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

• Eugene Bae; “An Assessment of Clean Vehicle Technologies: How Technical Alternatives Perform Using Different Policy Criteria;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Bruce Chafee; “Environmental Pressures on The Computer Manufacture Industry: Promoting Development of Environmentally More-Benign Technology;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Francois Cohas; “Market Share Model for A Multi-Airport System;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Brian Cohen; “Policy Issues Affecting Development of Bioremediation for Hazardous Waste Remediation and Treatment;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Alan Davidson; “Collective Action and the Development of Technical Standards in the US Industry;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Stephen Downs; “From Narrowband to Broadband: Asynchronous Transfer Mode and the Transformation of the Telephone Network;” SM, 1993 (9/1/1992)
• Masayo Fujimoto; “Investigating Electronic Communication Technology in R & D Policy Implications for Public and Private Sectors;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Andrew Greco; “Industrial Transition in the Czech Republic: Case Studies of Formerly State-Owned Enterprises;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Jennifer Griffith; “Deforestation: Policies Toward A More Sustainable Tropical Timber Industry;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• William Hartnett; “Social Welfare and the Privatization of Large State Enterprises in Newly Democratic Nations;” SM, 1993 (2/1/1993)
• Bruce Jacobson; “The Economics of Interoperability: Modeling High Resolution Imaging in the Computer, Consumer Electronics, Broadcast and Cable Television Industries;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Sitaram Josyula; “Negotiating Global Environmental Agreements Using Computer Tools as Aids;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Christopher Kim; “Composites Cost Modeling: Complexity;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Hans Klein; “Should the U.S. Engage in Commercial Technology Policy? Lessons From The National Program In Smart Transportation (IVHS);” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Joaquin Lacalle Melero; “Short term Analysis of Electrical Energy Markets Under Real Time Pricing;” SM, 1993 (2/1/1993)
• Kok-Kee Lim; “Strategic Management of Technology in Defense Industry;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Nicholas Mabey; “Institutional Aspects of Spot Price Coordinated Electric Power Systems;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Christophe Malaterre; “An Economic Development Strategy for the Biotechnology Industry in Massachusetts;” SM, 1993 (2/1/1993)
• James Melhuish; “Non-Chlorine Bleaching of U.S. Kraft Pulp: Economic Necessity or Environmental Pipe Dream?;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Jerome Muller; “Trading Congestion for Tolls: Politically and Structurally Implementable Tolls;” SM, 1993 (2/1/1993)
• Hotasi Nababan; “Dynamic Strategic Planning for Technological Choice: A Case Study of MWRA Residuals Management Facilities Plan;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Chris Nielsen; “Congress and Climate Change: A Critique of the Hearings Process as a Congressional Science and Technology Advisory Mechanism;” SM, 1993 (9/1/1992)
• Katzuki Oshiden; “U.S. Telecommunications Policy and the Future of Mobile Telephone Communication;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Amitabh Pandey; “Quality Function Development: A Study of Implementation and Enhancements;” SM, 1993 (9/1/1992)
• Geoffrey Parker; “A Financial, Environmental, and Policy Analysis of New Capacity Additions to the New England Electric Utility Sector;” SM, 1993 (9/1/1992)
• Jim Rymarcsuk; “A Strategy for NASA's Utilization of Space Assets in the Former Soviet Union;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Paul Shawcross; “Use of Russian Space Hardware In The Space Exploration Initiative;” SM, 1993 (2/1/1993)
• Jane Song; “Decision Analysis and Economic Modeling of Airbag Sensor Systems;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Todd Tamura; “Improving Policies to Reduce Automobile Emissions;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Christopher Thomas; “Global Warming and World Ecosystem Distribution: Toward Quantifying Ecosystem Change;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Mawuli Tse; “Design Cost Model for Advanced Composite Structures;” SM, 1993 (9/1/1992)
• Bruno Villard; “Electric Power Wheeling, Market Power and the European Network;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)
• Paul Whitworth; “Advanced Traveller Information Systems: Technology, Market Development, User Response and the Government's Role;” SM, 1993 (5/1/1993)