His research focuses on the role of information in capital markets. He specializes in examining corporate financial communication decisions and the influence of corporate disclosures on capital market participants, such as investors and financial analysts. His teaching interests include financial reporting and financial statement analysis. Merkley received the Barry and Ann Ridings Sesquicentennial Fellowship (2011-16) at Johnson and was a recipient of the Spivey/Hall Fellowship at the Ross School of Business (University of Michigan). In 2014, he was named by Poets & Quants as one of the Top 40 Business School Professors Under 40. He received his PhD from the University of Michigan and received his Master of Accountancy (MAcc) from Brigham Young University.