Amy Herr
Director at TECH
Board
About Amy Herr
Dr. Amy E. Herr, age 50, was appointed as an independent director of Bio‑Techne on February 1, 2025; she is a Chancellor’s Professor of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley and Vice President of the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network . She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford and a B.S. in Engineering & Applied Science from Caltech; her core credentials include deep bioengineering expertise and application of AI tools relevant to Bio‑Techne’s products and markets .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley – Bakar BioEnginuity Hub | Founding Executive Director | Not disclosed | Led incubator for academic spin-outs; governance and innovation leadership |
| NIH National Advisory Council for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NACBIB) | Council member | Not disclosed | National-level scientific oversight and advisory impact |
| Various governmental science advisory boards | Advisor | Not disclosed | Policy/science advisory input across agencies |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network | Vice President | Not disclosed | Nonprofit research network leadership |
| Advisory boards (academic, military, government) | Member | Not disclosed | Numerous advisory affiliations; names not individually disclosed |
| Other public company boards | None disclosed | — | No public company directorships listed for Dr. Herr |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Science & Technology Committee member; chair as of October 30, 2025 is Rupert Vessey (members include Herr, Alpna Seth, Judith Klimovsky) .
- Board meetings and attendance: Board met seven times in fiscal 2025; each director attended at least 85% with average attendance 96% . Independent directors held four executive sessions led by the independent Chair .
- Committee meeting cadence: Science & Technology Committee held 2 meetings in 2025 with 100% average attendance .
- Independence: Board determined Dr. Herr is independent; her partner is a non-executive employee of a Bio‑Techne subsidiary—Board implemented compliance safeguards to maintain independence .
- Board leadership: Independent Chair (Robert V. Baumgartner); all four Board committees consist entirely of independent directors .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy Detail | Dr. Herr Actual FY2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non‑employee director) | $75,000 paid monthly; pro‑rated for partial year | $31,250 | Pro‑rated from February 1, 2025 appointment |
| Board Chair fee (if applicable) | Additional $120,000 | — | Not applicable; she is not Chair |
| Audit Committee Chair fee | Additional $25,000 | — | Not applicable |
| Compensation Committee Chair fee | Additional $17,500 | — | Not applicable |
| Other committee chair fees | Additional $15,000 | — | Not applicable |
| Meeting fees | None; expenses reimbursed | — | No per‑meeting compensation |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Type | Grant Date | Number of Shares/Options | Grant‑Date Fair Value | Vesting/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted stock | February 1, 2025 (upon commencement) | 1,040 | $74,972 | Vests at earlier of one‑year anniversary or next annual meeting; dividends paid (Herr received $166) |
| Stock options | February 1, 2025 (upon commencement) | 2,415 | $74,972 | Ten‑year term; exercise price at FMV on grant date; vests aligned with annual cycle per director program |
- Annual director equity program: $200,000 total value each year, split 50% restricted stock and 50% stock options; options have 10‑year term and strike at grant‑date fair market value; vest at earlier of one‑year anniversary or next annual meeting (pro‑rated for mid‑year appointments) .
- Performance metrics: Director equity awards are time‑based; no performance metrics (e.g., revenue/EBITDA/TSR) apply to non‑employee director compensation .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Dr. Herr |
| Interlocks/overboarding limits | Company limits: no independent director may serve on more than four other public company boards; currently, no director serves on more than two |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Scientific/technical depth in bioengineering; direct involvement in novel science and AI tool application relevant to products, customers, and markets .
- Board oversight contributions include strengthening sustainability governance and empowering the Science & Technology Committee to oversee AI strategy, innovation, and risk management in 2025 .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | As‑of Date |
|---|---|---|
| Unvested restricted shares held | 1,040 | June 30, 2025 |
| Options outstanding | 2,415 | June 30, 2025 |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 3x annual retainer within five years | Policy as of FY2025 |
| Guideline compliance status | Not yet; Herr has five years from appointment to comply | June 30, 2025 |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors and executives | Policy |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Herr’s appointment reflects targeted refreshment to add cutting‑edge scientific and AI expertise; she is active on the Science & Technology Committee with strong attendance and a Board attendance framework showing high engagement across directors .
- Independence and potential conflicts: The only noted relationship is her partner’s employment at a subsidiary; the Board concluded independence and instituted compliance safeguards—no related party transactions requiring disclosure since the last fiscal year (mitigates conflict risk) .
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay mix emphasizes equity (time‑based restricted stock and options) and ownership guidelines (3x retainer within five years); Herr received pro‑rated grants and cash fees consistent with policy, with standard vesting and no meeting fees, supporting shareholder‑aligned governance norms .
- RED FLAGS: None material disclosed. Monitoring items include independence safeguards due to partner employment and future progress against ownership guidelines (Herr has a five‑year window to comply) .