Burak Atakan

Prof. Dr. Burak Atakan is a Full Professor of Thermodynamics at the Universität Duisburg-Essen, leading the Chair of Thermodynamics since 2002. He holds academic affiliations with the Faculty of Engineering, specifically within the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering and the Institute for Energy and Materials Processes. His research focuses on combustion chemistry, laser diagnostics, high-temperature systems, and energy-efficient technologies, with notable contributions to polygeneration systems and thermographic phosphor sensor development. He has authored over 120 publications and supervised PhD students such as Daniel Stenders. Prof. Atakan has received prestigious awards including the 1997 Benningsen-Foerder-Preis and 2020 Fellowship from the Combustion Institute.

Education: PhD (1993, Heidelberg University), Habilitation (2000, Bielefeld University). Professional roles include editorial board memberships for Applications in Energy and Combustion Science, and leadership in DFG-funded projects like Research Unit FOR1993 and SPP 2403. He is actively involved in academic governance, serving as Chair of the University Senate (2014–2016) and leading the UA Ruhr Energy System Transformation initiative.

Research highlights include pioneering work on laser diagnostics in high-pressure combustion, thermodynamic analysis of gas turbine cycles, and exergoeconomic evaluations of polygeneration processes. His lab develops advanced materials for energy systems, including thin-film sensors and CVD-modified carbon materials. Current projects emphasize sustainable energy transitions and multi-functional energy conversion systems.

Key memberships: Combustion Institute, VDI, GDCh, ProcessNet. He reviews for major funding bodies (DFG, DAAD) and journals such as Energy, Combustion and Flame, and Applied Thermal Engineering. His work bridges fundamental thermodynamics with applied engineering challenges in energy and materials.