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

• Benoit Bazin; “Manufacturing Technology Centers: Public Policies to Enhance Competitive Performance Among Small Manufacturers in the United States;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Pierre Brunet; “Modeling and Analysis Applications in Manufacturing System Design and Development;” SM, 1995 (2/1/1995)
• Kory Budlong-Sylvester; “A Strategy for Weapons-Grade Plutonium Disposition;” SM, 1995 (9/1/1994)
• Kara Callahan; “Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Light-Duty Vehicle Sector: An Examination of End-Use Policy Options;” SM, 1995 (9/1/1994)
• Andrew Cap; “Exploring Political Solutions to the Chlorine Controversy;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Alice Caponiti; “Barriers to Implementing Risk-Based Decision Making for the Department of Energy's Weapons Complex Cleanup Program;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Andrew Chinshun Chen; “A Product Life cycle Framework for Environmental Management and Policy Analysis: Case Study of Automobile Recycling;” PhD, 1995 (6/1/1995) (Joel P. Clark)
• Chia-Wen Chen; “An Economic Analysis of Taiwan's Automobile Industry;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Chuin Ping Chen; “Automotive Painting: Achieving a Technological , Economic, and Environmental Balance;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Alexis de Pommerol; “The Evaluation of French Major Highway Projects: Recommendations Based on American Experience;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Paola Ferreira-Miani; “Concession and Permit Forest Policy Reform for the Colombian Pacific Coast;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Nicholas Gertler; “Industrial Ecosystems: Developing Sustainable Industrial Structures;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Sharon Gillett; “Connecting Homes to the Internet: An Engineering Cost Model of Cable vs. ISDN;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Judith Hogan-Sheldon; “Biological Mercury Reduction in the Environment and Its Policy Implications for Metals Regulation Based on Speciation;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Raymond Joe; “Reconfiguring Intellectual Property for Cyberspace: A Look At The Semiconductor Chip Protection Act of 1984;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Masahiro Kimura; “Strategic Planning for Newcomer in Silicon Wafer Industry;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Ulrich Knirsch; “Reducing Car Fleet Emissions Through Fuel Technology: Policy Alternatives for Sweden;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Artur Niemczewski; “Risk Management of Fuel Price Uncertainty in Electric Power Planning;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Charles Pieczulewski; “Benchmarking Semiconductor Lithography Equipment Development & Sourcing Practices Among Leading-Edge U.S. Manufacturers;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Dimitrios Politis; “An Economic and Environmental Evaluation of Aluminum Designs for Automotive Structures;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Renata Pomponi; “Control of Manufacturing Processes with MRP II: Benefits and Barriers in the Defense Aerospace Industry;” SM, 1995 (9/1/1994)
• Michel Rivest; “Perspectives for Energy Service Companies;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Ambuj Sagar; “Automobiles and Global Warming: Alternative Fuels and Other Options for Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction;” SM, 1995 (9/1/1994)
• Marc-Antoine Saglio; “Financing Public Infrastructure in the United States and France: A Comparative Analysis and Policy Recommendations;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Donald Seville; “Moving Beyond 'The Model': A Framework for Integrating System Dynamics Into Organizational Policy Making;” SM, 1995 (9/1/1994)
• Elisabeth Stock; “Why Labor-Based Programs have had Limited Success and What to do About It: Evidence From Ghana;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Louis Sweeny; “Connecting People Not Computers: Information Technology and Culture Change in Environmental Management;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Kory Sylvester; “A Strategy for Weapons-Grade Plutonium Disposition;” SM, 1995 (9/1/1994)
• Takaaki Takeuchi; “Strategic Issues for Japanese Electric Utilities in the Telecommunications Business: Can Utilities Light Up the Information Superhighway?;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Hirokazu Tsuchiya; “Marketing Semiconductor Products: A Strategic Analysis of the Asynchronous Transfer Mode Market;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Eugene Vamos; “Long Run Electricity Pricing in a Deregulated Competitive Electricity Market;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Scott Wright; “Electric Vehicles As An Ozone Reduction Strategy For New England;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)
• Alice Yates; “Autonomous Energy Efficiency Improvements: Relevance, Use, and Empirical Basis for Global Warming Policy Analysis;” SM, 1995 (5/1/1995)