ashley cogell

Ashley obtained a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Colorado State University and possesses a strong dedication to scientific communication, problem-solving, and acquiring new skills. She currently serves as a Data Scientist at PicnicHealth, where her responsibilities encompass diverse tasks such as data analysis, visualization, custom dashboarding, and engaging with various audiences. Hailing from Kansas City, she earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Art from Trinity University in 2014, and subsequently completed her Ph.D. at Colorado State University in 2021. Beyond her professional pursuits, she enjoys pursuits such as creating, gardening, and spending quality time with her miniature Australian Shepherds, Kuzon and Iroh.

PicnicHealth

Data Scientist

Oct 2023 – Present

  • Creates data dashboards using RShiny and Retool with interactive Plotly graphs.
  • Prepares reports for patient communications using R and Figma.
  • Aids data visualization efforts across the company by working with research, product, design, and engineering teams.
  • Develops and maintains custom R packages to create uniform graphic design elements for the team.
  • Develops and maintains Posit Connect hosted API for visualization service to our client-facing app and Retool dashboards.
  • Designs and maintains visualizations and features for our client platform using Plotly graphs and Plumber API.

AllStripes

Senior Manager of Data Insights

June 2021 – Oct 2023

Data collection and analysis:

  • Performed detailed clinical medical record review to generate longitudinal case studies of patients affected by a rare disease
  • Wrote and programs platform surveys on a variety of topics, including the effects of COVID-19, telehealth, and travel burden on the rare community
  • Performed ad hoc analyses for pharmaceutical partners
  • Led analysis for two in-progress publications and supports analysis for two submitted publications
  • Collaborated with clinical abstractors and researchers to define data points of interest for each rare disease research study

Data visualization:

  • Developed data dashboards in RShiny and Plotly Dash using interactive Plotly graphs
  • Generated reports for patient advocacy organizations using R and Adobe Illustrator
  • Supported data visualization efforts throughout the company, including the creation of quarterly visualization roadmaps for our SaaS platform
  • Wrote custom R packages to standardize graphic design elements across the team
  • Prototyped visualizations and features for the SaaS platform using Plotly and Dash
  • Collaborated with product, design, and engineering to define requirements for new products

Data quality:

  • Evaluated the clinical quality of structured EHR data using SQL and R
  • Developed novel metrics for EHR datasets using clinical knowledge to increase confidence in vocabulary mapping and lab values and de-duplicate patients beyond demographic comparisons
  • Led SQL query writing to define a cohort in a particular rare disease using diagnoses, lab values, medications, and demographic variables
  • Curated medical codes leveraging a variety of data vocabularies, including ICD-10, ICD-9, SNOMED, LOINC, CPT, RxNorm, and NDC
  • Performed quality assessment of data abstracted from medical records

Science communication:

  • Generated patient-facing content, including insights derived from demographics, patient-reported outcomes surveys, and data abstracted from medical records
  • Presented data to patient-advocacy organizations via webinars and at conferences
  • Created reports highlighting survey results and medical record metadata to support sales proposals
  • Supported ongoing pharmaceutical partnerships by acting as the subject matter expert in data analysis

Colorado State University

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Defended May 2021)

August 2014 – May 2021

Data collection:

  • Managed multiple projects to advance the understanding of Kv2.1-induced contacts between astrocytes and neurons and the consequences of that contact on regional cell biology in both cell types
  • Designed and performed experiments with personally-developed co-cultures of primary rat astrocytes and neurons and implemented cutting-edge fluorescent microscopy techniques, such as SRRF and SPT
  • Cloned DNA plasmids for transient transfection, amounting to more than 30 plasmids over 5 years

Data analysis:

  • Processed and analyzed 2D and 3D imaging results using custom MATLAB codes, ImageJ macros, OriginLab, and GraphPad Prism
  • Performed appropriate non-parametric statistical tests and regression analyses using OriginLab, GraphPad Prism, and MATLAB

Science communication:

  • Supported data visualization efforts throughout the lab using Adobe Illustrator
  • Prepared bimonthly presentations and annual reports of project progress
  • Aided in manuscript and grant writing and editing, leading to 5 peer-reviewed publications, 2 first-author publications in submission, and a funded RO1 of more than $400,000 from NINDS (1R01NS112365-01A1)
  • Two-time winner of the best graduate student poster presentation at the Front Range Neuroscience Meeting