Rahul Bhargava

Rahul Bhargava is an Assistant Professor in Journalism and Art + Design at Northeastern University, leading the Data Culture Group. His work focuses on creative data storytelling, computational journalism, and community-driven data practices to promote social justice and civic empowerment. He holds a Master of Science from MIT's Media Arts & Science program and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Research interests include participatory data methods, feminist data science, AI ethics in newsrooms, and bridging gaps between technical and non-technical communities. Notable projects include the Data Theatre Collective (funded by Mellon Foundation), Data Murals, and Databasic.io tools. His 2025 book Community Data explores empowering marginalized groups through collaborative data practices.

• Key grants: Mellon Foundation ($500K), NSF ($724K), Knight Foundation
• Publications span journals like International Journal of Communication and conferences such as AEJMC and ICWSM
• Labs/affiliations: Media Ecosystems Analysis Group, MIT Data + Feminism Lab

Teaching emphasizes hands-on data literacy, with courses on computational journalism and physical computing. His work has been featured in museum exhibits globally and recognized through awards including the Knight Foundation grants and Best Software (American Political Science Association).