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

• Arif Alauddin; “Remanufacturing -- Issues and Options for Turkey;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Dwayne Breger; “A Solar District Heating Using Seasonal Storage for the Charlestown Boston Navy Yard Redevelopment Project;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Jeanne Briskin; “Hazardous Waste and Low-Level Radioactive Wastes: A Comparative Analysis;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• David Cheney; “Risk Analysis in Offshore Oil Regulation: Issues in Setting Government R&D Priorities;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• David Chia; “Enlightened Tunnel Visions: Examining the Consequences of One-Way Tolls in Boston Through an Analysis of the Queueing System;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Carol Eberhard Kessler; “Case Study Application of the IAEA Safeguards Assessment Methodology to the MIT Research Center;” SM, 1983 (9/1/1982)
• Deborah Estrin; “Data Communications Via Cable Television Networks: Technical and Policy Considerations;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Luc Fechant; “Unemployment Compensation: Incentive or Disincentive to Automate;” SM, 1983 (9/1/1982)
• Paul Hauge; “Two Cultures: Scientific Policy Views of Environmental Monitoring;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Sudhakar Kesavan; “Demand for Petrochemicals in Developing Countries: The Case of Ethylene and its Derivatives in India;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Leslie Klein; “Technical Change in Small Oil Refineries;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Thomas Lot; “Modeling the Amoco Cadiz Case;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Didier Moretti; “Pricing policies for power system security control;” SM, 1983 (6/1/1983) (Fred Schweppe)
• Franz Neubacher; “The Impact of Environment Regulation on the Pulp Industry with Emphasis on the US and Austria from 1965 to 1980;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Eric Paillas; “Lifeline Seismic Risk:Decision Under Uncertainty;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• P. Raghavendran; “Energy Development and Economic Growth: A Dynamic Model for India;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• David Rubin; “Methodology for District Heating Feasibility Analysis;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Charles W. Ryan; “Federal Control of Formaldehyde: Departure From Research Decision-Making;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Warren Schenler; “The U.S. Fusion Program: An Institutional Policy Analysis;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Jean Tilly; “Flue Gas Desulfurization Cost and Financial Analysis of Large-Scale and Proven Plants;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)
• Jonathan Zilber; “Channels of Influence: Factors Affecting the Dissemination and Adoption of New Communications Technologies in the U.S.;” SM, 1983 (5/1/1983)