Matthew Pearlson

Research Specialist

BACKGROUND

I am originally from Miami Beach, Florida. Prior to joining the LAE, I received an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and worked at Infineum Corporation formulating crankcase oils for passenger cars, and Microsoft Corporation as a software development engineering in test.

RESEARCH

I am a research specialist in the Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment (LAE) at MIT’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. A chemical engineer by training, my research focuses on the technical and economic production (“techno-economics”) of alternative jet fuels using cash-flow analysis. I was the first to publish on the impact of product-slate choices for HEFA fuel production on the economic feasibility of renewable jet fuel from this pathway. My work in this field has been used by the US EPA for their rule making on HEFA fuels under the Renewable Fuels Standard, and has provided significant guidance to other agencies such as FAA, DOE, and DOD about the economics of alternative aviation fuels.

EXPERTISE

  • Technical and economic production (“techno-economics”) of alternative jet fuels using cash-flow analysis.
  • Additive manufacturing of light-weight structures using novel 3D printing technologies.