Infinite Careers is a collaboration between Career Services (CAPD) and the MIT Alumni Association to explore career paths and the non-linearity of career decision making. Read profiles of alumni with unique career paths, hear their stories and network at a series of talks.
Education
- Yale University – Bachelor of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science
- MIT – Master Of Science, MAS – Media Arts & Science
- Boston University – Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical/Medical Engineering & Informatics
Bio
Dr. Clark Freifeld’s research focuses on applications of computing and artificial intelligence to the improvement of population health. His work has been supported by agencies including CDC, WHO, DHS, DOD, HHS, and FDA, as well as being recognized by the Smithsonian and Library of Congress. Past projects include: HealthMap, a global disease surveillance platform, and MedWatcher, a medical product safety monitoring system.
Freifeld is currently a Senior Software Engineer at NewGrid, a climate-tech startup, and Founder/Principal of LexiGraph, a software and data science consulting firm. Previously, he served on the faculty in Computer Science at Northeastern University from 2016 to 2022. Before joining the faculty at Northeastern, Freifeld was co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Epidemico, a health informatics spinout from Boston Children’s and MIT, now a division of Booz Allen Hamilton. He holds a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and Mathematics from Yale University, a Master’s from the MIT Media Lab, and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University.
What influenced your choice of undergraduate major? How has it shaped your career choices and professional ability?
In high school, I was interested in pursuing a career in medicine—I liked science, and I wanted to do something practical and helpful. But around the end of high school, two things happened: first, I started discovering the field of public health; second, I got back into computers and programming, thanks to a teacher who was ahead of his time. This was 1995, when the World Wide Web was just starting to come into broader use. I helped create the first version of my high school’s website. By the time I graduated, I knew I wanted to study computer science. As computers have only become cheaper, faster, and smaller, the field has only grown, and career opportunities have broadened. I ended up doing extensive work at the intersection of computing and public health.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?
I’ve had the opportunity to work with people all over the world, on projects that I’m passionate about, in health, education, and climate. I love the process of building and debugging software tools, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to practice it every day. I’ve also worked on many software projects that never made it into any user’s hands—it happens more often than you’d think—so I don’t take for granted any time I can deliver value to a user as well as get feedback on my work.
What motivates you to do the work that you do?
I’ve been fortunate to work on some of the challenges of our time: health, education, and climate change—“wicked problems,” as they’re called. Working on projects that have an impact is tremendously motivating for me. Moreover, working in interdisciplinary teams with coworkers who not only share the mission but also are thoughtful, caring, and hardworking helps motivate me.
What do you like to do outside of work for fun/relaxation/inspiration?
For exercise, I love long-distance cycling and running. I find it helps me maintain mental health as much as physical health. I also play acoustic guitar and sing, take weekly guitar lessons, and play occasional open mic events.
How have your career experiences been shaped by intersections of your identity, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, and veteran status?
I’m a white guy, but I made my second major career pivot in part because I felt strongly about the diversity problem in computer science, and wanted to work to address it. I became a teaching professor at Northeastern and the first faculty sponsor of MULTI, Northeastern’s student-run group focused on broadening participation and inclusion in computing. At the beginning of every semester, I would always speak about the challenges of diversity in computer science, and encourage students to join the mission.
Do you participate in any volunteer/community service activities? If so, how do you balance your professional and personal responsibilities?
For several years, I’ve been involved with Beacon Academy, a school that offers a one-year eighth-grade program to prepare disadvantaged Boston-area students for elite private high schools in New England. I’ve served as a math tutor as well as a mentor through the program. I’ve found the work highly rewarding; I’ve kept in touch with a few of the students over the years and observed their personal evolution and career journeys.
Last edited: September 2025
