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

• Christiaan Adams; “An Interactive, Online Geographic Information System (GIS) for Stakeholder Participation in Environmental Site Selection;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Judith Pederson)
• Michael Adams; “Data Management in Energy and Environment Systems: A Case Study of Web Services in the EPA's Clean Air Markets Division;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (John R. Williams)
• Colleen Akehurst; “The Benefits of Structured Training on Manufacturing Process Ramp-Up: A Process Based Cost Model Approach;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Richard Roth, Randolph E. Kirchain, Frank R. Field III)
• Anup Bandivadekar; “Combinations of Policy Measures with a High Potential for Reducing the Fuel Consumption of the U.S. Light Duty Vehicle Fleet;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (John B. Heywood)
• Juan Blake; “Air Time; Another Measure of the Quality of Passenger Service;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Arnold I. Barnett)
• Darren Chang; “Quantifying Technology Infustion and Policy Impact on LEO Communication Satellite Constellations;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Olivier L. de Weck)
• Swati Chaturvedi; “Strategies for Mitigating Adverse Environmental Impacts Due to Structural Building Materials;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (John A. Ochsendorf)
• David Cheng; “Integration of Distributed and Heterogeneous Information for Public-Private Policy Analyses;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Howard J. Herzog, Stuart E. Madnick)
• Kenny Hwee Ching; “Building a Biomedical Cluster: A Comparative Study of MIT and Singapore;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004)
• Shin Wee Chuang; “A Taxonomy and Analysis of Web Wrapping Technologies;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Stuart Madnick, John Williams)
• Paul Cossa; “Uncertainty Analysis on the Cost of Climate Policies;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Henry Jacoby)
• Thomas Curry; “Public Awareness of Carbon Capture and Storage: A Survey of Attitudes toward Climate Change Mitigation;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Howard Herzog)
• Denis de Graeve; “Framework for the Study of Governance in the Supply Networks Wal-Mart: the 'Enlightened Despot' Model;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Gabriel R. Bitran)
• Deena Disraelly; “Public-Private Partnerships: Security and Emergency Response Collaboration in a New Threat Environment;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (James B. Rice, Jr., Yossi Sheffi)
• Florence Dubroeucq; “Effectiveness of the Clean Air Act on SO2 Emissions from U.S. Electric Utilities: A Detailed Analysis of the Influence of Attainment Status and Unit-level Characteristics on the Reduction of SO2 Emiss;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (A. Denny Ellerman)
• Gregoire Ferre; “IT Management in the Aerospace Industry;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Eric Rebentisch)
• Andres Flores Montalvo; “Commercial and Informal Atmospheric Emissions in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area: Scenario Analysis and Policy Proposals;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Stephen R. Connors)
• Sophie Flores Montalvo; “Managing Risks of Supply-Chain Disruptions: Dual Sourcing as a Real Option;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003)
• Daniel Florian; “Simulation-based evaluation of Advanced Traveler Information Services (ATIS);” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004)
• Flora Garcia; “Integrated Optimization Model for Airline Schedule Design: Profit Maximization and Issues of Access for Small Markets;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (John-Paul Clarke)
• Christopher Hardin; “Effect of automotive electrical system changes on fuel consumption using incremental efficiency methodology;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004) (Rich Roth, Tom Keim, Gary DesGroseilliers, Frank Field)
• Anneloes Hesen; “Performance indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of structural reform of the Chicago Public Transportation System;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Frederick P. Salvucci)
• Sean Hitchings; “Political Economy Insights into the Defense Acquisition Process--Lessons from the Joint Strike Fighter Program;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Cindy Williams)
• Nathan Hottle; “Valuation Methods for Capital Investment in Merchant Power Plants;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Paul L. Joskow)
• Daizo Ikeda; “Benefit from Web Services in the Mobile Internet Industry;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Henry B. Weil)
• Carole Joppin; “On-Orbit Servicing For Satellite Upgrade;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Daniel E. Hastings)
• Vishwanath Kanda; “Social Networks and Firm Formation: A Study of Boston's Biotechnology Sector;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Fiona Murray)
• Sandra Jo Kassin-Deardorff; “Institutionalizing Change in Aerospace Process and Product Settings;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Eric Rebentisch)
• Jeffrey Kim; “Strategies for Developing an Intelligent Transportation Systems Industrial Base in South Korea;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Carl D. Martland)
• Shaheen Malik; “Barriers to the Growth of Telemedicine Explained by the Disruptive Innovation Framework;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Joseph Coughlin)
• Pierre-Alain Martin; “A Framework for Quantifying Complexity and Understanding its Sources: Application to two Large-Scale Systems;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004)
• Isabel Neto; “Wireless Networks for the Developing World: The Regulation and Use of License-Exempt Radio Bands in Africa;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Sharon E. Gillett, Michael L. Best)
• Sze Hwei Ong; “Grid Computing: Business and Policy Implications;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Amar Gupta)
• Carlos Osorio-Urzua; “Bits of Power: The Involvement of Municipal Electric Utilities in Broadband Services;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Sharon E. Gillett, William H. Lehr)
• Juliet Outten; “Consistency Checks in Decision Analysis;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (George F. Apostolakis)
• Sophie Pochard; “Managing Risks of Supply-Chain Disruptions: Dual Sourcing as a Real Option;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003)
• Amrith Raghavan; “Re-engineering Knowledge Networks for Sustainable Development;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Nazli Choucri)
• Laurie Rodriguez; “Managing Software Requirements: Organizational and Political Challenges;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (Charles Coleman)
• Larry Siegel; “Measuring and Managing Intellectual Capital in the U.S. Aerospace Industry;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004)
• Adam Smith; “Regulatory Issues Controlling Carbon Capture and Storage;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Howard Herzog)
• Benjamin Spead; “Feedback Loops in Educational Environments using Web-Based Survey Tools: New Technology Development and Three Implementation Case Studies;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Stuart Madnick)
• Michael Speerschneider; “Technology and Policy Drivers for Standardization: Consequences for the Optical Components Industry;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004)
• Kara Sprague; “Civilian Applications and Policy Implications of Commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (Eric Feron)
• Kok Hou Tay; “Welfare Distortions of Climate Change Policies;” SM, 2004 (6/1/2004) (John M. Reilly)
• Lisheng Wang; “The Web of Science - Power Structure Research of the American Stem Cell Industry;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004)
• Tao Wang; “Analysis of Real Options in Hydropower Construction Projects -- A Case Study in China;” SM, 2004 (8/1/2003) (Richard de Neufville, David Marks, G. Kaufman, D. McLaughlin, Oli de Weck)
• Trent Yang; “Economic and Policy Implications of Urban Air Pollution in the United States: 1970 to 2000;” SM, 2004 (2/1/2004) (John Reilly)
• Zulina Zakaria; “Framework for Designing Regional Planning Architecture for APTS-Enabled Regional Multimodal Public Transportation System;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2004)
• Peng Zhang; “Tools of Risk Management in Product Verification;” SM, 2004 (9/1/2003) (Earl M. Murman, John J. Deyst)