Jakob Albert

Professor Jakob Albert leads the Albert Research Group at the University of Hamburg within the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, specifically in the Department of Chemistry and the Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry. His research focuses on sustainable chemical processes for biomass conversion and renewable energy solutions, with significant contributions to catalysis science and green chemistry.

His research interests center on catalytic value creation from biomass, chemical energy storage (particularly Power-to-X technologies), nanomaterials for catalysis, and scale-up of miniplant technology. His work bridges fundamental catalysis science with practical engineering applications, emphasizing sustainable chemical production methods that replace fossil-based resources with renewable alternatives. His group develops innovative catalytic processes for converting biomass into valuable chemicals and energy carriers, with a particular focus on polyoxometalate-based catalytic systems.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on biomass valorization, particularly through polyoxometalate-catalyzed reactions for producing formic acid and other platform chemicals. His research spans fundamental catalyst design and characterization to reactor engineering and process optimization, with increasing focus on carbon capture and utilization technologies, renewable fuel production, and waste stream valorization. The interdisciplinary nature of his work integrates chemistry, materials science, and chemical engineering principles.

• ERC Consolidator Grant for BioValCat project (2023)
• Habilitation at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (2022)

Professor Albert has successfully supervised numerous doctoral students including André Wassenberg, Nick Herrmann, Tobias Esser, Jan-Christian Raabe, and Michael Huber, among others. His research is supported by significant funding including the ERC Consolidator Grant, DFG projects, and the Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB) 1615 "SMART Reactors". He maintains strong industrial collaborations with companies such as OxFA GmbH, Siemens Energy AG, and Volkswagen AG.

The Albert Research Group operates within the Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry at the University of Hamburg, with facilities for catalysis research, reactor design, and biomass conversion studies. The group participates in major collaborative initiatives including the ERC BioValCat project and the DFG-funded SFB 1615 "SMART Reactors", working closely with academic and industrial partners across Europe.