If you walk into the Epidemiology Research Team on any given day, you’ll likely find Danielle Durham, data scientist and resident problem-solver, immersed in what she affectionately describes as “puzzles.” While her work focuses on lung cancer screening, large datasets, and statistical modeling, Danielle sees the job through a more playful—and deeply human—lens.
“I think people hear data and math and assume it’s boring,” she laughs. “But to me, it’s like a game. How do you get to the end screen? How do you beat the boss? It’s all strategy.”
From the Lab Bench to Population Health
Danielle grew up in Charlotte, NC, and made her way to Chapel Hill for both undergrad and graduate school. Her early career was hands-on: she worked overnight and weekend shifts as a general hematologist in the McLendon Labs, seeing countless cancer cases up close. Those experiences sparked an interest in understanding patients’ stories before they appeared under a microscope.
“I started Googling public health,” she recalls. “I wanted to know what happens before someone shows up in the lab.”
That curiosity eventually led her back to UNC-Greensboro to study community-based public health and later to research at a healthcare quality improvement organization in RTP. A mentor told her, “You ask questions like an epidemiologist,” and suddenly it all clicked-back to school again. As a PhD candidate at UNC, Danielle began collaborating with Dr. Louise Henderson, who introduced her to the world of large data sources, cancer screening registries, and population-level inquiry. She completed her dissertation with the Epidemiology department, left for a postdoc at NCI, and then—fatefully—ran into Louise at a conference.
“She told me about her vision for a lung cancer screening registry,” Danielle says. “It sounded so interesting. When she posted the job, I applied—and here I am again.”
A Day in the Life: Data, Discovery, and Dialogue
Danielle’s work centers around linking data from medical records, state files, and multiple clinical sites to help answer big-picture questions about lung cancer screening outcomes. She collaborates closely with their data manager, abstractors, clinical partners, and of course, Louise.
On any given day, she might be harmonizing datasets, troubleshooting unexpected findings, running statistical models, or translating data into tables for manuscripts and grant proposals.
“It’s a lot of programming,” she says, “but it’s also a lot of conversation—figuring out what people are seeing in EPIC, understanding what the PI needs, and helping build a shared picture from messy, real-world data.”
The Playful Scientist
Outside of work, Danielle is decidedly not sitting still. She hikes local and national parks, backpacks, knits (though North Carolina’s warmth has slowed production), cycles on trails, tinkers at the Durham Bike Co-op, rides her Peloton, and—most recently—picked up roller skating.
“I’ve been choosing fun on purpose,” she says. “Everything I’ve ever wanted to try but was afraid to—I’m trying it.”
Her love of games spills over into her free time as well. A lifelong Nintendo fan, she unwinds with platformers, chaotic Mario Kart races, and slower-paced RPGs where she can explore at her own speed.
The Heart Behind the Data
For someone who spends her days with complex datasets, Danielle’s perspective is refreshingly grounded in joy, curiosity, and connection.
Her favorite thing about herself right now? “Being intentional—choosing moments that become good memories.”
Her one-word self-description? Hilarious.
Her superpower of choice? Not mind-reading—polyglot-level communication. “Just the ability to really understand and connect with people.”
The writer she’d love to talk to? The legendary sci-fi visionary Octavia Butler.
Her autobiography title? “Do what you want.”
Her best friend’s three words for her: Adventurous. Funny. Factoidophile.
And yes—she’s a dog person.
Before you leave, grab her podcast recommendation: Hidden Brain by Shankar Vedantam, a deep dive into the unconscious patterns that shape who we are.
In Her Own Words
If Danielle could talk to her younger self, she’d offer this gentle advice: “It will be fine. It’s okay to pick the fun stuff. The big-girl job will work out.”
For someone who sees the world as a series of puzzles, Danielle has mastered the most important one: how to build a life filled with purpose, curiosity, and joy—one intentional moment at a time.