Professor at the Technical University of Cologne
Address: Gerhart-Hauptmann-Str. 6, 51545 Waldbröl, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)2291 4597
Mobile: +49 (0)178 8944218
E-mail: kern@gecoc-gmbh.de
Date of birth: 12.07.1977
Professional experience
Since 09/2019 — Professor of Automation and Intelligent Systems, University of Applied Sciences Constance.
Since 05/2016 — Managing Director, Environmental Computing Center Gummersbach GmbH.
10/2016 – 09/2019 — Lecturer in Software Engineering at Cologne University of Applied Sciences within the international Master’s program in Automation and Industrial IT.
07/2013 – 05/2016 — Technical Developer, GECOdC GmbH.
07/2005 – 09/2019 — Research Associate, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Automation and Industrial Information Technology, Environmental Computing Center Gummersbach GmbH.
Education
01/2009 – 11/2016 — Ph.D. (Dr.-Ing.) in Electrical Engineering, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Department of Electronic Engineering, Dynamics and Control Research Group.
Topic: Computational intelligence methods for control and optimization of wastewater treatment plants.
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Michael Bongards (TH Cologne) and Prof. Dr. Sean McLoone (Queen’s University Belfast).
10/2005 – 08/2008 — Master of Science in Resource and Technology Management, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Tropical Technologies (ITT).
Topic: Use of renewable energy in the tropics and subtropics.
10/2001 – 05/2006 — Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, specialization in automation and industrial information technology.
08/1998 – 07/2001 — Vocational training as an electrician, Starkstromanlagen Gesellschaft (SAG), Waldbröl.
07/1997 – 05/1998 — Military service in the German Air Force, digital radio communications technician, telecommunications unit 114, Cologne-Wahn.
08/1989 – 06/1997 — General qualification for university entrance, GGS Waldbröl.
Participation in working groups and expert committees
02/2018 – 09/2019 — Member of the working group on digitalization in water management of the Ministry for the Environment of North Rhine-Westphalia.
07/2017 – 02/2018 — Member of the technical steering committee “Water Management 4.0” of the Ministry for Environment and Agriculture of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Since 2009 — Associate member of the STEPS research institute (joint research and doctoral programs at TH Cologne).
Experience in management and participation in R&D projects
2015–2019 — IMProvT, intelligent measurement methods for optimization of drinking water supply. Budget €600,000, project manager.
2016–2019 — Kommunal 4.0, digital services for water management, co-coordinator.
2015–2018 — ENERWATER (Horizon 2020), assessment and improvement of energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants. Budget €1,731,087, co-coordinator.
2011–2020 — :metabolon Waste2Energy (EFRE), budget €25,000,000, responsible for the pilot drinking water treatment plant and deputy leader of the biogas project.
2011–2013 — Lastspül II, predictive sewer flushing, co-coordinator for software development.
2009–2011 — Silco (FP7), innovative electrodes for combating legionella, budget €1,414,109, project manager.
2009–2011 — OptMess, online measurement for sewer facilities, technical development.
2009–2012 — EnAM, universal automation system for membrane bioreactors, technical development.
2006–2007 — Lastspül, predictive sewer flushing, installation and integration of sensor systems.
2005–2007 — KANNST, control of sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants, technical development.
2007–2009 — VIP Kyrgyzstan, distributed monitoring system for infrastructure components, technical implementation and on-site commissioning in Kyrgyzstan.
2004–2007 — Wapscience, intelligent sensors and control systems for wastewater treatment plants.
Languages
German — native
English — fluent
IT skills
Operating systems: Linux, Windows, macOS
Programming languages: Java, C#, Python, C (microcontrollers)
PLC: CODESYS, STEP 7, TIA Portal
Modeling: MATLAB/Simulink, Python
Databases: MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL
Tools: MS Office, LibreOffice, LyX, MS Project, Visio, SmartDraw
International experience
2009–2016 — Ireland (Maynooth): regular research visits as part of the PhD program.
2006–2012 — Kyrgyzstan: scientific and academic projects (Bishkek, Issyk-Kul), student internships in automation at KSTU under DAAD programs.
Awards
11/2017 — Steinmüller Engineering Award, 1st place, “Computational Methods for Control and Optimization of Wastewater Treatment Plants”.
04/2019 — 3rd place at the Ferchau Innovation Competition, team project on sewer network control.
03/2007 — Aggerverband Award, 3rd place, optimization of ion-selective sensors.
Interests
Mountain biking (club).
Amateur radio (Class A: DK3RN, USA Amateur Extra: AD8AY).
