Profile: Lauren Burke
Meet Lauren Burke,
Data Scientist at CoverMyMeds
Lauren Burke was recently named among 11 recipients of the inaugural Ohio Trailblazers Award presented by Verizon, celebrating the women transforming Ohio tech.
Lauren is a Data Scientist at CoverMyMeds, a healthcare technology company that helps people get the medicine they need to live healthy lives.
Following the award announcement on May 18, Lauren joined us for a Q&A interview. Enjoy getting to know her here, and be sure to congratulate her on LinkedIn!
Name: Lauren Burke
Job: Data Scientist, CoverMyMeds
City: Columbus, Ohio
Q: Tell us about your job.
As a Data Scientist, I build models, systems, and automated solutions that inform decisions and discover opportunities for our organization. In my product-focused role, this includes improving our understanding of user needs and enhancing product features. I am also the Director of Operations of Women in Analytics, a global community that promotes women in the space and hosts the annual DataConnect Conference.
Q: How did you get into tech?
I've always loved math, solving problems, and figuring out how things work and why. I went on to study math, taking analytical computer science classes along the way, including one focused on Machine Intelligence. For my Senior Thesis, I applied the skills I learned in that course as I looked into optimizing a large-scale road trip through every US National Park. This project cemented my interest in predictive analytics, introduced me to techniques I'd use again in my data science career, and provided relevant experience as I transitioned into my first Data Scientist role.
Q: What can Ohio do to support and promote women in tech?
Supporting communities and initiatives that promote skill and professional development, provide mentorship, and encourage those taking non-traditional paths into technology. Additionally, providing opportunities for students to learn about tech early on in a way that enables them to see the connections between their interests and a potential career in tech.
Lauren Burke, Data Scientist at CoverMyMeds with the Trailblazer Award
Q: Why is data science important in the healthcare field?
Data science is incredibly impactful in the healthcare and pharmaceutical space. It has numerous applications, like discovering new drugs, improving outcomes, supporting diagnoses, and enhancing the patient experience. Healthcare data can also be highly complex and often involves massive datasets from different sources — data science helps us to make sense of it all.
Q: How does working as a data scientist change how you view the world?
I like to ask a lot of questions and consider things from different perspectives when facing something new, understanding that my view may need to change as the world around me or other factors do. There's also been a considerable focus on the ethics around data and algorithms in recent years. It's made me even more aware of how everything, including humans, can be biased. So I try to be mindful of any biases I may be personally holding onto and be more open and curious instead.
Q: How do you stay on top of rapidly evolving technology?
I rotate between several data science and analytics podcasts, including Analytics Power Hour, SuperDataScience, and TWIML AI. Smaller Slack communities like Data Angels and Locally Optimistic are some of my favorite places to find resources and discuss new trends. I also love hosting our podcast, Women in Analytics After Hours, because it allows me to connect with and learn from many incredible individuals in the space.
Q: What do you do for fun when you're not working?
Outside of work, you can find me visiting new places, taking spontaneous weekend road trips, hiking with my dogs and fiancé, at game nights and trivia with friends, and buying too many plants. I love a good science fiction book and a matcha latte, ideally paired together. I also volunteer with several tech and STEM organizations.
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Learn more about Lauren’s work by connecting with her on LinkedIn.