Dr Danielle Chisolm was an Independent Research Scholar at NIAMS and had been a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of AAI member John O’Shea. The following tribute was provided by AAI Finance Committee member Virginia Shapiro and written by Amy Weinmann, Ijeoma Meremikwu, and Micala Hammond.
Dr. Danielle A. Chisolm was an emerging leader in the field of molecular immunology when she passed away on September 14, 2025, at the age of 35. She was a role model for scientists young and old, forging a trail not traveled by many, with courage, strength and grace.
Her research achievements as a doctoral student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham included defining roles for metabolites in genome organization in immune cells and characterizing genetic variation in congenic mice, providing critical information about a previously overlooked experimental variable to improve interpretations in immunology research.
Danielle was born and raised in Hardeeville, South Carolina and she graduated valedictorian of Hardeeville High School in 2008. She attended Bethune-Cookman University for her bachelor’s degree, where she was active in research and as a member of the acclaimed Marching Wildcats, performing at events such as the NFL Pro Bowl and Honda Battle of the Bands. Her laughter was infectious, her kindness contagious, she was loved by her family and friends, and she cared deeply about expanding opportunities for our next generation of brilliant young minds.
As an Independent Research Scholar at the NIH, she blossomed as a mentor, with her mentee Ijeoma Meremikwu saying “That was the great thing about Danielle, she knew that freedom to explore and understand data in one’s own way was the most valuable ability an independent investigator should have. Danielle appreciated and knew that building mechanistic stories took time and the data will eventually build a path.” Micala Hammond said “Dr. Danielle Chisolm’s mentorship was a unique experience; she was a force, a guiding light, a safe-space, and a promise of a brighter future. She was more than a mentor to me, and it is only right that her story be told just as loud as her love for her mentees. We carry her dreams in our conduct as we continue down the path she has guided us on.”
A scholarship will be set up in memory of Dr. Chisolm at a future date. Contact Amy Weinmann for details.
