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

• Clinton Andrews; “Allocating Energy Costs Among Users of Large Facilities;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Ghassan Bejjani; “Information Storage and Access in Decision-Making Organizations;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Claire Bischoff; “The Role of Analysis in the Decision-making Process: The Case of the Great Salt Lake;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Matthew Buresch; “Residential Photovoltaic Generation in New England: Market Potential and Marginal Worth;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Philippe Cothier; “Assessment of Timeliness in Command and Control;” SM, 1985 (9/1/1984)
• Gerard Gennotte; “Transborder Data Flows: The Privacy Issues;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Eric Hiassen; “Spot Wheeling Rates for Electricity;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Kent Hughes; “The Determinants of Computer and Communications Standards -- LANS: An Expository Case Study;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Francois Jacques; “Marketing Strategies in Innovative Industries: The Case of Packages/Documents Delivery Services;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Philippe Jolly; “Scheduling Case Iron Mains Replacement in Gas Utility Distribution Networks Under Highly Populated Areas;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Joseph Karam; “Effectiveness Analysis of Evolving Systems;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Philip Ng; “The Need for Private Sector - Public Sector Collaborative Planning in Singapore;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Valerie Pietrzyk-Early; “Application of Medical Decision-Making;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Stephen Pinkerton; “Windpower in Massachusetts: Case Studies for the Design of Government Programs;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Andrew Schon; “Marginal Cost Pricing of Water Supply Using Hourly Demand Data;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Steven Stewart; “Market Coordination and the Emergence of Standards: A Study of Modems;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• David Summa; “The Selection of a Discount and its Implications on Incremental Expenditures at the Seabrook Project;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)
• Carmen Villarreal; “A Methodology for Selecting Space Transportation Systems;” SM, 1985 (5/1/1985)