Haroon Ashfaq

Master of Public Informatics, Class of 2025

GTM Engineer & AI Automation at Base Operations, Washington, DC

Data, Technology & Social Impact

Haroon’s journey into Public Informatics was driven by his interest in using data for meaningful societal impact. While his earlier background focused on technical and business applications, he sought to understand how advanced technologies operate within large public systems and large data models. “The MPI Program didn’t just teach the “how” of data, but the “why” of using it to improve people’s lives”, he states.

Academic Experience & Learning at Rutgers

Haroon describes his time in the MPI program as a transformative experience that helped bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world problem solving by applying data science skills to healthcare and public policy challenges. Courses such as Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Studio in Public Informatics played a major role in shaping his perspective. In particular, the Public Informatics Studio course provided hands-on experience working with real datasets and tackling complex problems without predefined answers, helping him develop the confidence to navigate real-world data problems.

Research & Hands-On Projects

Haroon’s research interests focus on AI applications in healthcare, an area where technology has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes. Through his projects, he has worked with complex public datasets, often messy and unstructured, and learned how to transform them into meaningful insights.

Future Goals & Career Vision

Looking ahead, Haroon aims to lead AI automation initiatives across multiple industries, focusing on process optimization and automation to improve operational efficiency. At the same time, he hopes to continue contributing to healthcare innovation, researching how AI can enhance patient care and support better healthcare systems.

The MPI program has equipped him not only with the technical expertise to build AI-driven systems, but also the strategic perspective needed to identify where automation can create the greatest impact. We’re excited to see how Haroon continues advancing responsible, human-centered innovation at the intersection of AI, public policy, and data science.