Paul is a Ph.D. candidate in the MIT Engineering Systems Division. His research broadly centers on the use of software tools to support systems engineering design. His dissertation develops and evaluates the use of distributed simulation tools to improve technical integration and social collaboration in infrastructure planning. His work includes two application cases of novel simulation games implemented using the IEEE Std. 1516 High Level Architecture for interoperable simulation. The first case evaluates investment in water and energy infrastructure to meet sustainability objectives across multiple regions in Saudi Arabia and is based on real-world challenges of addressing the "water-energy nexus" and of balancing natural and societal resources. The second case investigates collaboration between national government agencies and commercial partners in developing infrastructure for future space exploration.



During his time at MIT, Paul played an active role in research contributing to several software tools. He served as the lead developer of SpaceNet 2.5, a space exploration logistics simulator for evaluating the feasibility of a wide range of human campaign concept and led development for the prototype of City.Net, a decision support tool incorporating coupled interactions between multiple infrastructure systems. He helped architect the Sustainable Infrastructure Planning System (SIPS), a web-based decision support tool for infrastructure in Saudi Arabia  in association with the Center for Complex Engineering Systems (CCES) at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and MIT. Paul also participated in game-based media projects for teaching systems engineering concepts with the Systems Engineering Advancement Research Initiative (SEAri). Paul holds a S.M. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT and a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.