For Muzammil Tariq, KDI School was not only a place to earn a master’s degree. It became a place where his academic interests grew clearer, his research skills became stronger, and his dream of becoming a scholar began to take shape.

Muzammil is from Karachi, Pakistan. He studied computer science as an undergraduate and later pursued the Master of Data Science for Public Policy and Management at KDI School. Today, he has returned to the School as a PhD student in Public Policy. His research focuses on the relationship between energy use, the environment, and society. More specifically, he is studying the economic impact of hydrogen infrastructure in South Korea, with a focus on how it may affect the real estate market.

His path to KDI School began with a simple but powerful interest. He wanted to use computers not only for technical work, but also as tools to solve social problems. During his undergraduate studies, he took courses related to public policy and social studies. These courses helped him see the connection between data, technology, and policy. When he found KDI School’s data science program, he saw a clear match.

“The program was highly targeted at policy impacts,” he said. That focus made KDI School the right place for him.

His master’s thesis became one of the most meaningful parts of his academic journey. Through the thesis process, Muzammil experienced the excitement and difficulty of real research. He learned that research rarely moves in a straight line. Data changes. Methods change. Questions become sharper over time. Each new idea brings another challenge, but also another reward.

For Muzammil, this process confirmed something important. He wanted to continue academic research. Returning to KDI School for a PhD felt natural. His research journey has not been easy. As his work expanded, the data and methodology became more complex. He had to learn new skills while working with Korean data. He also had to understand cultural and institutional contexts that were new to him. These challenges could have been discouraging. Instead, they became part of his growth.

KDI School’s academic environment helped him move forward. Muzammil speaks with deep appreciation about the faculty members who supported him. He describes them as kind, patient, and generous with guidance. They helped him think through research design and methodology. They also helped him overcome obstacles that appeared during the research process.

His classmates and fellow researchers have also played an important role. At KDI School, Muzammil has met people from many countries and professional backgrounds. This experience broadened his way of thinking. It also helped him become more open to different perspectives and working styles.

The School’s courses equipped him with practical tools for his research. Korea’s Microdata Analytics for Public Policy helped him understand Korean data more deeply. Econometrics I strengthened his foundation in modeling. Geospatial Data with R gave him valuable skills for geographical analysis. Frequent research talks also inspired him with useful ideas and small insights that helped improve his work. These experiences did more than support one research project. They helped Muzammil understand what kind of researcher he wants to become.

Before coming to KDI School, he was broadly interested in the environmental impact of energy use. Yet he did not have a clear direction. His research at KDI School gave him a more concrete path. He learned how to study specific policy actions and identify their effects. This changed the way he thinks about public policy.

He once dreamed of solving very large and complex problems. Now, he sees the value of solving specific problems carefully. He believes that smaller, practical solutions can have a greater impact when they are applied to society. For him, this lesson is central to both research and policymaking.

Muzammil hopes to become a professor and researcher in the future. He enjoys teaching, and his recent experiences have strengthened his love of research. His story shows what KDI School offers to students who are ready to grow. It offers rigorous training, supportive faculty, practical research opportunities, and a multicultural community. For Muzammil, these elements made the School a place worth returning to. And in returning, he found more than a PhD program. He found a place where his academic dreams could continue to grow.