MIT Technology and Policy Program

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

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.

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.

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.

Thesis Database

Thesis Titles, 1977 to 2015

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2015
  • Jennifer Atlee; “Operational Sustainability Metrics: A Case of Electronics Recycling;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Randolph Kirchain)
  • Jason Black; “Integrating Demand into the United States Electricity system: Technical, Economic, and Regulatory design for Responsive/Adaptive Load;” PhD, 2005 (6/1/2005)
  • Thomas Boscher; “Evaluation of Alternative Fuel Cycle Strategies for Nuclear Power Generation in the 21st Century;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (Mujid Kazimi)
  • Serena Chan; “Architectures for a Space-Based Information Network with Shared On-Orbit Processing;” PhD, 2005 (2/1/2005)
  • Alan Cheng; “Economic Modeling of Intermittency in Wind Power Generation;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Henry Jacoby, John Reilly)
  • Chia-Chin Cheng; “Electricity Demand-Side Management for an Energy Efficient Future in China: Technology Options and Policy Priorities;” PhD, 2005 (6/1/2005)
  • Jessica Cohen; “United States Air Force Logistics Centers: Lean Enterprise Transformation and Associated Capabilities;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (George Roth, Deborah Nightingale)
  • Ling Cui; “A Comparative Study of the Diffusion of Antihypertensive and Antidepressant Medications in Germany and Japan;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Ernst Berndt)
  • Stephanie Dalquist; “Opportunities for Technological and Economic Development Policy in Brazil;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Amy Smith)
  • Delphine Dantec; “Analysis of the Cost of Recycling Compliance for the Automobile Industry;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (Randolph Kirchain)
  • Nurettin Demirdoven; “Hydrogen: What Fuel Cell Vehicles and Advanced Nuclear Reactors Have in Common;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (John Deutsch)
  • Neslihan Doran; “Evaluation of a Digital Communication Device for Railraod Worker Safety;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (Thomas Sheridan)
  • Troy Downen; “A Multi-Attribute Value Assessment Method for the Early Product Development Phase With Application to the Business Airplane Industry;” PhD, 2005 (2/1/2005)
  • Laetitia Fournier; “A Methodology to Assess Cost Implications of Automotive Customization;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Richard Roth)
  • Travis Franck; “Quantifying the Cost Uncertainty of Climate Stabilization Policies;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Henry Jacoby, John Reilly)
  • Jessica Harrison; “Clean Energy Investments in an Uncertain Future;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (David Marks, Stephen Connors)
  • Erisa Hines; “Lifecycle Perspectives on Product Data Management;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (Thomas Shields, Eric Rebentisch)
  • Gregoire Jourdan; “Using Risk-Based Regulations for Licensing Nuclear Power Plants: Case Study of the Gas-cooled Fast Reactor;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (J. DeVries)
  • Andjelka Kelic; “Networking Technology Adoption: System Dynamics Modeling of Fiber-to-the-Home;” PhD, 2005 (6/1/2005)
  • Gina Kim; “Characterization of a Peptide Biomaterial Used for Cell-Seeded Scaffolds with an Analysis of Relevant Stem Cell Policy;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Roger Kamm)
  • Michael Kometer; “Command in Air War: Centralized vs. Decentralized Control of Combat Airpower;” PhD, 2005 (6/1/2005)
  • Wheyyit (Tony) Lim; “Telecommunications Business Venturing in China: Identification of Investment Orientations Using Deal Reporting;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (James Short)
  • Andrew Long; “Framework for Evaluating Customer Value and the Feasibility of Servicing Architectures for On-Orbit Satellite Servicing;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Daniel Hastings)
  • Elizabeth Masiello; “Port Numbers as Identifiers;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (David Clark)
  • Kira Matus; “Health Impacts from Urban Air Pollution in China: The Burden to the Economy and the Benefits of Policy;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Henry Jacoby, John Reilly)
  • Jung Won Min; “Cross-User Subsidy in Residential Broadband Service;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (David Clark)
  • Ayaka Naga; “Portfolio Evaluation of Advanced Coal Technology Research, Development and Demonstration;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (John Deutsch, Ernest Moniz)
  • Anand Rajagopal; “A Knowledge Services Roadmap for Online Learning;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (John Williams)
  • Joshua Reinert; “Including Model Uncertainty in Risk-Informed Decision-Making;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (George Apostolakis)
  • Ayanna Samuels; “Assessing the Technical, Economic and Policy-centered Feasibility of a Proposed Satellite Communications System for the Developing World;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Oli de Weck)
  • Wee Chiang See; “Carbon Permit Prices in the European Emissions Trading System: A Stochastic Analysis;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Henry Jacoby, John Reilly)
  • Ram Sekar; “Carbon Dioxide Capture from Coal-Fired Power Plants: A Real Options Analysis;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Howard Herzog)
  • Satwiksai Seshasai; “Managing Global Software Development Teams: Technology and Policy Proposals for Knowledge Sharing.;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (John Cutcher-Gershenfeld)
  • Sgouris Sgouridis; “Integrating Regional Strategic Transportation Planning and Supply Chain Management: Along the Path to Sustainability;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Joseph Sussman)
  • Dalong Shi; “Technical and Institutional Priorities for Enhancing Rail / Aviation Cooperation for the Future Intercity Passenger Transportion;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (Carl Martland, Joseph Sussman)
  • Matthew Silver; “Designing Sustainable Space-Launch Architectures: Flexibility, Lock-In, and Program Evolution;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (Jeffrey Hoffman)
  • Jaemin Song; “Emission Trading with Absolute and Intensity Caps;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (Denny Ellerman)
  • Adnan Sulejmanpasic; “Telecommunication Technologies Development in Countries of the Former Yugoslavia: History, Needs, and Policy Options for the Future;” SM, 2005 (2/1/2005) (Nicholas Ashford)
  • Karen Tapia-Ahumada; “Are DE Technologies a Viable Alternative for Institutional Settings? Lessons from MIT Cogeneration Plant;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (Ernest Moniz)
  • Juan Pablo Torres Padilla; “Perspectives on the Satellite Services Industry: Analyses of Challenges and Opportunities in the Market, Policy and Regulatory Environments;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Joseph Saleh, Dava Newman)
  • Maggie Tsui; “Valuing Innovatinve Technology R & D as a Real Option: Application to Fuel Cell Vehicles;” SM, 2005 (9/1/2005) (Richard de Neufville)
  • Ozlem Uzuner; “Identifying Expression Fingerprints Using Linguistic Information;” PhD, 2005 (2/1/2005)
  • Samudra Vijay; “Technology and Policy Options for Reducing Industrial Air Pollutants in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area;” PhD, 2005 (2/1/2005)
  • Xiaodu Wang; “The Economic Impact of Global Climate and Tropospheric Ozone on World Agricultural Production;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (John Reilly)
  • John Ward; “Toll Road Public-Private Partnerships in Malaysia: Using the CLIOS Process for Policy Improvements;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Joseph Sussman)
  • Gabriel Weinberg; “A Systems Analysis of the Spam Problem;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Sharon Gillett)
  • David Zipkin; “Using STAMP to Understand Recent Increases in Malicious Software Activity;” SM, 2005 (6/1/2005) (Nancy Leveson)

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