Founders

Research expertise for industrial particle processes.

Research expertise for industrial particle processes.

Research expertise for industrial particle processes.

Meet the team combining particle technology, applied mathematics and optimization to make particulate products predictable, designable and scalable.

Nabi E. Traoré

Lukas Pflug

Andrea Gilch

Co-founder · CEO

Nabi E. Traoré

Nabi E. Traoré

Nabi E. Traoré

Dr.-Ing., Chemical Engineering

traore@prtcl.eu

Dr. N. E. Traoré completed his PhD at the interface of particle technology and nanotechnology at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, including research stays at The University of Tokyo and Harvard University. His doctoral work focused on the targeted property design of complex nanoparticulate products, combining mechanistic and data-driven models. At PRTCL he leads the commercial side and customer acquisition while staying closely involved in the science.

CV

since 2024 - Postdoctoral researcher CRC1411, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2024 - Research stay, Harvard University, USA

2020-2024 - PhD CRC1411, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. Dissertation: ”Targeted property design of bimetallic silver-gold alloy nanoparticles”

2020 - Research stay, Fundación Hidrógeno Aragón, Spain

2018 - Research stay, The University of Tokyo, Japan

2017-2020 - M.Sc. Chemical and Biological Engineering, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2016-2017 - Internships in the chemical industry and consulting (e.g., BASF SE, Bayer AG, Hydrogenious, PwC)

2013-2016 - B.Sc. Chemical and Biological Engineering, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

since 2024 - Postdoctoral researcher CRC1411, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2024 - Research stay, Harvard University, USA

2020-2024 - PhD CRC1411, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. Dissertation: ”Targeted property design of bimetallic silver-gold alloy nanoparticles”

2020 - Research stay, Fundación Hidrógeno Aragón, Spain

2018 - Research stay, The University of Tokyo, Japan

2017-2020 - M.Sc. Chemical and Biological Engineering, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2016-2017 - Internships in the chemical industry and consulting (e.g., BASF SE, Bayer AG, Hydrogenious, PwC)

2013-2016 - B.Sc. Chemical and Biological Engineering, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Selected publications

[1] N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, A. Körner, P. Cardenas Lopez, L. Hartmann, B. Fritsch, J. Walter, A. Hutzler, L. Pflug, W. Peukert. Mechanistic insights into silver–gold nanoalloy formation by two-dimensional population balance modeling. Chemical Engineering Journal 483, 149429.

[2] Z. Wang, N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, L. M. S. Stiegler, D. Drobek, B. Apeleo Zubiri, E. Spiecker, J. Walter, W. Peukert, L. Pflug, D. Segets. Population balance modeling of InP quantum dots: experimentally enabled global optimization to identify unknown material parameters. Chemical Engineering Science 281, 119062.

[3] N. E. Traoré, C. Spruck, A. Uihlein, L. Pflug, W. Peukert. Targeted color design of silver–gold alloy nanoparticles. Nanoscale Advances 6 (5), 1392–1408.

[4] J. S. Seifert, N. E. Traoré, F. Prohaska, L. Pflug, R. N. Klupp Taylor. Bridging experiments and simulations towards a mechanistic understanding of gold patchy nanoparticle formation. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances 26, 101214.

[1] N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, A. Körner, P. Cardenas Lopez, L. Hartmann, B. Fritsch, J. Walter, A. Hutzler, L. Pflug, W. Peukert. Mechanistic insights into silver–gold nanoalloy formation by two-dimensional population balance modeling. Chemical Engineering Journal 483, 149429.

[2] Z. Wang, N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, L. M. S. Stiegler, D. Drobek, B. Apeleo Zubiri, E. Spiecker, J. Walter, W. Peukert, L. Pflug, D. Segets. Population balance modeling of InP quantum dots: experimentally enabled global optimization to identify unknown material parameters. Chemical Engineering Science 281, 119062.

[3] N. E. Traoré, C. Spruck, A. Uihlein, L. Pflug, W. Peukert. Targeted color design of silver–gold alloy nanoparticles. Nanoscale Advances 6 (5), 1392–1408.

[4] J. S. Seifert, N. E. Traoré, F. Prohaska, L. Pflug, R. N. Klupp Taylor. Bridging experiments and simulations towards a mechanistic understanding of gold patchy nanoparticle formation. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances 26, 101214.

Co-founder · CTO

Lukas Pflug

Lukas Pflug

Lukas Pflug

Dr. rer. nat., Mathematics

pflug@prtcl.eu

Dr. Lukas Pflug studied industrial mathematics with minors in computer science and chemical & bioengineering at FAU, where he also completed his PhD. His research sits at the interface of applied mathematics and particle technology, centred on modelling and optimization of particulate systems. At PRTCL he leads the scientific and modelling side, translating messy experimental data and real production questions into mechanistic and data-driven models.

CV

since 2018 — Coordinator, Competence Unit for Scientific Computing (CSC), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Akademischer Oberrat since 2026)

2020–2021 — Research associate, Chair of Applied Mathematics (Prof. M. Stingl), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2018, 2019 — Research stays, University of California, Berkeley, USA

2018 — PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, on the analysis and optimization of nonlocal balance equations

2012–2018 — Research associate, Chair of Continuous Optimization (Prof. G. Leugering), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2007–2012 — B.Sc./M.Sc. Industrial Mathematics (Technomathematik; minors in Computer Science and Chemical & Bioengineering), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

since 2018 — Coordinator, Competence Unit for Scientific Computing (CSC), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Akademischer Oberrat since 2026)

2020–2021 — Research associate, Chair of Applied Mathematics (Prof. M. Stingl), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2018, 2019 — Research stays, University of California, Berkeley, USA

2018 — PhD (Dr. rer. nat.), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, on the analysis and optimization of nonlocal balance equations

2012–2018 — Research associate, Chair of Continuous Optimization (Prof. G. Leugering), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

2007–2012 — B.Sc./M.Sc. Industrial Mathematics (Technomathematik; minors in Computer Science and Chemical & Bioengineering), FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

Selected publications

[1] A. Gilch, A. Muneer, J. Dienstbier, L. Pflug. Model-based process optimization for nanoparticle precipitation. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2026.

[2] D. Long, M. Binder, C. Damm, L. Pflug, L. Hartmann, W. Peukert. Mechanism-enabled population balance modeling of gold nanoparticle formation. Chemical Engineering Journal 540, 177063, 2026.

[3] N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, A. Körner, P. Cardenas Lopez, L. Hartmann, B. Fritsch, J. Walter, A. Hutzler, L. Pflug, W. Peukert. Mechanistic insights into silver–gold nanoalloy formation by two-dimensional population balance modeling. Chemical Engineering Journal 483, 149429, 2024.

[4] M. Grieshammer, L. Pflug, M. Stingl, A. Uihlein. The continuous stochastic gradient method: Parts I & II. Computational Optimization and Applications 87(3), 935–1008, 2024.

[5] Z. Wang, N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, L. M. S. Stiegler, D. Drobek, B. Apeleo Zubiri, E. Spiecker, J. Walter, W. Peukert, L. Pflug, D. Segets. Population balance modeling of InP quantum dots: experimentally enabled global optimization to identify unknown material parameters. Chemical Engineering Science 281, 119062, 2023.

[6] L. Pflug, T. Schikarski, A. Keimer, W. Peukert, M. Stingl. eMoM: Exact method of moments — nucleation and size-dependent growth of nanoparticles. Computers & Chemical Engineering 136, 106775, 2020.

[7] S. E. Wawra, L. Pflug, T. Thajudeen, C. Kryschi, M. Stingl, W. Peukert. Determination of the two-dimensional distributions of gold nanorods by multiwavelength analytical ultracentrifugation. Nature Communications 9(1), 4898, 2018.

[1] A. Gilch, A. Muneer, J. Dienstbier, L. Pflug. Model-based process optimization for nanoparticle precipitation. Reaction Chemistry & Engineering, 2026.

[2] D. Long, M. Binder, C. Damm, L. Pflug, L. Hartmann, W. Peukert. Mechanism-enabled population balance modeling of gold nanoparticle formation. Chemical Engineering Journal 540, 177063, 2026.

[3] N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, A. Körner, P. Cardenas Lopez, L. Hartmann, B. Fritsch, J. Walter, A. Hutzler, L. Pflug, W. Peukert. Mechanistic insights into silver–gold nanoalloy formation by two-dimensional population balance modeling. Chemical Engineering Journal 483, 149429, 2024.

[4] M. Grieshammer, L. Pflug, M. Stingl, A. Uihlein. The continuous stochastic gradient method: Parts I & II. Computational Optimization and Applications 87(3), 935–1008, 2024.

[5] Z. Wang, N. E. Traoré, T. Schikarski, L. M. S. Stiegler, D. Drobek, B. Apeleo Zubiri, E. Spiecker, J. Walter, W. Peukert, L. Pflug, D. Segets. Population balance modeling of InP quantum dots: experimentally enabled global optimization to identify unknown material parameters. Chemical Engineering Science 281, 119062, 2023.

[6] L. Pflug, T. Schikarski, A. Keimer, W. Peukert, M. Stingl. eMoM: Exact method of moments — nucleation and size-dependent growth of nanoparticles. Computers & Chemical Engineering 136, 106775, 2020.

[7] S. E. Wawra, L. Pflug, T. Thajudeen, C. Kryschi, M. Stingl, W. Peukert. Determination of the two-dimensional distributions of gold nanorods by multiwavelength analytical ultracentrifugation. Nature Communications 9(1), 4898, 2018.

Co-founder · COO

Andrea Gilch

Andrea Gilch

Andrea Gilch

M.Sc., Computational & Applied Mathematics

gilch@prtcl.eu

Andrea Gilch has been pursuing her PhD at the Department of Data Science, FAU Erlangen–Nürnberg, since February 2024 within CRC 1411 Design of Particulate Products. Her research focuses on robust quality control for particulate products, combining mathematical optimization, uncertainty quantification and first-principles models for nanoparticle synthesis and chromatographic separation. At PRTCL she supports modelling, optimization and delivery.

CV

since 2024 – PhD Student, Department of Data Science, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU), Germany, Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1411 – Design of Particulate Products

2021–2024 – Consultant, TWT GmbH, Ingolstadt, Germany

2019–2021 – Student Research Assistant, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (IISB), Erlangen, Germany

2019–2021 – M.Sc. Computational and Applied Mathematics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU), Germany

2016–2019 – B.Sc. Mathematics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany

since 2024 – PhD Student, Department of Data Science, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU), Germany, Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1411 – Design of Particulate Products

2021–2024 – Consultant, TWT GmbH, Ingolstadt, Germany

2019–2021 – Student Research Assistant, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Systems and Device Technology (IISB), Erlangen, Germany

2019–2021 – M.Sc. Computational and Applied Mathematics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg (FAU), Germany

2016–2019 – B.Sc. Mathematics, Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Germany

Selected publications

[1] Gilch A., Muneer A., Dienstbier J., Pflug L., Model based process optimization for nanoparticle precipitation.Reaction Chemistry & Engineering (2025).

[2] Mishra A., Gilch A., Apeleo Zubiri B., Rolfes J., Liers F., High-quality tomographic image reconstruction integrating neural networks and mathematical optimization. Machine Learning: Science and Technology 6 (2025), Article No. 045065.

[3] Cebulla D. H., Gilch A., Rolfes J., Kirches C., Liers F. An alternating optimization approach for robust optimal control in chromatography. (Under review.)

[4] Gilch A., Traoré N., Pflug L., Liers F. Model-Guided Design of Nanoparticle Dispersity through Process-Chain Optimization. (Under review.)

[1] Gilch A., Muneer A., Dienstbier J., Pflug L., Model based process optimization for nanoparticle precipitation.Reaction Chemistry & Engineering (2025).

[2] Mishra A., Gilch A., Apeleo Zubiri B., Rolfes J., Liers F., High-quality tomographic image reconstruction integrating neural networks and mathematical optimization. Machine Learning: Science and Technology 6 (2025), Article No. 045065.

[3] Cebulla D. H., Gilch A., Rolfes J., Kirches C., Liers F. An alternating optimization approach for robust optimal control in chromatography. (Under review.)

[4] Gilch A., Traoré N., Pflug L., Liers F. Model-Guided Design of Nanoparticle Dispersity through Process-Chain Optimization. (Under review.)





Get in touch

Talk to the team behind PRTCL.

Talk to the team behind PRTCL.

Talk to the team behind PRTCL.

team@prtcl.eu