Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems

Group photo of the directors, research group leaders, administrative director and research coordinator at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg, photo: Harald Krieg / MPI Magdeburg, October 2025

Structure of the institute

The Max Planck Institute consists of:

a Managing Director, to be elected for a two year term
2025 to 2026: Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Peter Benner

Research Groups headed by MPI Directors

The Board of Directors of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg: Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher (from left to right) — The Board of Directors of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg: Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl (Emeritus), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher (from left to right)

© Harald Krieg / Max-Planck-Institut Magdeburg

The Board of Directors of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg: Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl (Emeritus), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher (from left to right)

© Harald Krieg / Max-Planck-Institut Magdeburg

The Board of Directors of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg: Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher (from left to right) — The Board of Directors of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg: Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl (Emeritus), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher (from left to right)

© Harald Krieg / Max-Planck-Institut Magdeburg

The Board of Directors of the Max Planck Institute Magdeburg: Prof. Dr. Peter Benner, Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl (Emeritus), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher (from left to right)

© Harald Krieg / Max-Planck-Institut Magdeburg

Materials Systems Engineering (MSE)
Prof. Dr. Sohini Kar-Narayan

Computational Methods in Systems and Control Theory (CSC)
Prof. Dr. Peter Benner

Process Systems Engineering (PSE)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Sundmacher

External Scientific Members

Process Synthesis and Process Dynamics (PSD)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Kienle

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Raisch

Research Groups headed by Senior Scientists

Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks (ARB)
Dr. Steffen Klamt

Data-driven Modeling of Complex Physical Systems (DMP)
Dr. Feliks Nüske

Molecular Simulations and Design (MSD)
Dr. Matthias Stein

Electrochemical Energy Conversion (EEC)
Dr.-Ing. Tanja Vidaković-Koch

Emeritus Group

Bioprocess Engineering (BPE)
Prof. em. Dr.-Ing. Udo Reichl

Max Planck Fellow Group

Mathematical Optimization and Machine Learning (OML)
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Sebastian Sager

Partner Group

ANII-MPG Research Group "Efficient Heterogeneous Computing" (EHC)
Dr. Pablo Ezzatti, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS)

IMPRS for Systems and Process Engineering for a Sustainable Chemical Production

Central Divisions Supporting Scientific Work

Library
Administration
Laboratories
Workshops, Pilot Scale Hall (Technikum)
Facility Management
Information Technology
Public Relations