Christian Kunde

Dr.-Ing. Christian Kunde is a PostDoc researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in the Process Synthesis and Process Dynamics group since 2021. Previously, he served as a PostDoc at the Chair for Automation/Modeling at Otto-von-Guericke University (OVGU) from 2017-2021, and as a Research Assistant and PhD Student at the same institution from 2009-2017.

His educational background includes a Diploma in Systems Engineering and Engineering Cybernetics from OVGU (2004-2009) and a PhD dissertation titled "Global optimization in conceptual process design" completed in 2017. His formal engineering doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) reflects his specialized expertise in process systems engineering.

Kunde's research focuses on physics- and data-based hybrid modeling for process optimization and state estimation, with particular emphasis on global optimization techniques and surrogate modeling. His work bridges theoretical computational methods with practical chemical engineering applications, addressing challenges in distillation, crystallization, and fuel cell systems. He has developed innovative approaches combining first-principles models with machine learning for improved process design and control.

His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to chemical process optimization, with recent work expanding into machine learning applications for Power-to-X processes and fuel cell modeling. The research shows a clear trajectory from fundamental optimization methods toward increasingly complex hybrid modeling approaches that integrate physics-based and data-driven techniques.

Kunde actively contributes to academic knowledge dissemination through teaching, having instructed courses including Distributed Parameter Systems, State Estimation, and Systems and Control. His teaching portfolio reflects his research expertise in process dynamics and control systems, providing students with both theoretical foundations and practical applications in modern process engineering.