new places on her longboard, read books on socio-political topics, and dance with friends at jazz clubs and concerts.