How Prabhat Gautam Uses Data to Help Shape the Future of Energy

July 10, 2026

Prabhat Gautam

When Prabhat Gautam MPA ‘14 came to Cornell to pursue his Master of Public Administration, data science was still an emerging field. Today, as an Associate Lead Data Scientist at E Source, he works at the intersection of data analytics, public policy, and the electric grid, helping utilities and regulators use data to support electrification, decarbonization, and a more resilient energy system.

His career journey has taken him from rural field research in Bangladesh to consulting and advanced analytics, but one theme has remained constant: using data to solve complex public policy challenges. By combining the Brooks School’s interdisciplinary curriculum with rigorous quantitative training, Prabhat built the foundation for a career where policy, technology, and sustainability come together every day.

Q. Tell us about your current role and the work you do.

I serve as an Associate Lead Data Scientist at E Source, where I work at the intersection of household energy use, customer analytics, and the electric grid. My team partners with utilities and regulatory organizations across the country to evaluate programs related to beneficial electrification, electric vehicle load management, and the decarbonization of energy production and consumption.

Using data science, statistics, and predictive analytics, we help organizations better understand how people use electricity, how new technologies affect the grid, and how policy decisions can support a more reliable and sustainable energy future. It’s an exciting field because technology, artificial intelligence, and growing electricity demand are rapidly transforming the energy landscape.

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career at the intersection of public policy and data science?

Growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal, I experienced firsthand how complex public policy challenges can be.

Nepal has tremendous hydropower potential, yet governance challenges meant that frequent power shortages were part of everyday life. I often completed my homework by candlelight while simultaneously learning about my country’s enormous energy resources in school. That contradiction sparked my interest in understanding why public policy problems are often so difficult to solve.

As an undergraduate studying Economics and International Studies, I developed an interdisciplinary perspective on public policy and realized that I was most inspired by solving complex societal challenges. That passion brought me to Cornell.

At the Brooks School, I deepened my understanding of how economic development, natural resource management, and climate change intersect. Seeing those connections ultimately inspired me to pursue a career that combines public policy, sustainability, and data science.

Q. How did the Brooks School equip you for a career in data science?

One of the Brooks School’s greatest strengths was its interdisciplinary curriculum.

Although data science was still an emerging field when I was an MPA student, I was able to combine my interest in energy policy with rigorous coursework in econometrics, statistics, and geospatial analysis. The flexibility of the curriculum allowed me to build strong quantitative skills while continuing to study economic development and sustainability.

Those foundational skills became incredibly valuable after graduation. As data science evolved, I continued building my technical expertise through positions at Bain & Company, Tufts University, and eventually E Source. Looking back, the Brooks School gave me the analytical foundation that allowed me to grow alongside a rapidly changing field.

Q. Looking back, what made the Brooks School the right place to prepare you for your career?

Two things stand out.

First, the interdisciplinary approach. Public policy challenges rarely fit neatly into one discipline, and the Brooks School encouraged me to study economics, statistics, geospatial analysis, political science, sociology, anthropology, and natural resource management together. Learning across disciplines helped me better understand the complexity of policy problems and prepared me to approach them from multiple perspectives.

Second, the curriculum struck the right balance between structure and flexibility. While the program provided clear academic pathways, it also allowed me to choose courses that matched my interests and challenged me technically. That flexibility was instrumental in helping me develop as both a researcher and a problem solver.

Q. Was there a hands-on learning experience that had a lasting impact on your career?

Several experiences continue to influence my work today.

One was my summer internship with Innovations for Poverty Action in Bangladesh, made possible through the Brooks School’s summer internship funding. Working alongside economists, researchers, and survey teams on evidence-based development projects gave me firsthand experience with rigorous data collection, monitoring, and evaluation. It reinforced the importance of using high-quality data to inform better policy decisions.

Another was completing my MPA thesis while participating in a year-long interdisciplinary seminar through Cornell’s Institute for Social Sciences. The seminar challenged me to engage deeply with research, present my work, and learn alongside doctoral students from multiple disciplines. Although I ultimately pursued a career outside academia, the skills I developed—critical thinking, writing, research, and public speaking—remain central to my work today.

Q. What advice would you give students who want to build careers that combine public policy and data science?

Take challenging courses without being afraid of failure.

The technical skills you develop at Cornell will become the foundation for your career, but equally important is developing an appetite for solving complex problems. Those experiences build the confidence and analytical mindset you’ll rely on throughout your professional life.

If you’re interested in energy analytics and sustainability, I also encourage exploring coursework in power system economics, electrical engineering, natural resources management, and related policy fields whenever possible. Those subjects provide valuable conceptual foundations that you can continue building throughout your career.

Finally, take advantage of your professors. You’re surrounded by nationally and internationally recognized experts, and the opportunity to learn from them is one of the greatest strengths of a Brooks School education.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Prabhat Gautam graduated from Cornell in 2014 with a Master of Public Administration, prior to the establishment of the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. References to the Brooks School reflect the school’s current name.