Member Snapshot
Name: Niharika (Niha) Namburi
Affiliation: Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Genetics Program (GP2) Trainee
Location: Camp Hill, PA, USA
Current research topic: Generative AI in Healthcare: Adoption, Workforce Change, and the Entrepreneurial Frontier
DCoP Member since: March 3, 2025
Research Summary
Niha Namburi is a data-driven healthcare professional with more than eight years of experience in research, analytics, and project management. Her master’s thesis at Harrisburg University focused on Parkinson’s disease, including nonclinical factors such as environmental exposures and lifestyle, and raised questions about how researchers can account for bias in self-reported data. She is interested in how social determinants of health affect patient outcomes and is open to collaborating on Parkinson’s research.
Challenges, Wins, and Opportunities for Collaboration
What do you find to be the greatest data-related obstacles / challenges to your work and research?
One challenge I encountered during my thesis was working with self-reported data, particularly information related to environmental exposures and lifestyle factors. Recall bias, missing information, and differences in how participants report their experiences can affect the analysis and interpretation of results. I’m interested in understanding how researchers address these limitations, assess the reliability of self-reported information, and account for potential bias in their findings.
Are there areas of your work where you think DCoP members could provide assistance / feedback to help overcome an issue or further your work?
I’d be interested in hearing how other DCoP members handle the limitations of self-reported data in their research. What methods have they found effective in assessing or reducing bias? Are there ways to validate self-reported information using other sources, such as environmental exposure records, electronic health records, or wearable data? I’d also welcome feedback on approaches that could strengthen the analysis of nonclinical factors associated with Parkinson’s disease.
In the last year or two, have you experienced any significant ‘wins’ in your work and research that you would like to share (e.g., scientific breakthroughs, grant awards, major milestones completed, etc.)?
Completing my master’s thesis on Parkinson’s disease was an important academic milestone for me. Another rewarding experience was sharing my analysis and insights with a PhD student who was working with a similar dataset. It allowed me to discuss my approach, share what I had learned, and hear another researcher’s perspective on the data.
Do you have any opportunities for collaboration in your lab or within your research project that we can highlight?
I don’t have an active Parkinson’s research project at the moment, but I’m open to collaborating with researchers studying environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, and other nonclinical aspects of Parkinson’s disease. I’d be happy to share my experience working with the data, discuss analytical approaches, or contribute to projects where my background in healthcare and analytics could be useful.
How has your experience in the DCoP been so far?
My experience with the DCoP has been great. I joined while working on my master’s thesis and have continued to follow the community’s activities. I’ve participated in several events, shared my research experience with a PhD student working on a similar dataset, and joined the Strategic Early Adopter Group for the Bridge Analytics Environment (BAE). I appreciate the opportunities to connect with other researchers, exchange ideas, and learn about new data resources.
Share a fun fact about yourself!
Outside of work, I like playing action-adventure games like Horizon Zero Dawn on PS5. I also enjoy reading both fiction and nonfiction. I’m currently listening to The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz.
Thank you to Niha for participating in our community member highlight! If you would like your work to be highlighted in future newsletters, please reach out to @gginnan.