Areas of Research

Aerospace Computational Engineering
Air-Breathing Propulsion
Aircraft Systems Engineering
Air Transportation Systems
Autonomous Systems
Communications and Networks
Controls
Humans in Aerospace
Materials and Structures
Space Propulsion
Space Systems

Architecture Design
Architecture and Urbanism
Building Technology
Design and Computation
History, Theory, and Criticism of Architecture
History, Theory, and Criticism of Art
Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture
Visual Studies

Biological and Physiological Transport Phenomena
Biological Imaging and Functional Measurement
Biomaterials
Biomolecular Engineering
Cell and Tissue Engineering
Computational Modeling of Biological and Physiological Systems
Discovery and Delivery of Molecular Therapeutics
Energy
Genetic Toxicology
Infectious Disease and Immunology
Macromolecular Biochemistry & Biophysics
Metabolism of Drugs and Toxins
Microbial Pathogenesis
Microbial Systems
Molecular, Chemical and Environmental Carcinogenesis
Molecular, Cell and Tissue Biomechanics
Molecular Epidemiology and Dosimetry
Molecular Pharmacology
Nanoscale Engineering of Biological Systems
Neurobiological Systems
New Tools for Genomics, Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Glycomics
Synthetic Biology

Biochemistry
Bioengineering
Bioinformatics/Computation Biology
Cancer Biology
Cell Biology
Developmental Biology
Genetics
Human Genetics
Immunology
Microbiology
Molecular Medicine and Human Diseases
Neurobiology
Physiology
Plant Molecular Biology
Structural Biology and Biophysics

MIT-WHOI Joint Program
Biological Oceanography
Ecology and Evolution
Marine Biology
Marine Toxicology
Microbiology
Molecular Ecology

Historically, work has been shaped by several core themes:

• Creativity and Collaboration in the Digital Age
• Media in Transition
• Transforming Humanities Education
• Generation.org: Childhood and Adolescence in a Hypermediated Society
• Global Culture and Media
• The Informed Citizen and the Culture of Democracy

These themes illustrate some of the program's core interests and commitments, but they remain open to students who want to explore a broader range of topics through their work

Methodological Domains
Complexity Theory
Computational Mechanics
Deterministic and Stochastic Facility Location
Fast Solution Methods for Integral Equations
Finite Element Methods
Grid Generation
Hybrid Atomistic-continuum Models
Interior Point Methods for Convex Optimization
Large Eddy Simulation
Large-scale Optimization Solution Methods
Linear Optimization (LP)
Mathematical Programming and Combinatorial Optimization Molecular Modeling
Monte Carlo Methods
Multidisciplinary Design and Optimization
Multiscale Material Modeling
Numerical Linear Algebra
Optimal Control of Distributed Systems
Parallel and Distributed Computation and Algorithms
PDE Optimization
Probabilistic Combinatorial Optimization
Real Time Computation
Reduced Order Modeling/Reduced Basis Methods
Robust Optimization
Semidefinite Optimization (SDP)
Solution Methods for Integer Programming
Uncertainty Quantification for PDE-based Models
Wavelets

Application Domains
Aeroacoustics
Aircraft Design
Air Traffic Control
BioMEMS
Cellular Manipulation
Communications Systems
Computational Aerodynamics
E-commerce
Fluid Structure Interaction
Internet
Inverse Problems
Large-scale Distributed Simulation
MEMS
Micro/Nanofluidics
Molecular Modeling
Molecular Separation and Manipulation
Nanoscale Fluid Mechanics
Revenue Management
Supply Chain Management

Biological Design and Synthetic Biology
Cancer Biology
Cell and Tissue Engineering
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Functional Genomics
Gene and Protein Networks
Genomics and Proteomics
Imaging and Image Informatics
Instrumentation Engineering
Molecular Biophysics
Nanobiology and Microsystems
Neurosystems Biology
Predictive Toxicology and Metabolic Engineering

Atmospheric Science (dynamics and chemistry)
Climate Physics and Chemistry (includes Paleoceanography)
Geobiology
Geochemistry
Geology
Geophysics
Planetary Sciences

MIT-WHOI Joint Program
Chemical Oceanography
Geochemistry
Marine Geology and Geophysics
Paleoceanography
Physical Oceanography

Economic Theory
Mathematics for Economists
Econometrics
Economic History

Artificial Intelligence
Bioelectrical Engineering
Circuit Design
Communications
Computational Biology
Computer Graphics
Computer Networks
Computer Systems and Architecture
Devices and Materials
Electromagnetic Energy, Fields and Waves
Signal Processing
Systems, Decision and Control
Theoretical Computer Science

Biomedical Imaging
Biomedical Informatics and Integrative Biology
Functional and Regenerative Biomedical Technologies

Linguistics
A distinctive feature of the Linguistics Program at MIT has been its insistence on explicit theories of language formalized as grammatical rules and constraints. The concern for explicitness facilitates the comparison and evaluation of alternative models. A large part of our effort is devoted to the study of linguistic detail (for example, the interpretation of English verb phrase ellipsis, the morpho-semantics of the Greek perfect, the syntax of multiple questions, prosodic phrasing in Korean, or the articulation of reduced vowels in English). We focus on phenomena that we believe will provide rich insights into the nature of language.

Philosophy
Logic
Ethics
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of Language
Philosophy of Mind
Aesthetics
Social and Political Philosophy
History of Philosophy.

Interest in philosophical problems arising from other disciplines, such as linguistics, psychology, mathematics and physics, is also encouraged.

The MIT Center for Transportation & Logisitcs is the world's leading center for research in supply chain management and logistics. The Center’s world-renowned research programs spans every aspect of supply chain management and directly involves over 75 faculty and research staff from a wide range of academic disciplines, as well as researchers in various affiliate organizations around the world.

AgeLab - Technology for Healthy Aging
Carbon-Efficient Supply Chains
Demand Management
Humanitarian Logistics
Integrated Supply Chain Management Program (ISCM)
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program
MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program
MIT Efficient Healthcare Delivery Research Group (MEHD)
New England University Transportation Center (NE UTC)
Postponement

Archaeological Materials
Biological and Polymeric Materials
Computational Material Sciences
Materials for Energy and the Environment
Materials Economics and Manufacturing
Nanotechnology, Nanodevices, and Nanomaterials
Electronic, Photonic, and Magnetic Materials
High-performance Structural Materials and Alloys

The broad panels are complimented by focused programs that include:
Leaders for Global Operations
Program in Polymer Science and Technology

Pure Mathematics Program
Lie Algebra and Lie Groups
Commutative Algebra
Algebraic Topology
Partial Differential Equations
Algebraic Topology
Geometry of Manifolds
Number Theory
Commutative Algebra
Functional Analysis
Algebraic Geometry
Algebraic Topology
Real Analysis
Algebraic Topology
Number Theory
Differential Geometry
Constructibility
Computation Theory
Algebraic Topology
Differential Geometry
Commutative Algebra
Algebraic Topology

A Thesis Proposal, worked out in consultation with and approved by the student's Thesis Advisor is to be submitted to the Graduate Committee for approval.

Applied Mathematics Program
Methods
Computer Science
Combinatorics
Statistics
Natural Science
Theoretical Engineering

Please note that this listing is subject to revision by the Applied Mathematics Committee during the academic year.

Applied Mechanics
Automotive & Aircraft Engines
Biomaterials
Biomechanics & Neural Control of Movement
Biomedical Engineering
Biorobotics
Combustion
Composites Processing
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Computational Mechanics
Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing
Controls
Cryogenics
Design
Dynamics
Energy and Power
Environmental Engineering
Fibers & Polymers
Finite Elements
Fluid Mechanics
Heat and Mass Transfer
Human-Machine Systems
Instrumentation
Internal and External Combustion Engines
Leaders for Global Operations Program
Management of Technology
Manufacturing
Materials
Mechanical Behavior of Materials
Mechanics
Mechanics of Materials
MEMS and Nanotechnology
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
Microfluids
Optical Engineering
Optical Measurement
Polymer Processing
Precision Engineering
Robots, Manipulators and Teleoperators
Systems Design and Management
Technology and Policy
Thermodynamics
Transportation
Tribology

MIT-WHOI Joint Program
Hydrodynamics of Vehicles
Telepresence
Underwater Robotics

Research Groups
Object-Based Media
Neuroengineering and Neuromedia
Personal Robots
Computing Culture
Media Fabrics
Sociable Media
Physics and Media
Biomechatronics
Physical Language
Tangible Media
Molecular Machines
Changing Places
Software Agents
Viral Communications
Opera of the Future
Society of Mind
Smart Cities
Future of Learning
Responsive Environments
Human Dynamics
Affective Computing
Camera Culture
Lifelong Kindergarten
Cognitive Machines
Speech and Mobility
Context-Aware Computing
Music, Mind and Machine

Research Highlights
"$100 Laptop"
LEGO Mindstorms
electronic ink
Csound
first personalized e-newspaper
world's first biohybrid ankle-foot prosthesis
Hyperscore music composition software
City Car
ESP, an Emotional-Social Prosthetic to help those with autism
the Huggable, a cuddly toy for therapeutic applications

Biochemical, Chemical, and Structural Microbiology
Bioinformatics and Computational Microbiology
Bioenergy and Metabolic Diversity
Ecology and Environmental/Geo Microbiology
Microbial Oceanography
Evolution
Genetics and Physiology
Genomics and Systems Microbiology
Immunology and Host-Microbe Interactions
Metabolic Engineering and Biotechnology
Microbial Oceanography
Molecular and Cellular Microbiology
Virology and Phage Biology

Acoustics
Applied Mechanics
Computer-Aided Design and Fabrication
Environmental Engineering
Fluid Mechanics
Hydrodynamics
Ocean Engineering
Structural Mechanics
Underwater Vehicle Design
Welding Fabrication
Naval Construction and Engineering
Naval Engineering
Ship Design

MIT-WHOI Joint Program
Environmental Acoustics
Oceanography

Research activities at the Operations Research Center span a wide spectrum of methodological topics and applications, ranging from small, unsponsored projects involving a single faculty supervising a student's thesis to much larger, sponsored programs involving several faculty/staff and students.

Methodological research
mathematical programming and combinatorial optimization
solution methods for integer programming
interior point methods for linear programming
cluster analysis
parallel and distributed computation and algorithms
network flow algorithms
network design
probabilistic combinatorial optimization
deterministic and stochastic facility location
queueing theory and queueing networks
equitability in queueing systems
risk analysis
stochastic processes
classical and Bayesian statistics
decision analysis and statistical decision theory.

MIT research laboratories include:
Center for Transportation Studies
International Financial Services Research Center
Leaders for Global Operations Program

Experimental
Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Physics
Atomic and Optical Physics
Biophysics, Medical Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
High Energy and Nuclear Fusion Research, Relativistic Beam Physics
Quantum Information Science

Theoretical
Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Physics
Atomic and Optical Physics
Biophysics
Condensed Matter Physics
High Energy and Nuclear Physics
Plasma Physics, Nuclear Fusion Research, Plasma Astrophysics
Quantum Information Science

Biodegradable Polymers
Biopolymers and Biomaterials
Colloids and Surfactants
Functional Polymers
High Performance Polymers
Liquid Crystalline Polymers
Polyelectrolytes
Polymer Chemistry
Polymer Mechanics
Polymer Modeling
Polymer Physics
Polymer Processing
Polymer Rheology
Polymer Statistical Mechanics
Structure/Property Relationships
Supramolecular Assembly

SDM students conduct thesis projects under the guidance of faculty in the MIT Sloan School of Management and the School of Engineering. To ensure real-world applicability, these projects are often done in consultation with supervisors in organizations with which the students are involved.

The following are examples of SDM theses:
An Integrative Framework for Architecting Supply Chains
Automotive Component Product Development Enhancement through Multi-Attribute System Design Optimization in an Integrated Concurrent Engineering Framework
Re-architecting the Department of Defense Acquisition Process: Transition to the Information Age
Testing in NASA’s Human-Rated Spacecraft Programs: How Much Is Just Enough?
Product Development in the Industrial/Chemical Process Industry
Managing the Proliferation of Digital Technology in the Automotive Industry: A Systems Engineering Approach to Embedded Software

The research strategy at TPP has three components:

1. Problem-oriented research focusing on specific large-scale systems;
2. Methodological research emphasizing the development of general principles as well as analytical approaches that can be used in the design of large-scale systems; and
3. Policy-oriented research concentrating on the development of improved procedures for industrial and governmental decision-making.

Research Groups at CTPID
International Motor Vehicle Program (IMVP)
Lean Aerospace Initiative (LAI)
Fast and Flexible Manufacturing
Internet & Telecoms Convergence (ITC)
MIT Communications Forum
Materials Systems Laboratory
Technology and Law

TPP students also study and conduct research in the following MIT programs, centers and schools:
Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
Center for Transportation and Logistics
The Laboratory for Energy & the Environment
Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems
Center for International Studies
Sloan School of Management