Computer Science, Statistics, & Finance
I can play five instruments. My favorite is the flute, which I love playing classically or by ear. Tell me your favorite song, and I can play it for you!
My name is Jennifer Lee, and I am studying computer science, statistics, and finance with a focus on healthcare, technology, and business. A pivotal moment in my professional growth occurred during my time as an IT Business Analyst Intern at Elevance Health, an American health insurer. One of my key projects included a deep dive into AI modernization of a medical case summary platform. Here, I developed and presented a business case that projects at least a 15% reduction in medical case review time, over 12,000 hours saved annually for clinicians, and a $2.5 million return on investment. I collaborated with clinicians, product managers, engineers, data teams, and many others to research, design, develop, and test technical products. The hands-on work challenged me to problem-solve, adapt, and stay curious, teaching me more about AI, business, and product management than I could learn in a classroom. I realized my love for cross-functional work and am proud to have contributed to better healthcare. Now, I’m more eager than ever to pursue a career in healthcare, technology, and business.
To further explore healthcare and technology, I joined the Bass Connections project, “Data Science to Optimize Cardiovascular Disease Prevention,” as a researcher. I studied how to better prevent and predict cardiovascular events, explored pharmacoepidemiology, leveraged causal inference for disease management, and specialized in deep survival machines for statistical modeling. Additionally, I collaborated with the Sherwood Lab, researching the role of select proteins in C. elegans basement membranes to better understand cancer metastasis, blood vessel properties, and aneurysms. These experiences have only deepened my passion for research and development.
Outside of academics, I serve as a Vice President of DTech, where I love helping fellow STEM students find connection, balance, and support academically, socially, and professionally. I’ve also served as Senator of the Duke Student Government, with one of my favorite projects being Blue Devil Bridges, Duke’s first alumni-to-undergraduate mentoring program. In my community, I enjoy volunteering at the Virginia Aquarium and facilitating donation drives. In my free time, I’m probably playing tennis, baking, painting, or somewhere outdoors with family and friends.
Being a SPIRE fellow has brought me a welcoming, supportive community of peers and mentors. There’s always a familiar face around campus, and I love getting to know everyone’s unique STEM story. SPIRE has also brought invaluable opportunities to explore academic and professional pursuits. Through the program’s commitment to inclusivity, mentorship, and support, I got to challenge myself and grow deeply on a personal and professional level. Thanks to the unwavering guidance and encouragement from SPIRE, I know I have a cornerstone of support wherever I go moving forward.
