Curriculum vitae

Kaan Altaş

Researcher in process systems engineering, working on optimization, machine learning and AI for complex engineering systems.

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Education

  1. M.Sc. in Chemical & Biological Engineering

    Koç Universityİstanbul, Türkiye

    toexpected

    Advisors: Prof. Alper Uzun, Assoc. Prof. Erdal Aydın

  2. B.Sc. in Chemical & Biological Engineering and Computer Engineering (Double Major)

    Koç Universityİstanbul, Türkiye

    to
    • Magna Cum Laude
    • Tracks: Energy and Process Systems Engineering, Artificial Intelligence

  3. High school

    Kocaeli Science High SchoolKocaeli, Türkiye

    to

Research experience

Interests

  • Process Systems Engineering
  • Stochastic Optimization
  • Mixed-Integer Programming
  • Machine Learning
  • Deep Learning
  • Large Language Models
  • Energy Systems Design & Control

  1. Graduate Researcher

    Koç University, Chemical & Biological Engineeringİstanbul, Türkiye

    toPresent

    Advisors: Prof. Alper Uzun, Assoc. Prof. Erdal Aydın

    • Research at the intersection of catalysis, machine learning and mathematical optimization.
    • Machine learning models that link catalyst design to catalyst performance, brought into optimization-based process decisions.

    Topics: CatalysisMachine learningOptimization

  2. Undergraduate Researcher

    Koç University, Chemical & Biological Engineeringİstanbul, Türkiye

    to

    Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Erdal Aydın

    • Two-stage stochastic MILP models for Power-to-X systems that integrate renewable energy with water–food–energy nexus considerations.
    • Uncertainty modeling of renewable-energy-driven production systems.
    • The work became a first-author paper in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (2026).

    Topics: Stochastic MILPPower-to-XWEF nexus

Experience

  1. Project Assistant (part-time)

    ClimAlignİstanbul, Türkiye

    toPresent
    • Calculation tools for emissions, energy use and financed-emissions assessments.
    • Reviewing energy efficiency audits and compiling the findings into comprehensive technical reports and seminar materials.
    • Technical sections of tender proposals for international financial institutions.
    • Reviewing sector guidelines and assessment tools for completeness and consistency across sectors.

    Topics: Energy efficiencyGHG accountingClimate finance

  2. Production IT Intern

    Hyundai Assan OtomotivKocaeli, Türkiye

    to
    • Combined a PyTorch model with Gurobi optimization to sequence car bodies and cut paint color changeovers.
    • Worked with IT, chemical and industrial engineers on production planning data.

    Topics: PyTorchGurobiScheduling

  3. Process Engineering Intern

    TüpraşKocaeli, Türkiye

    to
    • Studied the crude distillation and product separation units at the İzmit refinery, following how feed, operating conditions and energy use connect across the units.
    • Took part in daily operations with the process engineers, with hands-on experience of plant equipment and unit performance data.

    Topics: DistillationRefining

Publications

  1. Design & Optimization of a Hydrogen Integrated Water–Energy–Food Nexus Under Uncertainty

    Kaan Altaş, B.K. Tekkeşin, E. Aydın, M. Türkay

    International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 252, 2026, art. 156061

    doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156061(opens in a new tab)

Talks

  1. Stochastic Optimization of Water–Energy Networks with Renewable Energy Integration

    Kaan Altaş, B.K. Tekkeşin, E. Aydın

    MaCKiE 2025, International Conference on Mathematics in (Bio/Food) Chemical Kinetics and Engineering, İzmir, Türkiye · September 2025 · Oral presentation

    mackieturkey.com(opens in a new tab)

Teaching & service

  1. Teaching Assistant, CHBI 491: Senior Design Project

    Koç University, Chemical & Biological Engineeringİstanbul, Türkiye

    toPresent
    • Lead regular sessions with senior capstone teams and guide their process design projects through to the final report.
    • Feedback on their technical work, reports and presentations, and grading of the deliverables.

  2. Student Representative

    Chemical & Biological Engineering Department

    to
    • Bridge between students and faculty on academic and administrative concerns.
    • Worked with faculty and department heads on course structure and student engagement.

Activities

  1. 1st Prize · Venture Sprint

    International Summer School “Beyond the Visible”: AI, Sensing, and the Future of Terrestrial Resources

    ETH Zurich, Campus HeilbronnHeilbronn, Germany

    • Co-built MINERVA (Mine Identification and Evaluation via Remote Vision Analytics), which uses remote sensing and computer vision to identify and evaluate mines.
    • MINERVA won 1st prize in the Venture Sprint; the team was invited to Zurich by the European Space Agency (ESA) to discuss funding and implementation.

    Topics: Remote sensingComputer visionEarth observation

  2. Data Annotator (volunteer), under Prof. Deniz Yüret

    Koç University, Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

    to
    • English-to-Turkish prompt translation and evaluation in Label Studio for Turkish LLM benchmarks.

Software

  1. SnapLayouts

    Building

    macOSSwiftUI · Liquid Glass · macOS 26+

    Windows 11-style snap layouts for the Mac. Drag a window to the top of the screen, drop it on a zone, and Snap Assist offers your other windows for the rest.

  2. Seemantic

    Building

    macOSSwiftUI · PDFKit · macOS 27+

    A study and research companion for papers. Read with dark and sepia themes, keep highlights in sync with Zotero, and lasso a figure or an equation to ask about it, using the AI subscriptions you already have.

  3. Quotlas

    Building

    iOS, watchOSSwiftUI · WidgetKit · SQLite

    Sourced quotes from science, film, music, literature and philosophy, connected into a graph. Start from Feynman and a few cards later you are reading Tarkovsky, each card saying how you got there. Fully on device, no account.

Honors & awards

  1. 1st Prize

    Venture Sprint: ETH Zurich “Beyond the Visible”

    2026

    An ETH Zurich summer school on AI, remote sensing and Earth observation. Our team built MINERVA, which uses drone and satellite imagery with computer vision to find and assess landmines for humanitarian demining; ESA invited the team to Zurich to discuss next steps.

  2. Fulbright PhD Scholarship Candidate, 2027–2028

    2026

    Selected as a candidate for the Fulbright Türkiye PhD Scholarship, for doctoral study in the United States starting in the 2027–2028 academic year.

  3. Winner

    Koç University Office of Sustainability Award

    2025

    Inaugural award for engineering graduation projects, for our senior design project on a renewable-powered green ammonia plant with no direct CO₂ emissions.

    ku.edu.tr(opens in a new tab)

  4. Vehbi Koç Scholar

    Multiple semesters

    Semester GPA of 3.75 or higher.

  5. Dean's Honor Roll

    Multiple semesters

    Semester GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Skills

Programming
  • Python
  • C
  • C#
  • C++
  • Java
  • JavaScript
  • TypeScript
  • Swift
  • LaTeX
  • Assembly
  • Shell
Tools
  • Gurobi
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Aspen HYSYS
  • Microsoft Office

Languages

Turkish
native
English
fluent · IELTS Academic 7.0
German
beginner

Certificates

  1. Deep Learning Specialization

    DeepLearning.AICoursera

    View certificate(opens in a new tab)

  2. Machine Learning Specialization

    DeepLearning.AICoursera

    View certificate(opens in a new tab)

  3. Google Advanced Data Analytics Specialization

    GoogleCoursera

    View certificate(opens in a new tab)

  4. Google Project Management Specialization

    GoogleCoursera

    View certificate(opens in a new tab)