Muhammad Salar Khan

Dr. Muhammad Salar Khan is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), affiliated with the Department of Public Policy within the College of Liberal Arts. His work bridges science, technology, and policy, focusing on AI ethics, clean energy transitions, public health, and innovation-driven economic development in developing economies. He holds a PhD in Public Policy from George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, and a Master’s in Public Policy (Economic Policy) from Oregon State University as a Fulbright Scholar.

His research emphasizes policy frameworks for responsible AI adoption, particularly in public sectors of developing nations, alongside analyzing AI equity, explainability, and economic implications. He has contributed to a Department of Defense grant on AI and augmented cognition in the U.S. Air Force, and his work appears in journals like Government Information Quarterly and AI & Ethics. He also engages with policy communities through outlets like The Diplomat and The Conversation.

Key research themes include:

• AI governance and ethical challenges
• Clean energy transitions in Global South
• Public health policy innovations
• Innovation systems in middle-income economies
• Behavioral economics applications

His publications reflect interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary challenges, including urban transit systems in Lahore, pandemic policy impacts on religious institutions, and AI adoption strategies for low-income countries. He received the Don E. Kash Postdoctoral Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy during his postdoctoral research.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on ethics in public policy, decision analysis, and global technological innovation policy.