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

2024 Thesis Prize Winners

• Michael Giovanniello; “Modeling and Implementation of the U.S. Hydrogen Production Credit” (2024). Advisor(s): Dharik Mallapragada; Ruaridh Macdonald.
• Kailin Graham; “Doing the Dirty Work: Employment vulnerability to the energy transition implications for climate policy and politics” (2024). Advisor(s): Christopher R. Knittel.

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

• Richard Andrews; “Regulation and Innovation: A Framework for Examining Proposed Changes in U.S. Drug Laws;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Bijan Azad; “Government Innovation: Transbus;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• William Booth; “The Approach to Nuclear Safety Used in the Navy Nuclear program and its Applicability to the U.S. Commercial Nuclear Industry;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Johan Brag; “Intuition in Planning and Decision-Making in Turbulent Environments;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Charles Brooke-Davidson; “Cost Benefit Analysis and the Regulation of Organic Water Contaminants;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Robert Desourdis; “Disarmament Strategies and Development Goals and Potentials: The Case of Relatively Advanced Developing Countries;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Stephen Foss; “Assessment of Product Liability: Impact and Methods of Reduction for U.S. Manufacturing;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Bobby Gillenwater; “Evaluation of New Mining System Concepts;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• David Kagan; “Regulations and Technological Change in the Automobile Industry;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Michel Karma; “Policy-Making Tools for an Industrial Strategy;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Richard Kutta; “Remanufacture of Durable Products: A Value Preserving Technology;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Tariq Mahmoud; “Global Climatic Change and Its Effect on Food Production: A Reviewof the Climate Impact Assessment Program's Estimates of Wheat Yield Changes and Their Use in Policy Making Analyses;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Lissa Martinez; “Hazardous Chemical Waste Incineration at Sea: A Disposal Alternative for the U.S.;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Daniel Saltzman; “Policy Options for Promoting Energy Efficiency in Residential Appliance Purchase Decisions: A Hedonic Approach;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Krishnamurthy Sarvadevabhatla; “Decentralized Cogenerations in New York City;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• Thomas Sofyanos; “An Assessment of Undersea Teleoperators;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)
• John Stewart; “A Decision Support System for Railroad Frieght Operations Management;” SM, 1980 (5/1/1980)