Aftab is currently assisting with surveying and analysis efforts to understand rural productive uses of energy such as irrigation in order to support energy access planning in Uganda. He is also involved in researching machine learning and remote sensing methodologies to predict the presence of buildings and cropland to assist with infrastructure planning efforts. Aftab recently graduated with an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Energy Systems from Columbia University and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.