Dr. Anand Rao

Professor

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Biography

Anand Rao is a Distinguished Service Professor in Applied Data Science at the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. He has a 35-year career in consulting, industry, and academia focusing on the advancements of artificial intelligence. Dr. Rao leads PwC's Global Artificial Intelligence practice, where he focuses on advising C-level executives on implementing AI-based solutions across various sectors including finance, healthcare, and telecommunications. His current research interests include operationalizing AI, responsible AI, and the application of agent-based models and digital twins in understanding human decision-making. Dr. Rao holds a PhD from the University of Sydney and has published over fifty research papers and co-edited four books on artificial intelligence. He has received several accolades for his work, including the Influential Paper Award for his contributions to multi-agent systems. Dr. Rao has also been recognized as one of the Top 50 Data & Analytics Professionals in the USA and Canada.

Research Interests

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.