Arzum Akkas

Academic Background:

• 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2003 - 2004 • MIT, ESD: MEng in Logisitics (MLOG)
• 1996 - 2000 • Istanbul Technical University: BS in Industrial Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2008 - 2009 • Archstone Consulting
• 2004 - 2008 • Pepsi Bottling Group
• 1999 - 2002 • Manugistics

Research Domain:

supply chain management

Updated September 2009

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Blandine Antoine

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD candidate in Engineering Systems
• 2006 - 2007 • École nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, France: Master in Public Policy
• 2004 - 2005 • University of California, Berkeley: Master in Nuclear Engineering
• 2001 - 2004 • École Polytechnique, France: Diplôme d'ingénieur (Mechanics & Physics majors)

Work Experience:

• 2006 - 2007 • Prométhée and its Energy World Tour
• 2006 • GE, Nuclear Division, R&D Department
• 2005 • French Board for Nuclear Safety & Radio-Protection

Research Domain:

non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

Research Description:

Blandine is interested in studying the weapons proliferation issues associated with the global expansion of the use of nuclear power. More specifically, she looks at how multinational arrangements could alleviate fuel services supply security concerns while enhancing the proliferation resistance of the global fuel cycle.

Blandine has previously worked in the following areas:

• 2008 • Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, MIT
• Valuation of ecosystem services and land-use changes due to biofuels production
• 2007 • French Development Agency
• Study of institutions promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in developing countries (public policy)
• 2005 • Nuclear Engineering Department, University of California, Berkeley - Thermohydraulics Lab
• Corrosion in molten salt heat exchangers (corrosion chemistry)
• 2004 • Institute of Advanced Energy - Kyoto, Japan
• Characterization of composite ceramics for thermal fusion reactors (material science)

Updated July 2009

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Yves Boussemart

Academic Background:

• 2006 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2005 - 2006 • MIT, Aeronautics & Astronautics: Researcher in the Embedded Systems Lab
• 2002 - 2003 • McGill: M.Eng. with the Center for Intelligent Machines, Shared Reality, Environment Lab
• 1998 - 1998 • McGill: B.Eng. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Work Experience:

Yves' experience in industry, includes time spent at Thales-Saudi Arabia in the Security group and at Infoel S.A. in Paris.

Yves has also spent three months teaching scuba diving as a PADI instructor in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Research Description:

Yves research focuses on collaborative, time-sensitive targeting. His work will focus on collaboration and distributed decision making as a critical component for network-centric operations like those needed for first-response teams, air traffic control, and military command and control. While retaining high levels of automation, a major issue is to determine what roles or sharing of roles is effective, and how intelligent autonomy may improve or degrade time sensitive team decisions.

Updated August 2006

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David Broniatowski

Academic Background:

• 2006 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Technology, Management & Policy
• 2004 - 2006 • MIT: S.M. in Aeronautics & Astronautics
• 2004 - 2006 • MIT, ESD: S.M. in Technology Policy
• 2000 - 2004 • MIT: S.B. in Aeronautics & Astronautics

Work Experience:

• Summer 2006 • Center for Strategic & International Studies
• Summer 2006 • XPrize Foundation
• Summer 2005 • NASA Headquarters
• Summer 2003 • Avidyne Corporation
• Summer 2002 • Center for Applied Research & Educational Technologies, Clinical Biomedical Computing Unit • Cambridge, UK
• Summer 2001 • MIT Man-Vehicle Lab

Research Domain:

health care

Research Description:

David's research focuses on health care systems.

Updated June 2007

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Bruce Cameron

Academic Background:

• June 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• June 2007 • MIT: SM in Aeronautics & Astronautics and SM in Technology Policy
• June 2005 • University of Toronto: BASc. in Engineering Science

Work Experience:

Bruce worked as an analyst and engagement manager at Ventana Systems, a consultancy. For a $60B firm, he helped develop market and organizational models, delivering recommendations on market segmentation and product launch. For NASA, Bruce helped produce a capability for identifying early signals of performance challenges, schedule overrun, and cost growth in the moon program. Bruce was previously a systems engineer at MDA Space Systems, and has built hardware currently in orbit.

Research Description:

Bruce has published papers in strategic management and system architecture. Previously, he developed a methodology for prioritizing system goals based on the concept of generalized exchange with the system's network of stakeholders. This work has been applied at NASA, ESA, NOAA, and a multinational. Bruce is broadly interested in technology strategy, system architecture, and the management of complex systems.

Updated July 2009

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Michel-Alexandre Cardin

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2005 - 2007 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology Policy
• 2001 - 2003 • University of Toronto: Master of Applied Science in Aerospace Science & Engineering
• Summer 2003 • International Space University: Summer Session Program
• 1998 - 2001 • McGill University: Honors B.S. in Physics

Work Experience:

• Summer 2009 • University of Cambridge, Judge Business School and Department of Engineering • United Kingdom
•  Summer Intern: Identification and financial analysis of valuable flexible design opportunities (real options) in new nuclear reactor technology
• 2007 - 2009 • MIT, ESD and Center for Real Estate (CRE)
• Teaching Assistant in ESD.71 (Engineering Systems Analysis for Design), 11.431 (Real Estate Finance and Investment), 11.432 (Real Estate Capital Markets), and 11.434 (Advanced Topics in Real Estate Finance and Investment)
• Summer 2007 • Far East Organization • Singapore
• Summer Intern: Historical study of the U.S. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market in analyzing the possibility of converting private real estate into REIT
• 2005 - 2007 • MIT, ESD
• Research Assistant: Conceptualization and application of novel real options analysis methods for the design of flexible engineering systems
• Summer 2006 • University of Cambridge, Judge Business School • United Kingdom
• Summer Intern: Preliminary design and financial analysis of Fusion Island, a hydrogen production facility using nuclear fusion, through use of real options methods
• 2004 - 2005 • Sunnybrook Research Institute • Canada
• Research Physicist: Design and development of 3D computer-aided interface for breast cancer surgery
• Summer 2000 & Summer 2001 • Air Canada
• Flight Attendant
• Summer 1999 • City of Montreal, Canada
• 9-1-1 Call Operator & Dispatcher

Research Domain:

critical infrastructures, particularly in the aerospace, mining, petroleum, and real estate industries

Research Methodology:

qualitative research methods (grounded theory, focus groups), real options analysis, uncertainty and dynamics modeling

Research Description:

Michel-Alexandre's research focuses on the elaboration of a practical approach to identify flexible design opportunities and development strategies - or real options - for maximizing the expected economic value of large-scale infrastructures operating in uncertain market and environmental conditions. The approach relies on well developed social science methods (e.g. focus groups, grounded theory) to elicit valuable real option opportunities "in" the design through "direct interactions" with designers and decision-makers. It assumes experts have "latent knowledge" about valuable opportunities for flexibility in the upfront design. The approach thus aims at accessing this knowledge in a transparent and intuitive way as part of the early design process. Screening models are used to value and rank order valuable design configuration to guide best design decision-making. The approach provides designers and program managers with more adequate tools to consider uncertainty and flexibility in the early design phase, and to model pro-active management when the system is fielded - a more realistic valuation framework than typical static NPV-based methods.

Updated July 2009

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João Castro

Academic Background:

• 2005 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• IST-UTL, Portugal: M.Sc. in Engineering Design (thesis pending)
• FEUP, Portugal: Licenciatura in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Work Experience:

• 2003 - 2005 • Portuguese Government, Innovation & Knowledge Society Task Force • Lisbon, Portugal
• Project Manager of the Virtual Campus initiative, deploying Wi-Fi networks in all Portuguese universities
• Technical lead in the Electronic Voting pilot program
• Expert Reviewer of Digital Cities proposals
• Consultant of the Broadband initiative group
• 2002 - 2003 • Metro do Porto • Porto, Portugal
• Technical lead in the specification and deployment of the first fully contactless public transit ticketing system in the world
• 2001 • Cisco Systems • San Jose, CA
• Intern in the Security Services group

Research Domain:

new product development

Research Methodology:

comparative case studies, multi-method data collection and analysis

Research Description:

João's research focuses on Complex Product Development and how different people from different technical domains are able to coordinate their work and understand the larger system in which they are involved. This research aims to help understand how actors within large complex systems perceive their roles and impacts, and how that knowledge can benefit the effort of coordination in complex socio-technical systems of which product development is an example.

Updated July 2009

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Lynette Cheah

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Student in Engineering Systems
• 2002 • Stanford University: M.Sc. in Management Science & Engineering
• 2001 • Northwestern University: B.Sc. in Civil & Environmental Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2002 - 2005 • Agency for Science, Technology & Research • Singapore

Research Description:

Lynette is interested in pathways towards sustainable mobility. Her dissertation involves carrying out a life-cycle assessment of the energy and material use through the U.S. passenger vehicle fleet over time, in order to evaluate the potential energy and environmental benefits of vehicle weight reduction.

Updated October 2007

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Regina Clewlow

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• May 2002 • Cornell University, M.Eng in Civil & Environmental Engineering
• May 2001 • Cornell University, B.S. in Engineering, Computer Science

Work Experience:

• 2002 - 2008 • Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) • Founding Executive Director
• Provided leadership, vision, and direction to create a non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing engineers to build a sustainable world through education, training and practical action. Coordinated national and international workshops to facilitate integration of sustainability into engineering education, funded by UNESCO and the National Science Foundation.
• 2005 • Cornell University • Seminar Director, Exploration in Engineering

Research Domain:

transportation and environment

Research Methodology:

modeling, operations research methods

Research Description:

Regina's research focuses on high speed transportation systems and their impact on the environment. She plans to utilize optimization methods and examine policy options to reduce the environmental footprint of air transportation.

Updated July 2009

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Anthony Craig

Academic Background:

• 2006 • MIT, ESD: MEng in Logistics
• 1996 • Iowa State University; Ames, IA: B.S. in Computer Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2006 • WR Grace • Cambridge, MA
• Supply Chain Analyst
• 2002 - 2005 • WMS Gaming • Chicago, IL
• Technical Lead Engineer
• 1999 - 2002 • Motorola • Chandler, AZ
• Software Engineer

Research Description:

Tony's research focuses on supply chain management.

Updated August 2006

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Timothy Cullen

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2007 - 2008 • Air University Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Master of Airpower Art and Science
• 2006 - 2007 • Air Command and Staff College, Master of Military Art and Science
• 1994 - 1996 • George Washington University, Program for Research and Education in Space Technology, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
• 1990 - 1994 • US Air Force Academy, BS in Astronautical Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2005 - 2006 • Commander and F-16 Instructor Pilot, Peace Vector IV • Gianaclis Air Base, Egypt
• 2003 - 2005 • F-16 Evaluation Pilot, Mountain Home Air Force Base • Idaho
• 2001 - 2003 • Assistant Director of Operations, 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron • Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
• 1998 - 2001 • F-16 Pilot 555th Fighter Squadron • Aviano Air Base, Italy

Research Domain:

military systems and human-machine interaction

Research Methodology:

historical research and cognitive ethnography.

Research Description:

Current technical research in telerobotics tends to focus on individual operators and addresses workload, display design, and performance issues, areas well suited to quantitative and deductive methods of analysis. The roles of social networks, trust, professional identity, and ethics remain poorly understood and little studied, however. Fortunately, societal and cultural aspects of telerobotics in the pilot-dominated United States Air Force are well suited for social science methods of research. Tim hopes to expand understanding of the benefits and challenges of using unmanned systems as weapons of war through historical research, participant operations, and other inductive methods of examining the operation and development of the Predator unmanned aerial system in the United States Air Force. Tim's fundamental research question is: "What do Predator operators know, how do they go about knowing it, and why?"

Updated July 2009

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Kat Donnelly

Academic Background:

• Present • MIT, ESD: Ph.D. student in Technology, Management & Policy
• February 2008 • MIT, ESD and Civil & Environmental Engineering: dual SM in Technology & Policy and Civil & Environmental Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2007 - Present • EMpower Devices
• Self-employed, consultant, researcher, developer
• 1999 - 1995 • San Diego Association of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organization, formerly the Metropolitan Transit Development Board
• Senior Transportation Planner and Engineer
• 1997 - 1999 • Kimley-Horn and Associates
• Civil Engineer

Research Domain:

residential consumer behavior impact on energy efficiency, consumer-facing side of the Smart Grid

Research Methodology:

adaptive management and theory-based market transformation, meta-analysis

Research Description:

Human behavior is often neglected; yet, it is a critical component to building energy conservation. There has been a great deal of interest in technologies for measuring and displaying information to the user by implementing AMI and Smart Grid systems, but little of it has been based on the specific motivations and needs of the consumer. Kat’s research intends to bridge the gap between technology and humans to ensure that Smart Grid technologies realize their goals of strengthening the grid and reducing energy consumption. The experiments include equipping buildings with sensors to measure and automate energy use and study human behavior change, to understand the information displays, pricing strategies, and feedback and automation mechanisms that enable, engage, and motivate consumers most effectively.

Updated July 2009

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Pearl Donohoo

Academic Background:

• September 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• September 2009 • MIT, TPP: SM in Technology Policy
• June 2007 • Franklin W Olin College of Engineering: BS in Mechanical Engineering

Work Experience:

• Summers 2006-2009 • National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research Domain:

renewable energy

Updated July 2009

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Katherine Dykes

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Technology, Management & Policy
• Ohio State University: M.S. in Electrical Engineering
• Ohio State University: M.S. in Agricultural, Developmental & Environmental Economics
• University of Pennsylvania: B.S. in Engineering
• University of Pennsylvania: B.S. in Economics
• La Universidad de Navarra, Spain: Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar (one year)

Work Experience:

• University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, Management Department
• Research Assistant
• General Motors
• Controls Engineer for Hybrid Platforms
• Green Energy Ohio / The Renaissance Group
• Wind Program Consultant
• EnerNOC
• Data Quality Analyst (Intern)

Research Domain:

energy (wind)

Research Methodology:

system dynamics, systems analysis, comparative case studies

Research Description:

Katherine has researched and worked with a variety of applications in sustainable energy and transportation systems from both engineering and economic perspectives. At MIT, she is involved in several projects on the innovation and diffusion of wind energy technology including comparative case work between Europe and the US.  During the last two years, she has worked with the Program on Emerging Technologies regarding a retrospective case study on wind energy technology as well as the standardization of the technology.  Currently, she is involved in system dynamic modeling of diffusion processes for wind energy as well as system architecture modeling for offshore wind energy technology.  She is the founder of the MIT wind energy sub-community and support staff for the US Offshore Wind Collaborative.  Specifically for offshore system architecture, she is collaborating with the Norwegian Offshore Wind Energy Research Center at NTNU. 

Updated July 2009

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Dietrich Falkenthal

Academic Background:

• MSEE, Stanford University
• MBA Finance, Chapman University
• BSEE, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Work Experience:

Dietrich has worked at MITRE, Fujitsu Labs Venture Capital, Cisco Systems, and the US Air Force.

Research Description:

• interoperability of security in heterogeneous IT systems
• economics of information security
• collective choice, socio-technical alignment in complex systems

Updated August 2007

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Wen Feng

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Candidate in Technology, Management & Policy
• 2007 • MIT: S.M. in Technology Policy
• 2007 • MIT: S.M. in Civil & Environmental Engineering
• 2003 • Tsinghua University: M.S. with Honors in Thermal Engineering
• 2000 • Shanghai Jiao Tong University: B.S. in Refrigeration & Cryogenics Engineering, Minor in Automation

Work Experience:

• 2008 Summer • BP • London, England, UK / Beijing, China
• Internal Consultant
• 2006 - Present • MIT System Architecture Group • Cambridge, MA
• Research Assistant
• 2004 - 2006 • MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment • Cambridge, MA
• Kabcenell Future Energy Fellow
• 2003 - 2004 • China National Petroleum Corporation • Beijing, China
• Energy Analyst
• 2000 - 2003 • National Key Laboratory for Clean Combustion of Coal • Beijing, China
• Research Assistant
• 2000 • SJTU Institute of Refrigeration & Cryogenics • Shanghai, China
• Research Assistant

Research Domain:

strategic management (stakeholder theory and non-market strategy), especially for the energy (petroleum) industry.

Research Methodology:

network analysis in social sciences; case studies.

Research Description:

Wen's current research focuses on how to understand, model, and manage the networked value exchanges between stakeholders (Stakeholder Value Network), in order to inform the decisions on stakeholder strategies in a positive way and with reduced complexity, for the success of large engineering projects. His research interests and experience also include broad technology, management, and policy issues in energy, environmental, and transportation areas.

Updated July 2009

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Travis Franck

Academic Background:

• 2005 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Student in Technology, Management & Policy
• MIT: S.M. in Technology Policy / Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Iowa State University: B.S. in Environmental Science / Computer Science / Environment Studies

Work Experience:

• Joint Program on the Science & Policy of Global Change
• PhD Candidate and Research Assistant
• Apple Computer
• Software Engineer
• Adobe Systems
• Software Engineer

Research Description:

Travis's primary research involves uncertainty analysis of climate change policies. Additionally, he will focus on the dynamics of the climate change system.

Updated September 2005

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Erica Gralla

Academic Background:

• September 2006 • MIT: S.M. in Aeronautics & Astronautics
• June 2004 • Princeton University: B.S.E. in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Work Experience:

• Summers 1999 - 2003 • NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Systems Engineering Intern, Mission and Systems Architecture Section

Research Domain:

supply chain management (in humanitarian aid and emerging markets)

Research Methodology:

operations research, qualitative methods (grounded theory & ethnography)

Research Description:

Erica studies supply chain adaptability in two challenging environments: emergency response and emerging markets. In both cases, supply chains must make rapid adjustments to meet changes in markets, demand, and the environment. Her research on emergency response supply chains has focused on heuristic strategies for emergency response under extreme uncertainty. Traditional supply chain models depend on available time and information, both of which are in short supply after disasters. Erica interviews expert aid workers to discover the heuristics they use to make rapid decisions about humanitarian supply chains. She models these heuristics to improve and generalize them, and to learn broader lessons about how such heuristics contribute to supply chain adaptability.

Updated July 2009

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G. Thomas Heaps-Nelson

Academic Background:

• September 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems

Updated July 2009

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Rhonda Jordan

Academic Background:

• May 2005 • Columbia University • New York, NY: M.S. in Electrical Engineering
• May 2004 • Columbia University • New York, NY: B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Work Experience:

• September 2008 to Present • EGG-energy, Inc.
• COO, Founding Member of energy service provider in East Africa
• Summer 2008 • United Nations Environment Programme at Risoe Center
• Intern: Performed as a core team member of the PACEAA Project: Poverty Alleviation through Cleaner Energy from Agro-Industries in Africa; traveled with a small team on a field mission to East Africa. Met with key stakeholders and also with rural residents of East Africa to devise rural electrification schemes that provide affordable electricity for residents, are profitable to investors, and take advantage of the renewable resources available.
• 2004 - 2005 • Columbia University, Lightware Research Laboratory
• Graduate Research Assistant: Explored the advantages of DPSK modulation format over 00K within lightwave communication systems
• Summer 2003 • Goldman Sachs & Co., Private Wealth Management Division
• Financial Analyst
• Summer 2002 & Summer 2001 • BAE Systems
• Information Technology Intern: Supporting the Federal Aviation Administration in database development

Research Description:

Rhonda's research interests include sustainable energy development in developing countries; more specifically, she is interested in applying systems methods (system dynamics and multi-objective optimization) to electrification and long-term power system planning in East Africa.

Updated September 2009

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Valerie Karplus

Academic Background:

• September 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Technology, Management & Policy

Updated July 2009

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David Keith

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT ESD, PhD student in Technology, Management & Policy
• 2006 • University of Melbourne, MEnv in Environmental Technology and Policy
• 2003 • University of Melbourne, BEng(hons) in Software Engineering
• 2003 • University of Melbourne, BCom in Economics

Work Experience:

• 2005 - 2008 • URS Corporation • Melbourne, Australia
• Environmental Economist
• 2004 - 2005 • General Motors Holden • Melbourne, Australia
• Technical Cost Analyst

Research Description:

David's research focuses on how transitional strategies can be developed to accelerate the adoption of sustainable energy technologies for transportation.

Updated July 2009

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Woei Ling Leow

Academic Background:

• University of Massachusetts, Amherst: MS in Electrical Engineering
• National University of Singapore: BEng in Electrical Engineering

Work Experience:

• Various research engineer and research assistant positions in corporate and military laboratories
• Honeywell Design for Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Research Description:

Woei Ling is interested in the demand side management of electrical energy and is grateful for the support from the MIT-Portugal program.

Updated July 2009

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Daniel Livengood

Academic Background:

• 2005 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Candidate in Engineering Systems
• 2000 - 2005 • Washington University in St. Louis: MS & BS in Systems Science & Engineering

Work Experience:

• Summer 2008 • EnerNOC • Boston MA
• Intern
• Summers 2004 & 2005 • Lincoln Laboratory • Lexington MA
• Intern
• 2003 • Washington University in St. Louis, Center for Optimization & Semantic Control
• Research Assistant

Research Domain:

sustainable energy systems

Research Methodology:

stochastic dynamic programming and uncertainty modeling

Research Description:

Dan's research is encapsulated by a concept he and others call the Energy Box, which is proposed as a 24/7 background processor operating on a local computer or in a remote location, silently managing one's home or small business electrical energy usage hour-by-hour and even minute-by-minute. It operates best in an environment of demand-sensitive real-time pricing, now made feasible via 'smart grid' technology. The assumption is that, in time, virtually every electrical device in a home or small business will be controllable from the Energy Box. The primary integrating method of optimization and control is stochastic dynamic programming.

Updated July 2009

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David Long

Academic Background:

• 1997 • California State University, Northridge: MS in Engineering
• 1988 • North Dakota State University: BS in Industrial Engineering & Management

Work Experience:

• US Air Force Officer:
• Acquisition Project Manager, Aircraft Systems
• Flight Test, Aircraft Maintenance (depot and flight line)
• Instructor of Engineering Systems

Research Domain:

product development, unmanned aircraft systems, human system integration, system architecture

Research Methodology:

quantitative methods for comparing system architectures and comparing system characteristics, qualitative methods for determining organizational bias

Research Description:

David's research is focused on finding opportunities for commonality in complex systems for the Lean Aerospace Initiative.

Updated July 2009

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Jianxi Luo

Academic Background:

• 2006 - Present • MIT, ESD: doctoral candidate in Technology, Management & Policy
• 2006 • MIT: S.M. in Technology Policy
• 2004 • Tsinghua University • Beijing, China • M.S in Automotive Engineering
• 2001 • Tsinghua University • Beijing, China • B.S in Thermal Engineering

Work Experience:

• Summer 2007 • Toyota Motor North America, Strategic Planning, New York Headquarters
• 2005 - Present • International Motor Vehicle Program
• Researcher
• Summer 2005 • Judge Business School, Cambridge University
• Visiting Scholar
• 2001 - 2004 • State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy • China
• Summer 2002 • Changan Automobile Company • China
• Summer 2000 • Dongfang Electric Corporation • China

Research Domain:

technology strategy and management, industrial economics, economic sociology, network analysis in the energy, automobile, electronics industries

Research Methodology:

quantitative (e.g. traditional graph theory, stochastic network analysis) and qualitative (e.g. case studies), empirical and analytical

Research Description:

Jianxi's thesis seeks to understand how the nature of technologies may impact industry architectures and dynamics, by examining the technical details inside the "black box" of a product, or a type of technology. Jianxi closely collaborates with Japanese researchers to develop case studies.

Updated July 2009

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Don MacKenzie

Academic Background:

• June 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• June 2009 • MIT: SM in Technology Policy
• June 2001 • University of British Columbia: BASc in Chemical Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2008 • McKinsey & Company • Boston, MA
• Summer Associate
• 2004 - 2007 • Union of Concerned Scientists • Washington, DC
• Vehicles Engineer, Senior Analyst
• 2002 - 2004 • Syntec Biofuel • Vancouver, BC
• Research Engineer

Updated July 2009

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Judith Maro

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2006 - 2009 • MIT, ESD: S.M. in Technology Policy
• 2001 - 2002 • US Navy Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operators Course
• 1995 - 1999 •The George Washington University: B.S. in Economics, B.A. in Political Science

Work Experience:

• Summer 2008 • Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School
• Research Assistant
• 2007 - 2008 • MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation
• Research Assistant
• 2004 - 2007 • MIT Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
• Irradiation Services Coordinator, Research Assistant
• 2002 - 2004 • USS George Washington, US Navy
• Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear)
• 1999 - 2002 • USS Ross, US Navy
• Surface Warfare Officer
• 1997 - 1998 • Battelle Memorial Institute
• Research Intern

Research Domain:

health care

Research Description:

Judy is employing systems modeling techniques to understand various aspects of healthcare delivery.

Updated July 2009

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Douglas Matty

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 1997 - 1999 • Naval Postgraduate School: M.S. Applied Mathematics & Operations Research
• 1986 - 1990 • United States Military Academy: B.S. in Computer Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2004 - 2007 • US Army, Pentagon • Washington, DC
• Senior Analyst for Office, Secretary of the Army
• Army Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
• Lead Analyst, PAED, Institutional Training Portfolio
• 2002 - 2004 • US Army • Fort Bliss, TX
• Division Chief, Technical Support Division, ADA Test Directorate
• Senior Operations Analyst, Operational Test Command
• 1999 - 2002 • United States Military Academy • West Point, NY
• Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences
• 1990 - 1997 • US Army • Various duty stations
• US Army Officer, positions including:
• Platoon Leader
• Assistant Operations Officer
• Battery Commander
• Brigade Adjutant

Research Description:

LTC Matty's research is focused on the dynamics of stakeholders, value-creation and enterprise architectures government-military-industrial enterprise engineering systems. This work is sponsored by the Army leadership.

Updated July 2009

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Brian Mekdeci

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2002 - 2005 • University of Waterloo: MASc in Systems Design Engineering
• 1997 - 2002 • University of Waterloo: BASc in Systems Design Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2005 - 2007 • CDL Systems Ltd. • Calgary, Canada
• Systems Engineer

Research Description:

Brian is interested in researching how automation and intelligent decision support systems can improve the control and coordination of multiple unmanned vehicles.

Updated August 2007

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Jennifer Morris

Academic Background:

• September 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• June 2009 • MIT, TPP: SM in Technology and Policy
• December 2006 • University at North Carolina at Chapel Hill: BA in Public Policy Analysis

Research Domain:

climate change

Research Description:

Jen's research is focused on the policies and economics of climate change.

Updated July 2009

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Robert Nicol

Academic Background:

• MIT: SM in Management
• MIT: SM in Chemical Engineering
• University of Houston: BS in Mechanical Engineering

Work Experience:

• Present • Broad Institute formerly Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research
• Director, Sequencing Operations: Responsible for operations, technology development, supply chain, and support groups in an ultrahigh throughput DNA sequencing facility
• 1993 - 1999 • Fluor Corp.
• Project Manager: Overall technical, budget, and contract responsibility for various $50-$100M petrochemical projects
• Project Engineer: Responsible for all engineering design for major petrochemical projects including chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical, and construction

Research Description:

Rob's research is directed towards applying ESD methods to healthcare with an emphasis on biotech research and development.

Updated ?

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Jorge Fradinho Oliveira

Academic Background:

• 2004 - 2005 • MIT, ESD: M.Eng. in Logistics
• 1999 - 2000 • London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE): M.Sc. in Analysis, Design, & Management of Information Systems
• 1996 - 1999 • University College London (UCL): B.Sc. in Computer Science with Electronic Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2006 - Present • MIT Lean Advancement Initiative • Cambridge, MA
• Research & Teaching Assistant
• Summer 2007 • Oliver Wyman • Dubai, UAE
• Summer Associate
• 2005 - 2006 • Mercer Management Consulting • Madrid & Lisbon
• Associate, Strategy & Operations
• 2000 - 2004 • Alfamicro • EU
• Consultant, IT & Business Process Reengineering
• 1996 - 1999 • OmegaMedia • London, UK
System Architect

Research Description:

Jorge's research focuses on high performing hospital enterprise architectures.

Updated June 2008

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Raymond O'Mara

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT ESD: PhD student in Technology, Management, & Policy
• 2007 - 2008 • US Air Force Air War College: Master of Strategic Studies
• 2001 - 2002 • US Air Force School of Advanced Air Power Studies: Master of Airpower Art and Science
• 2000 - 2001 • US Air Force Air Command and Staff College: Master of Operational Art and Science
• 1994 - 1995 • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University: Master of Aerospace Science Technology
• 1983 - 1987 • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: BS, Electrical Engineering

Work Experience:

• US Air Force Officer:
• 2004 - 2006 • Commander 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron • Tyndall AFB, FL
• 2002 - 2004 • Assistant Operations Officer, 27th Fighter Squadron and Chief 1st Fighter Wing FA22 Integration Office • Langley AFB, VA
• 1998 - 2000 • Deputy Chief Operational And Export Policy Division, Pentagon
• 1996 - 1998 • F15C Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander and Assistant Operations Officer, 94th Fighter Squadron • Langley AFB, VA
• 1993 - 1996 • F15C Operational Flight Program Officer, F15C Instructor, 84th Test Squadron • Tyndall AFB, FL
• 1989 - 1993 • F15C Instructor Pilot • Kadena AB, Japan
• 1987 - 1989 • Student Pilot

Research Domain:

military technology policy

Updated July 2009

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David Opolon

Academic Background:

• 2005 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Student in Engineering Systems
• 2002 - 2005 • Ecole des Mines de Paris, France: B.Sc. & M.Sc. in Science and Executive Engineering, concentration in Industrial Economics

Work Experience:

• Spring 2005 • The Boston Consulting Group • Paris
• Visiting Associate
• Summer 2004 • JP Morgan • London
• Summer Analyst, Mergers & Acquisitions (Telecom, Media and Technology)
• Fall 2004 • MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
• Visiting Research Student

Research Description:

David's research focuses on finding strategies, policies and technologies to improve the efficiency of the healthcare supply chain, while offering an improved service to care providers and patients.

Updated March 2007

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Bryan Palmintier

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT ESD: PhD Student in Engineering Systems
• 2004 • Stanford: Engineer's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Design Division
• 2000 • Stanford: MS in Aeronautics & Astronautics
• 1999 • Georgia Institute of Technology: BS in Aerospace Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2007 - 2008 • Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) - Energy and Resources Team • Boulder, CO
• Research and Consulting Fellow
• 2006 - 2007 • Energy Solutions • Oakland, CA
• Project Manager
• 2001 - 2007 • Santa Clara University - Robotic Systems Lab (RSL) • Santa Clara, CA
• Adjunct Faculty & Research Associate
• 2003 - 2005 • Stanford University - Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept • Stanford, CA
• Energy Research Associate
• 2004 - 2005 • Crary Lab • McMurdo Station, Antarctica
• University of Illinois Research Associate
• 2003 • Jasper Ridge Biologic Preserve - Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station, Stanford University
• Energy Systems Engineer
• 1997 - 2001 • Stanford University - Space Systems Development Lab • Stanford, CA
• Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant
• 1994 - 1997 • Naval Research Lab (NRL) - Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) • Washington, DC
• Engineering Technician
• 2002 - Present • National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) • Wyoming, Alaska, Washington, British Columbia
• Mountaineering Instructor

Research Domain:

renewable and efficient electric power grid systems

Research Methodology:

engineering design under uncertainty, electric power system analysis

Research Description:

Bryan is using uncertainty aware tools for the design and operation of electric power grid systems with large amounts of variable renewables (e.g. Wind and Solar). His work explores the potential of distributed, demand side resources (demand response; distributed storage, including electric vehicles; micro generation; etc) and flexible transmission and distribution architectures to balance the uncertain dynamics and to provide grid services.

Updated July 2009

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Jordan Peck

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2006 - 2008 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology & Policy
• 2001 - 2006 • Binghamton University: BA Physics, BS Mechanical Engineering

Work Experience:

• Fall 2008 - Present • MIT, Lean Advancement Initiative
• Research Assistant
• Far East Organization
• Summer Intern: Studied Process improvement in Hotel/Serviced Residence Operations. Studied methods of improving quality and standards on an organization wide basis.
• Fall 2006 - Spring 2008 • MIT Park Center For Complex Systems
• Research Assistant
• Summer 2005, 2006 • NIST
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow
• Summer 2005 • Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
• Studied electrochemical joining methods of nano-components. Used scanning electron microscopes, an atomic force microscope, and a nano-indenter

Research Domain:

health care delivery

Research Methodology:

lean enterprise architecture, case studies, axiomatic design, discrete event simulation

Research Description:

Using the concepts of Lean Enterprise Architecture and Systems Design and analysis to study and create high performing health care delivery systems.

Updated July 2009

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Roberto Perez-Franco

Academic Background:

• 2006 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Student in Engineering Systems
• 2003 - 2004 • MIT, ESD: M.Eng. in Logistics and Supply-Chain Management
• 1995 - 2001 • Panama Technological University: B.S. in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2005 - 2006 • Garner Panama Corp.
• Operations & Logistics Manager
• 2004 - 2005 • Panama Canal Authority
• Multidisciplinary Engineer
• 2004 • Carnes de Cocle, S.A.
• Deputy Operations Manager
• 2000 - 2003 • Bahia Las Minas Corp
• Contracts Manager

Research Domain:

supply-chain strategy

Research Methodology:

action research and other qualitative methods

Research Description:

Roberto's research focuses on the conceptualization, evaluation and reformulation of a firm's functional strategies, particularly its supply-chain strategy.

Updated July 2009

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Julio Pertuze

Academic Background:

• June 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• June 2009 • MIT, TPP: SM in Technology and Policy
• December 2005 • Catholic University of Chile: B.S. in Civil Industrial Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2006 - 2007 • Health and Education Corporation of Las Condes • Santiago, Chile
• Studies and Project Manager

Updated July 2009

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Shardul Phadnis

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2007 • MIT, ESD: MEng in Logistics (MLOG)
• 2002 • Ohio State University: MS in Industrial & Systems Engineering
• 1997 • University of Mumbai: BE in Production Engineering

Work Experience:

• 2004 - 2006 • idX • Baltimore, MD
• Director of Continuous Improvement
• 2002 - 2004 • idX • Baltimore, MD
• Supervisor of Lean Promotion Office
• 1997 - 1999 • Reliance Industries • India
• Assistant Manager of Utilities Projects

Research Description:

Shardul's research focuses on designing supply chain architecture for an uncertain future using scenario planning.

Updated July 2009

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Lara Pierpoint

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2005 - 2007 • MIT: S.M. student in Technology Policy and Nuclear Engineering
• 2004 • University of California, Los Angeles: B.S. in Physics

Work Experience:

• Summer 2006 • Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy & National Nuclear Security Administration
• Summer Intern
• June 2004 - January 2005 • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Division of Nuclear Physics
• Science Laboratory Intern

Research Domain:

energy (nuclear engineering)

Research Methodology:

decision analysis, dynamic programming, stakeholder analysis

Research Description:

Lara's research focuses on decision making for the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle. Numerous system dynamics models provide information about the effects of deploying various fuel cycle technologies (e.g. fuel recycling systems), but model results do not necessarily indicate a clear strategic path forward. Model results must be incorporated into a framework that will directly inform stakeholders' decisions. Such a framework should allow decision makers to assess the tradeoffs between various system impacts (e.g. safety vs. economics), and should be sensitive to multiple groups of decision makers and their complex interactions. Furthermore, the framework must highly emphasize a requirement for fuel cycle system flexibility, in order to account for the long timescales inherent in nuclear development. Lara hopes to develop a framework of this type, using dynamic programming, decision analysis, and optimization methods.

Updated July 2009

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Thomas Rand-Nash

Academic Background:

• June 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• September 2005 - May 2009 • MIT, SM Technology and Policy
• September 2005 - May 2009 • MIT, SM Materials Science and Engineering
• September 2003 - May 2005 • UC Berkeley, BA Physics

Work Experience:

Everything from managing restaurants to being a motorcycle messenger to touring as a professional musician.

Research Domain:

uncertainty characterization in complex systems

Updated July 2009

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Christopher Roberts

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Technology, Management & Policy
• 2004 • George Washington University: Graduate certificate in Computer Security & Information Assurance
• 2001 - 2003 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology Policy
• 1998 - 2001 • EPF-Ecole d'Ingénieurs: Díplôme d'ingénieur in Aerospace
• 1996 - 2001 • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: BS in Engineering Physics

Work Experience:

• 2003 - 2007 • Booz Allen Hamilton

Research Description:

Chris's research addresses the integration of Enterprise Architecture and Systems Engineering.

Updated September 2007

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Robert Rudin

Academic Background:

• 2007 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Technology, Management & Policy
• 2005 - 2007 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology Policy
• 1996 - 2001 • University of Rochester: BS in Electrical Engineering
• additional year spent studying philosophy, literature, & history in the UK

Work Experience:

• Philips Medical Systems
• Software Engineer
• Datacube, Inc.
• Applications Engineer

Research Description:

Bob looks at health information from technology, organization management, and policy perspectives. He studies the value of exchanging health information between institutions and how this exchange can happen more effectively than today's methods of fax, paper, and phone. He hopes that his research will help integrate the healthcare system so that healthcare services can be better coordinated and so that quality can be measured more accurately and improved.

Updated September 2007

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Sidharth Rupani

Academic Background:

• 2005 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Student in Engineering Systems
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: BS in Mechanical Engineering with Aerospace & Design Concentrations

Work Experience:

• Summer 2006 • Robert Bosch GmbH, Gasoline Systems & Hybrid Technologies Division • Stuttgart, Germany
• Product development process assessment and improvement
• Summer 2005 • Duke University, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Material Sciences
• Research Associate, Aeroelasticity
• Summer 2003 • DEKA Research & Development Corp.
• Intern / REU Assistant

Research Description:

Sid's research involves studying how to design and evolve high-performance Product Development processes. The fundamental question is 'What is the right level of process commonality across an enterprise, and how can it be managed?' The project involves studying and developing process architectures to make the tradeoff between process standardization and diversity. The research is framed using a platform approach, where a process platform might be an enterprise-wide standard PD process, which can be tailored into derivative processes to meet localized requirements or product needs. The goal is to design these platform and derivative process architectures to yield the efficiency and learning benefits of standardized processes while being adaptable to different needs sets for projects and business units within the enterprise.

Updated March 2007

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Nidhi Santen

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2003 - 2006 • Indiana University, Bloomington, IN: School of Public and Environmental Affairs
• MS in Environmental Science (MSES), Atmospheric Science
• M.P.A., Environmental Policy
• 1997 - 2001 • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL: BA Geography, Environmental Geography Focus

Work Experience:

• 2006 - 2008 • CPS Energy • San Antonio, TX
• Environmental Analyst, Air Permits
• 2005 • Environmental Defense Fund • Austin, TX
• Climate and Air Program Intern
• 2001 • Alliance to Save Energy • Washington, DC
• Energy Policy Intern
• 2001 • The Nature Conservancy • Arlington, VA
• Federal Government Relations Intern

Research Domain:

energy and environment

Research Methodology:

modeling and simulation, uncertainty and decision analysis, economics

Research Description:

Nidhi's research interests include US climate change and air pollution policy analysis; electric power industry capacity planning and emissions management; and electric utility operations and supply reliability.

Updated July 2009

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Farzan Sasangohar

Academic Background:

• 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2009 • University of Waterloo: MASc in System Design Engineering
• 2008 • York University: BA in Information Technology
• 2007 • University of Waterloo: BCS in Computer Science
• 2006 • Lund University: MIS Candidate in Human-Computer Interaction

Work Experience:

• 2007 - 2009 • Collaborative Systems Lab, University of Waterloo
• Research Assistant
• 2007 • Perception and Plasticity Lab, York University
• Research Assistant
• 2002 - 2004 • APA Precision Machines and Tools
• IT - Technical Advisor
• 2000 - 2002 • Abrar Institute of Computing, Cambridge University Accredited Examination Center
• Lecturer

Research Domain:

human factors

Research Description:

The objective of Farzan's research is to investigate complex systems that support supervisory-control tasks in time-critical environments such as emergency response or command and control. This includes implementing semi-autonomous decision aid systems with error recovery and interruption recovery functionality.

Updated July 2009

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Satwiksai Seshasai

Academic Background:

• 2006 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD Student in Engineering Systems
• 2005 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology Policy
• 2002 • MIT: MEng in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
• 2001 • MIT: SB in Computer Science & Engineering
• Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences concentration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University

Work Experience:

• 2002 - 2006 • International Business Machines (IBM) Corp.
• Advisory Software Engineer and Development Manager, Team Collaboration
• U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecom and Info Agency
• Policy Development and Analysis Intern
• 2001 - 2002 • MIT Sloan Productivity from Information Technology Initiative
• Research Team Lead
• 2001 • U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe Center
• Research Assistant
• 2000 • EMC Corporation
• Software Development Intern
• MIT Media Laboratory
• Research Assistant
• 1998 • Prophet 21, Inc.
• Software Development Intern

Research Description:

Satwik's research focuses on the strategic, technical, organizational and economic impact of new technologies and organizational models which foster global collaboration. His first Masters focused on the technical side: building technology to share knowledge between globally distributed stakeholders. His second Masters focused on virtual global teams, and specific data analyses on socio-technical aspects of these teams. His doctoral work will build on both these efforts to develop a framework for how the system of global work can adapt to emerging trends such as Web 2.0 collaboration software and the services-based economy.

Updated ?

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Matthew Silver

Academic Background:

• 2005 • MIT, ESD: SM in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
• 2005 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology and Policy
• 2001 • Williams College: BA in Astrophysics and Art History

Work Experience:

• 2006 - 2007 • IntAct Labs LLC
• Co-Founder and CEO
• 2003 - 2006 • MIT Space Systems Lab
• Staff Research Scientist & Research Assistant
• 2002 - 2003 • Canadian Space Agency
• Systems Engineer, Advanced Test Project
• Winters 1997 - 2001 • Jiminy Peak Ski Area
• National Ski Patroller

Internships:

• Summer 2004 • NASA Headquarters, Office of the Space Architect
• Spring 2002 • European Space Agency, Washington Office
• Policy Liaison

Research Description:

Matt's research interests include the design and management of complex technical systems, with a focus on the need to incorporate technical and economic change into the design process. He has a complimentary interest in distributed product development and the impact of standardization on innovation.

Updated October 2007

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Kaushik Sinha

Academic Background:

• June 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems

Updated July 2009

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Jaemin Song

Academic Background:

• MIT: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• MIT: SM in Technology Policy
• Seoul National University: MS in Civil, Urban & Geosystem
• Seoul National University: SB in Civil, Urban & Geosystem

Work Experience:

• MIT, Joint Program on the Science & Policy of Global Change
• Research Assistant
• Ministry of Environment • Republic of Korea
• Environment Analyst
• Water Treatment Lab, Seoul National University
• Research Assistant

Research Description:

Jaemin's research focuses on developing new international regimes that will encourage the participation of developing countries in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Jesse Sowell

Academic Background:

• June 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• September 2009 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology & Policy
• privacy regulation, internet jurisdiction
• 2007 • Michigan State University: MS Criminal Justice
  • industrial security, criminology, cybercrime
• 2005 • Michigan State University: MS Computer Science
• software engineering and network systems, formal methods, security, middleware design
• 2001 • Clemson University: BS Computer Science
• operating systems, graphics and visualization, application emphasis in number theory

Work Experience:

Jesse worked at GM R&D from 2005 to 2007 on data management methods and tools for discovering illicit supply chains based on off-the-shelf tools. This included working closely with GM Global Security to identify existing data sources and architecting the tools necessary to translate qualitative data into structural representations suitable for network analyses. The culmination of this work was a prototype and enterprise- scope analytics architecture.

Research Domain:

internet governance and regulation

Research Methodology:

tentative methodologies include anthropological methods applied to online environments, grounded theory, and/or network flows analyses.

Research Description:

Jesse is investigating Internet jurisdiction conflicts and the ongoing changes in power relationships among online and offline stakeholders. Historically, telecommunications governance has buttressed traditional boundaries between sovereign states; more recently, the pace of technological change and proliferation has blurred these boundaries, yielding to groupings that more closely follow social, political, and ideological commonalities. Jesse is interested in understanding the types of rules and collaborative stakeholder relationships that reduce Internet jurisdiction conflicts and the role of intentional architectural design that facilitates multistakeholder collaboration.

Updated July 2009

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Daniel Sturtevant

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2007 - 2008 • MIT, ESD: SM in Engineering & Management
• 1997 - 2001 • Lehigh University: BS in Computer Engineering
• 1997 - 2000 • Lehigh University: BA in Political Science

Work Experience:

• 2007 - 2008 • Independent Consultant, Multiple Clients
• modeling social and business systems using system dynamics and agent based techniques
• 2005 - 2007 • The MathWorks
• designed and implemented features inside MATLAB simulink modeling and code generation environment
• General Dynamics
• developed a prototype cryptographic software that prevents theft of classified information by sophisticated "insiders." Designed hardware systems and developed linux device drivers.
• 2000 - 2002 • Paralogic, Inc.
• developed geographic information system software

Research Description:

Dan's research focus is on the architecture of software and characteristics distinguishing information from physical systems that influence organization and design in each domain

Updated July 2009

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Zoe Szajnfarber

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD in Engineering Systems
• 2006 - 2009 • MIT: SM in Technology Policy
• 2006 - 2009 • MIT: SM in Aeronautics & Astronautics
• 2001 - 2006 • University of Toronto: BASc in Engineering Science, Aerospace Specialty

Work Experience:

• Summer 2008 • Yeo Hiap Seng Inc. • Singapore
• FEO Intern: Conducted market research study investigating YEO's brand loyalty among Singaporean youth.
• Summer 2007 • European Space Agency • Noordwijk, NL
• Advanced Concepts Team Research Intern: Defined and directed study of how new technology gets integrated into the ESA science mission project development process.
• Summer 2006 • Dynacon Inc. • Mississauga, ON
• Microsatellite Proposal Team Engineer: Drafted proposal for the Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat) - the first mission in the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) multi-mission microsatellite bus vision. Maintained and designed costing tools and performed system design trade-studies.
• May 2004 - Aug 2005 • MDA Space Missions • Brampton, ON
• Mission Systems Engineer PEY: Developed and presented flight rationales to NASA management in order to closeout complex technical issues constraining "Space Shuttle Return to Flight." Collated return to flight findings to establish new baseline for environmental testing of SRMS (Canadarm) flight hardware. Developed new test criteria that satisfied modern standards but could be implemented with current equipment.
• University of Toronto • Toronto, ON
• September 2005 - April 2006 • Teaching Assistant: Engineering Design
• January 2003 - April 2004 • Technical Writing

Research Description:

Zoe's research seeks to understand the fundamental dynamics of complex product innovation in monopsony-oligpoly markets characteristic of spacecraft acquisition.

Updated July 2009

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Karen Tapia-Ahumada

Academic Background:

• 2005 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2005 • MIT, ESD: SM in Technology Policy (TPP)
• 1998 • Catholic University of Chile: MS & BS in Civil Industrial Engineering

Work Experience:

• November 2003 - Present • MIT, Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
• Research Assistant
• Electrical utility company • Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Analyst, Commercial & Planning Division
• Catholic University of Chile • Santiago, Chile
• Research Assistant, Electric Power Group

Research Domain:

energy & sustainability

Research Methodology:

simulation, case studies

Research Description:

Karen's research involves an economic and regulatory approach to understand the value of micro combined heat and power units (micro-CHPs) to residential users embedded in a larger electrical system. She is looking at the short-term impact of a large-scale penetration of micro-CHPs in terms of the economic social welfare, displaced emissions, and energy efficiency. Critical to this analysis is the type of information customers can get from the system, for instance real time pricing, and understanding whether it will improve customer's energy efficiency. Karen is studying not only the most cost-effective operational decision at the residential level, but also the economic operation of thermoelectric power plants within a particular electric power system based on unit commitment and economic dispatch.

Updated July 2009

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John Thomas

Academic Background:

• September 2009 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• September 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: SM student in Engineering Systems

Updated July 2009

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Chintan Vaishnav

Academic Background:

• MIT, ESD: SM in Technology Policy
• Colorado State University: MS in Electrical Engineering
• Bangalore University, India: BS in Electronics & Communications Engineering

Work Experience:

• September 2003 - Present • Communications Futures Program, MIT
• Research Assistant
• Avaya Labs • Denver, CO
• Member of Technical Staff
• Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies • Denver, CO
• Member of Technical Staff
• Asea Brown Boveries (ABB) • Bangalore, India

Research Description:

Chintan's research relates to the dynamics of technology, industry structure, regulatory policy and consumer preference in the communications sector. In a highly abstracted conceptualization, both the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the Internet consist of two components: the end-devices and the network core that connects them. Traditional telecommunications regulation over 100 years has assumed the presence of a network core that could be engineered to fulfill regulatory goals as well as a vertically-integrated industry structure that could meet regulatory obligations. Chintan's research argues that disruptive trends in technology are eroding the control in the core that was traditionally assumed. His research hypothesizes that in the environment of eroding control in the network core ("The End of Core"), meeting regulatory objectives will require that future regulatory response be discontinuous from that of the past. He uses system dynamics to model the dynamic complexity surrounding the current VoIP regulation and to understand policy options for preventing undesirable outcomes. The model endogenizes the technological change to the policy process.

Broadly, Chintan is interested in understanding the information and communications systems from the perspective of complex systems. He is interested in the full spectrum of technology and development; as an engineer creating high-end to grassroots innovations, as an analyst observing the socioeconomic impact, and as a systems thinker interested in the policy implications and possible interventions. A parallel, and inextricable, interest he has is in developing ways to observe, measure and analyze complex, socio-technical systems.

Updated April 2007

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Danielle Wood

Academic Background:

• 2008 - Present • MIT, ESD: PhD student in Engineering Systems
• 2005 - 2008 • MIT: dual SM, Aeronautics & Astronautics and Technology & Policy
• 2000 - 2005 • MIT: SB in Aeronautics & Astronautics
• Spring 2003 • study abroad in Seville, Spain

Work Experience:

• January 2007 • NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Systems Engineering Branch
• Guest Researcher
• 2005 - 2006 • MIT Space Systems Lab
• Research Assistant, SPHERES Project
• 2005 • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Operations Manager for NASA Academy Summer Internship Program
• Summer 2004 • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Summer Intern, NASA Academy
• Summer 1999 • NASA Kennedy space Center, International Space Station Logistics Division
• Summer Intern

Research Description:

Danielle's research examines trends in the use of satellite-based technologies for needs in developing countries. Her work enables a better understanding of the technology and management options that are being pursued in satellite projects. The Satellite applications considered in her research include, 1) remote sensing, to provide imagery and environmental data, 2) communications (including phone, radio, television, and internet); and 3) navigation, which facillitates services such as air traffic management. Each of these applications can improve the lives of millions of people. Danielle is interested in the link between national socioeconomic development and technological capability building. She seeks to understand the benefits that satellite technology is providing to developing countries both through direct satellite services and as a result of technical learning.

Updated July 2009

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