Who we are
Public Interest Technology & Management Lab
Within the New Jersey State Policy Lab, the Public Interest Technology and Management Lab generates independent evidence and practical guidance to help decisionmakers evaluate, govern, and manage technology in ways that advance the public interest.
Helping Governments Make Better Technology Decisions
To have real impact, agencies and organizations must be both smart and safe when it comes to how they use technology. If a department wishes to deploy a new AI tool, how will they know whether the tool is working to its fullest capacity? Should a department upgrade their existing benefits system or move to a new system entirely? Which system is easier for the public to use?
The Public Interest Technology and Management Lab was established to help agencies answer these questions and more. Our goal is to help the government innovate and operate with confidence, so that every public dollar delivers greater public value.
We Work Where Technology Research and Public Management Meet
Vendors, consultants, and digital service teams help government design, build, and deploy technology. Far fewer help with what follows: how a system should be staffed, governed, and managed, and whether it is producing public value. This lab exists to fill that gap.
We study the procurement, implementation, governance, and management of technology in government, from enterprise systems and digital services to emerging AI tools.
What We Do
Our work spans three areas, all serving the same goal: helping public agencies use evidence, and the technology and data behind it, to serve people better.
- Evaluating public programs: Whether programs reach the people they were designed for, and whether they work.
- Assessing government technology: Whether and how the technology agencies procure improves outcomes, and for whom.
- Building agency data capacity: What agencies need to answer these questions themselves.
Areas of Research
Our work spans a range of policy domains, so the lab can follow the questions our partners need answered.
Artificial intelligence in public services
Digital Services and their users
Community development and labor
Population health
Access to public benefits
Public sector workforce
Transparency and accountability
Government data systems
Procurement and contracting
Housing, transportation, and land use
Who We Work With
State executive leadership
We support the governor’s offices and state operations leadership with evidence for statewide priorities and modernization initiatives.
Technology and innovation offices
We partner with state IT and innovation departments to evaluate digital services, data systems, and responsible AI adoption.
State departments and authorities
We provide program evaluations and data capacity for agencies across human services, labor, economic development, and beyond.
Counties, cities, and philanthropy
We work with local governments and funders who want public investments measured to a research standard.
Our Team
Gregory Porumbescu, Ph.D.
Director
Wenwen Zhang, Ph.D.
Research Affiliate
Tiana Marrese, Ph.D.
Research Affiliate
Annaliese Luck, Ph.D.
Research Affiliate