Matthew Brun

I am a final-year PhD student at the MIT Operations Research Center, advised by Dr. Andy Sun. My research broadly focuses on optimization with applications in energy systems. Specifically, I am interested in building and solving complex optimization models to improve performance of the power grid, in response to increased renewable penetration, growing demand from data centers, and threats from wildfire and other natural hazards. This work leverages and develops tools in large-scale, nonlinear, discrete, and stochastic optimization, with an emphasis on handling nonconvexity.

In summer 2024, I joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for a summer internship in the Cyber & Critical Infrastructure Summer Institute. Previously, I graduated from Rice University in 2022 with a BA in Operations Research. For fun, I play trumpet and have performed with the MIT Symphony Orchestra, the Rice University Campanile Orchestra, and Mariachi Luna Llena.

I am on the 2026-2027 academic job market!