Researcher & Innovator

Dr. RAJIV GARG is an Associate Professor of Information Systems and Operations Management at Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and a recognized thought leader at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and human–machine interaction. His work focuses on how AI, algorithms, and data-driven technologies reshape decision-making, learning, markets, and organizations, and helps leaders understand both the value and the risks of intelligent systems.

Dr. GARG’s research uses interdisciplinary methods from economics, computer science, and social science to study information flow across digital platforms, algorithmic systems, and networked environments. His scholarship has attracted over $1 million in research funding, has been published in leading academic journals, and has been presented more than 60 times at international conferences and universities worldwide, with invited talks at 25+ academic institutions. His work informs both business strategy and public policy, supporting organizations across the private, nonprofit, and government sectors in developing responsible, data-enabled digital strategies.

His research has appeared in top journals including Management Science, MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Production and Operations Management, and the Journal of Management Information Systems, among others. His insights have also been featured in major media outlets such as Forbes, Fortune, CIO, Fox News, Dallas Morning News, Scripps News Network, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Austin American-Statesman, and Medium—reflecting his role as a trusted expert on AI, analytics, and the future of work.

Beyond research, Dr. Garg is an award-winning educator and global speaker who has taught thousands of students across undergraduate, graduate, executive, and doctoral programs at Emory University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Carnegie Mellon University. His courses span AI strategy, big data, analytics, digital transformation, and technology-enabled innovation, and his teaching excellence has been recognized with multiple distinguished educator awards, including Emory University’s Provost Distinguished Teaching Award and IEEE Atlanta's Outstanding Educator Award. He is also a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at academic, industry, and public forums around the world.

Dr. GARG plays a leadership role in shaping the future of AI education and governance. He serves as Chair of the Goizueta AI Taskforce, Faculty Advisor to Emory’s Center for AI in Learning (CAIL), Faculty Advisor for the Goizueta Center for AI in Finance (GCAIF), and a member of the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium (US AISIC) Taskforce, contributing to national standards for responsible and trustworthy AI systems.

Prior to joining Emory, Dr. Garg held faculty appointments at The University of Texas at Austin and worked in engineering and technology roles at organizations including National Instruments, Jacobs Engineering (CH2M Hill), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Infosys. His professional background spans space robotics, intelligent systems, immersive environments, infrastructure engineering, and large-scale data and software systems, grounding his academic work in real-world engineering practice. For his contributions to engineering and technology, he was named a Senior Member of IEEE.

Dr. GARG holds five academic degrees, including a PhD in Information Systems and Management and a graduate degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, graduate degrees in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-BHU), Varanasi.

Accessibility note:

Dr. GARG's doctors at USC (Dr. Dennis Maceri and Dr. David Ko) diagnosed him with an incurable  Sensorineural Hearing Loss caused by the weakening of the auditory nerve. Thus, he may occasionally ask speakers to repeat themselves. Written communication or clear, audible speech is always appreciated.