Theses

TPP student research spans many domains, but shares methodologies and goals. Examples of award-winning theses and noteworthy research projects are shared here. We also maintain a public database of all TPP thesis titles, with links to web publications where available.

Award-Winning Theses and Student Research Stories

2023 Thesis Prize Winner

• Maja Svanberg; “The Economic Advantage of Computer Vision Over Human Labor, and Its Market Implications” (2023). Advisor(s): Neil Thompson.

2022 Thesis Prize Winners

• Farri T. Gaba; “Solutions to the Generalized UAV Delivery Routing Problem for Last-Mile Delivery with Societal Constraints” (2022). Advisor(s): Matthias Winkenbach
• Jonathan Garrett Novak; “Policy and Design Courses of Action to Improve Resilience of Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations Against Adverse Solar Weather” (2022). Advisor(s): Daniel E Hastings.
• Aaron Matthew Schwartz; “The Role of Natural Gas in Future Low-Carbon Energy Systems” (2022). Advisor(s): Dharik S Mallapragada.

2021 Thesis Prize Winner

Karan Bhuwalka, recent TPP alum who won best thesis in 2021, reflects on TPP’s interdisciplinary approach and bringing data science, manufacturing, and social issues together in his research on the materials that make up electric vehicles.

• Assessing the Socio-Economic Risks in Electric Vehicle Supply Chains (Thesis)
• Characterizing the Changes in Material Use due to Vehicle Electrification (Environmental Science & Technology, Jul 2021)

Do native ads shape our perception of the news?: Manon Revel

Often masquerading as legitimate news, so-called “native” ads, pushed by content recommendation networks, have brought badly needed revenue to the struggling U.S. news industry. But at what cost? TPP alum Manon Revel is now a PhD student in the IDSS Social and Engineering Systems PhD program. Her TPP thesis advisor was Prof. Ali Jadbabaie.

• Combining AI with passions (MIT News, March 2019)

Health Savings of Renewable Energy: Emil Dimanchev

Research from TPP alum Emil Dimanchev, who won TPP’s best thesis award in 2019, found that health savings from cleaner air would more than pay for the cost of implementing renewable energy policies. His thesis was advised by TPP director Noelle Selin.

• Shift to renewable electricity a win-win at statewide level (MIT News, Aug 2019)

Thesis Database

Thesis Titles, 1977 to 2015

• Jeffrey Bailey; “Economics and Policy for Energy Conservation in New Buildings;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Christopher Barnett; “The Prospects for Remanufacturing of Metalworking Products in the Andean Countries;” SM, 1981 (9/1/1980)
• Stuart Batterman; “The Characterization of Ambient Air Pollution for Stochastic Health Models;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Douglas Brittain; “The Passive Restraint Controversy: Analysis and Recommendations;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Jean-Bernard Caen; “New Computer Concepts and its Effect on Decision Support Systems;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Oswaldo Cortez; “Mingling Human Values in the Development Planning Process;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Newton de Castro; “Lash Versus Conventional Water Transport System: An Economic Comparison for the Amazon Region;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Frank Field III; “An assessment of the expected value of a pre-transportation testing program for high level nuclear waste forms;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981) (Elias Gyftopoulos, Joel Clark)
• Winslow Hayward; “Economic Implications of Alternative Legal Mechanisms to Secure Solar Access;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Barbara Herrmann; “Office Automation and Its Impact on Clerical Workers;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Daniel Jones; “Cost-Benefit Analysis of Fire Detectors;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Roger Kilgore; “The Role of Cost Allocation Policies in Planning Regional Water Supply Systems;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Jennifer Knapp-Stumpp; “The Influence of the Engineer's Values and Training on the Assessment of Project Impacts;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Amelia Lee; “Groundwater Impacts of Land Application Systems on Cape Cod, Massachusetts;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Clifford Mitchell; “Uncertainty in Environmental Health Regulation: A Case Study of Formaldehyde in Consumer Products;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• James Spall; “Strategies for Improving Boston's Competitiveness with Other Ports;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Clinton Stanovsky; “Automation and Internal Labor Market Structure: A Study of the Caterpillar Tractor Company;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Julian Villalba; “Theoretical Framework for the Management of Technology Transfer Negotiations;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)
• Laurence Zwimpfer; “Standards-Setting for Computer Communications: The Case of X.25;” SM, 1981 (5/1/1981)