Research | Center for Transportation and Logistics

Focus areas

1. Intelligent & autonomous supply chains
2. Supply chain strategy & network architecture
3. Future logistics & infrastructure systems
4. Sustainable & circular supply chains
5. Critical systems & supply network resilience
6. Human-centered systems & quality of life

Current research labs

By addressing today’s supply chain challenges with ingenuity and collaboration, we advance knowledge that helps organizations and societies thrive. Our research is actionable and applied, enabling informed decision-making.

AgeLab

We research the challenges and opportunities of longevity and emerging generational lifestyles to catalyze innovation across business markets.

Computational Analytics, Visualization & Education (CAVE) Lab

We turn complex supply chain and logistics data into clear, interactive insights — making analysis and decision-making more intuitive through advanced visualization.

Students gathered in the CAVE Lab.

Deep Knowledge Lab for Supply Chain and Logistics

We apply AI, machine learning, and optimization to generate smarter solutions that unlock value across procurement, logistics, and energy systems.

Digital Supply Chain Transformation Lab

We explore and quantify the impact of rapidly evolving digital technologies and AI as they reshape end-to-end (E2E) supply chains.

Emerging Market Economies Logistics Lab

We build bottom-up strategies and resilient, inclusive logistics systems that convert worldwide challenges into opportunities for growth and prosperity using interdisciplinary and evidence-driven perspectives.

FreightLab

We build the next generation of freight strategies that help shippers, carriers, and brokers adapt and thrive.

Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab

We design supply chains, develop planning approaches, and facilitate co-operation across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to meet the needs of humans in crisis.

Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab

We transform supply chain and logistics systems design, planning, and operations by leveraging the power of advanced AI and machine learning techniques.

An image of packages along a conveyer belt.

Low Income Firms Transformation (LIFT) Lab

We empower micro and small enterprises in emerging markets through AI, data, and field innovation — driving growth, resilience, and sustainable impact.

Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab

We meet the challenges and opportunities of markets revolutionized by mobile technology and e-commerce.

Supply Chain Cybersecurity Lab

We protect physical supply chains from cyberattacks.

A digital global map depicting nodes in an electronic network

Supply Chain Design Lab

We use cutting-edge analytics to reimagine how supply chains are structured, building models that guide the design of resilient, adaptive, and future-ready networks.

Sustainable Supply Chain Lab

We develop data-driven solutions that help organizations decarbonize, design greener logistics, and achieve measurable sustainability impact.

Work Analytics Lab

We study how work is performed, transformed, and augmented by technology, with a focus on task-level job analysis, AI impact, and labor market dynamics across organizations and geographies.

Gain a competitive edge

Move your supply chain forward by sponsoring an MIT CTL research project. Submit an inquiry today to learn how to integrate our academic rigor with your operational data.

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