In the small coastal town of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, the port is the backbone of the community. Growing up with a father who works as a longshoreman, Chelsea Mitchell witnessed the port’s importance firsthand. As a fourth-year PhD student in MIT’s Department of Economics, she studies how ports and shipping companies compete, how goods move through congested terminals, and how disruptions affect global supply chains.
Mitchell recalls, "When I was younger, I never would have imagined I would get to conduct research at MIT." Her academic journey began at the University of Toronto, where faculty mentors encouraged her to apply to doctoral programs, eventually leading her to the Institute. In 2023, a labor dispute along Canada’s West Coast made her acutely aware of ports as choke points in supply chains, which often go understudied despite their importance.
One of her major projects examined labor negotiations and competition among American ports. She found that even the possibility of work disruptions could alter shipping patterns, prompting companies to reroute cargo to East Coast ports. Currently, she focuses on the trend of shipping companies acquiring container terminals, revealing that ships operated by acquiring carriers often receive faster service during congestion, while competing carriers face longer wait times.
Mitchell emphasizes that ports are essential infrastructure for the modern economy, with approximately 80% of global trade moving by sea. She hopes her work highlights the importance of this often-overlooked industry, advocating for reliable and efficient ports to ensure smooth supply chains.
At MIT, she has benefitted from the support of her advisors and peers, believing that maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for research success. Whether analyzing data in Cambridge or returning home to British Columbia’s rugged coastline, Mitchell maintains a people-first approach, underscoring the importance of insights from industry workers in understanding real-world dynamics.
"I see numbers. I see data. But it’s challenging to tell a story with that data when you don’t have insights from the people who are actually doing the work," Mitchell states. This perspective adds depth and breadth to her research.
Blogger's Review: Mitchell's research not only reveals the critical role of ports in global supply chains but also highlights how personal experiences shape academic pursuits. Her deep understanding of port operations and focus on the industry demonstrate the power of integrating theory with practice, serving as a model for other scholars to follow.