A Chemical Engineer and a Chemist are working on samples in a lab with the help of Poweder X-Ray Diffraction.
In an open and stimulating working environment we promote accomplished junior scientists, who complete formative years of their careers as students, Ph.D. students, postdocs or research group heads, as e.g. in our International Max Planck Research School.
Researchers in the Lab of the Electrochemical Energy Conversion Group at MPI Magdeburgs
Team members from many nations are working in an interdisciplinary research environment: chemical engineers, biologists, physicists, material scientists, mathematicians, control and computer engineers are cooperating closely.
A chemical engineer and a process engineer are working crystallization processes in the pilot scale lab hall at MPI Magdeburg.
Our Max Planck Institute, located in Magdeburg, is dedicated to all aspects of process systems engineering, chemical, biochemical and energy systems, that are vital to the future of well-being of human society globally. It is our aim to optimize these increasingly complex processes in modern production systems.
A mathematician is analyzing and optimizing chemical reactor models at her computer at MPI Magdeburg.
A specific strength of our MPI is the combination of systems-theoretical approaches with experimental validation carried out under one roof. We further develop mathematical, computational and control theoretic methods along with the various process applications investigated here.

News

Group standing in front of a large screen displaying the logos of Nanyang Technological University and the Max Planck Society
Data for the chemistry of the future: At the Max Planck Singapore Center for Data-driven Chemistry, researchers use automated experiments and artificial intelligence to generate reliable data for chemical reactions and new materials.
A view inside a research laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, showing small bioreactors and cell retention modules
More efficient processes with higher yields for cultivated meat
Hands-on science: How can we power a DIY vehicle without electricity or gasoline, but using chemicals in the tank? If the students calculated correctly in the lab and filled the vehicle with the right fuel, the ChemCar will run as expected.
The student internship in “Process Engineering and Technical Cybernetics” at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg starts on 30 March 2026
Max Planck School of Biomedical Artificial Intelligence
The new School will develop advanced AI methods for basic life sciences research. Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Director at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg, is one of the 32 Fellows and is looking forward to a fruitful cooperation and education.
Participants of the first workshop of the new Magdeburg International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS SysProSus) from March 1 to 3, 2026, in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.
Research on sustainable chemical production processes
Four women scientists in leadership positions at the Max Planck Society
In 2025, four new female directors were appointed to Max Planck Institutes, one of whom is Professor Sohini Kar-Narayan at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg.

Upcoming

Tomorrow Labs: The Festival at the Science Port Magdeburg - 6 June 2026

Jun 6, 2026 04:00 PM - 09:59 PM (Local Time Germany)
Magdeburg

MPI Colloquia Series | Prof. Dr. Dirk Hartmann, Simcenter Technology@Siemens & TU Darmstadt

Jun 10, 2026 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Institute Magdeburg, Room: tba

Workshop on Approximate Computing in Numerical (Multi-) Linear Algebra

Aug 31, 2026 08:45 AM (Local Time Germany) - Sep 2, 2026 06:00 PM
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Meet us at Explore Science 2026 - The Science Discovery Days in Magdeburg

Sep 24, 2026 09:00 AM (Local Time Germany) - Sep 26, 2026 05:00 PM
Elbauenpark Magdeburg
As part of our MPI Colloquium Series, Olga Fink (EPFL, Switzerland) will give a talk on the topic “From Physics to Machine Learning and Back: Applications in Engineered Systems”
As part of our MPI Colloquium Series, Olga Fink (EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland) will give a talk on the topic

“From Physics to Machine Learning and Back: Applications in Engineered Systems” 

In her talk, Professor Olga Fink will provide insights into how combining the laws of physics with machine learning helps computers better understand and predict complex systems.
 
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Max Planck Colloquium “Systems-oriented Biotechnology and Bioengineering”

from Apr 8, 2026 08:45 AM to Apr 10, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Colloquium “Systems-oriented Biotechnology and Bioengineering”

from Apr 8, 2026 08:45 AM to Apr 10, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Colloquium “Systems-oriented Biotechnology and Bioengineering”

from Apr 8, 2026 08:45 AM to Apr 10, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Colloquium “Systems-oriented Biotechnology and Bioengineering”

from Apr 8, 2026 08:45 AM to Apr 10, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Colloquium “Systems-oriented Biotechnology and Bioengineering”

from Apr 8, 2026 08:45 AM to Apr 10, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Max Planck Colloquium “Systems-oriented Biotechnology and Bioengineering”

from Apr 8, 2026 08:45 AM to Apr 10, 2026 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

MPI Colloquia
We invite you to attend our public colloquia series at the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg.
High-ranking scientists from renowned research institutions in Germany and around the world present the state-of-the-art of their current research projects.
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Magdeburg is a major hub for science and research. Its universities and research institutions conduct research, provide education, and generate knowledge - for the benefit of the city, for the benefit of Saxony-Anhalt, and with a visible impact both in Germany and internationally.

Career

Best conditions for excellence in research
The Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg offers a variety of opportunities for professional development, personal and professional further education.

Latest Publications

Goldhahn, R.; Minor, A.-J.; Rihko-Struckmann, L.; Sundmacher, K.: Solvent-Based Separation of PA6 and PET Using Solubility Data from Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 65, pp. 5138 - 5149 (2026)
Minor, A.-J.; Sanchez Medina, E. I.; Goldhahn, R.; Linke, S.; Rihko-Struckmann, L.; Sundmacher, K.: Chemical recycling of nylon 6 using ionic liquids: From solvent screening to techno-economic assessment. Separation and Purification Technology 386, 136502 (2026)
Gkimisis, L.; Yildiz, S.; Benner, P.; Richter, T.: A CFL-type Condition and Theoretical Insights for Discrete-Time Sparse Full-Order Model Inference. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics 482, 117269 (2026)
Hellwig, P.; Seick, I.; Meinusch, N.; Benndorf, D.; Wiese, J.; Reichl, U.; Heyer, R.: Molecular community data meets anaerobic digestion Model 1 (ADM1) – a study about the correlation between metagenome-centric metaproteomics data of a two-step full-scale anaerobic digester and its corresponding mathematical model. Water Research 292, 125272 (2026)
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