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

• Sarah Bird; “Entrepreneurship Policy for Entrepreneurs: A Cognitive Approach to the Entrepreneurial Environment;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Kristian Bodek; “Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle NOx Aftertreatment in 2010:The Infrastructure and Compliance Challenges of UREA-SCR;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)
• Robert Cirincione; “A Study of Optimal Automotive Materials Choice Given Market and Regulatory Uncertainty;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Jeremiah Connolly; “Effect of Real-Time Electricity Pricing on Renewable Generators and System Emissions;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Kathy Donnelly; “All fired-up about coal : technology & policy recommendations for the 2030 United Kingdom energy strategy;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)
• Vishal Doshi; “Functional Compression: Theory and Applications;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)
• Makoto Eguchi; “System Dynamics Analysis of Incentives for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) Equipage;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Christopher Evans; “Putting Policy in Drive: Coordinating Measures to Reduce Fuel Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Light-Duty Vehicles;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Susan Fredholm; “Evaluating electronic waste recycling systems : the influence of physical architecture on system performance;” SM, 2008 (9/1/2008)
• Marc Haddad; “Knowledge integration for problem solving in the development of complex aerospace systems;” SM, 2008 (5/1/2008) (Kirkor Bozdogan)
• Peter Israelsson; “Evaluation of the environmental viability of direct injection schemes for ocean carbon sequestration;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)
• Lisa Jakobovits; “A Comparison of Cost-Containment Instruments for US Carbon Reduction Policies;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Valerie Karplus; “Prospects for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in the United States: A General Equilibrium Analysis;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Romain Lacombe; “Economic Impact of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme: Evidence from the Refining Sector;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Romain Levy; “Evolutionary Supply Chain Risk Management: Transforming Culture for Sustainable Competitive Advantage;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Shan Liu; “Process Based Cost Modeling of Emerging Optoelectronic Interconnects: Implications for Material Platform Choice;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Robert Love; “Industrial Policy and the Indian Electronics Industry;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Juan Martin; “Improving Understanding of Climate Change Dynamics Using Interactive Simulations;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Meghan McGuinness; “The Effects of Interactions between Federal and State Climate Policies: Implications for Federal Climate Policy Design;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Dai Ohama; “Using Design Flexibility and Real Options to Reduce Risk in Private Finance Initiative: The Case of Japan;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Miguel Paredes; “Giving a Voice to the Poor: Rural Telephones and Economic Development in Peru;” SM, 2008 (9/1/2008) (Judith Tendler, Fred Moavenzadeh)
• Jordan Peck; “Securing the Safety Net: Applying Manufacturing Systems Methods towards Understanding and Redesigning a Hospital Emergency Department;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Lara Pierpoint; “Analyzing the Proliferation Resistance of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles: In Search of an Assessment Methodology for Use in Fuel Cycle Simulations;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008) (Mujid Kazimi)
• Tarek Rached; “Communicating Complexity and Informing Decision-Makers: Challenges in the Data and Computation of Environmental Benefits of Renewable Energy;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Faaiza Rashid; “The Organizational and Political Challenges of Enterprise Systems Engineering: A Survey of Senior Systems Engineers;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Christopher Sequeira; “An assessment of the health implications of aviation emissions regulations;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)
• Dinesh Shenoy; “Measuring effectiveness and value of email advertisements in relationship-oriented email messages;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)
• Katherine Steel; “Energy system development in Africa : the case of grid and off-grid power in Kenya;” PhD, 2008 (5/1/2008) (David Marks)
• Hildigunnur Thorsteinsson; “U.S. Geothermal District Heating: Barriers and Enablers;” SM, 2008 (6/1/2008)
• Jennifer Wilds; “A methodology for identifying flexible design opportunities;” SM, 2008 (9/1/2008)
• Hsin Min Wong; “Life-cycle assessment of Greenhouse Gas emissions from alternative jet fuels;” SM, 2008 (9/1/2008)
• Danielle Wood; “The use of satellite-based technology in developing countries;” SM, 2008 (9/1/2008)
• Qi Zhang; “Analysis and calibration of social factors in a consumer acceptance and adoption model for diffusion of diesel vehicle in Europe;” SM, 2008 (2/1/2008)