Prodromos Daoutidis

Prodromos Daoutidis is a College of Science and Engineering Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, where he also serves as Director of Graduate Studies for the MS in Data Science program. His research bridges systems engineering, process control, and sustainability through innovative applications of network science and data-driven methodologies. With over 25 years of academic leadership, he has established himself as a leading figure in process systems engineering with significant contributions to industrial applications.

Dr. Daoutidis' research focuses on three interconnected themes: complexity (network approaches to control of complex process networks), data (data-driven control methods and learning approaches), and energy (sustainable production of power, fuels, and chemicals). His group has pioneered network science applications for distributed control of large-scale plants, developed DeCODe software for automatic decomposition of optimization problems, and created RING software for automated reaction network generation in biomass conversion. Current research emphasizes green ammonia systems for sustainable agriculture and energy storage, microgrid optimization, and brain network analysis through process systems engineering principles.

His recent publications demonstrate strong trends toward integrating renewable energy systems with chemical processes, particularly through ammonia-based energy storage solutions. The research spans from fundamental control theory to practical implementation in industrial settings, with increasing emphasis on sustainability applications. His work shows a clear trajectory toward solving complex energy-water-food nexus challenges through systems engineering approaches.

• Computers and Chemical Engineering 2020 Best Paper Award
• Elected 2nd Vice Chair of CAST Division of AIChE
• Best Survey Paper in Journal of Process Control (2014-2016)
• Featured in Yale Environment 360 article on ammonia
• Research cited in Forbes article on sustainable agriculture

Dr. Daoutidis has advised numerous PhD students including Victoria Jones (2024), Hanchu Wang (2023), and Ilias Mitrai (2023), with several alumni now faculty members at institutions like University of Texas and North Carolina State University. His research has been supported by significant grants focusing on sustainable energy systems, process control innovations, and systems engineering applications to biological networks. The Daoutidis Group maintains active collaborations with industry partners, farming communities, fertilizer producers, and utility cooperatives to translate research into practical solutions.

The research group operates at the intersection of chemical engineering, control theory, and sustainability science, with facilities supporting both theoretical development and practical implementation of control systems. Current projects involve close collaboration with neuroscientists to apply process systems engineering methods to brain network analysis, demonstrating the cross-disciplinary impact of the group's methodological approaches.