Omar Isaac Asensio

Dr. Omar Isaac Asensio is an Associate Professor in the Carter School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology and Director of the Data Science & Policy Lab. He holds a doctorate in Environmental Science & Engineering from UCLA with a specialization in economics. His research focuses on intersecting technology, AI, and sustainability, particularly in climate and electrification strategies. He is affiliated with IDEaS, the Machine Learning Center, and the Strategic Energy Institute. During the 2023-2024 academic year, he serves as a climate fellow at Harvard Business School.

Asensio’s work employs statistical and computational methods to enhance civic participation and address environmental challenges. His research has been supported by NSF, DOE, Microsoft, and ESRI, among others, and has influenced policies like COP26’s ZEV guidelines. Key areas include electric vehicle infrastructure, energy efficiency, and smart city policies. He teaches courses on data science for policy, big data analytics, and research design.

His awards include the NSF CAREER Award, ARCS Emerging Scholar recognition, and APPAM’s 40-for-40 Fellowship. He currently leads the Data and Policy Journal as an associate editor and actively promotes STEM diversity through initiatives like the Research University Alliance (RUA).