Professor Jan Marian Taler is a distinguished scholar and leading authority in thermal power engineering at Krakow University of Technology. Born on March 25, 1950 in Stara Kuźnica, he completed his mechanical engineering studies at Krakow University of Technology in 1974 with excellent results. He earned his doctorate in 1977 with distinction for his research on temperature fields and stresses in boiler screen pipes operating under variable thermal loads. Professor Taler has held significant leadership positions throughout his career, serving as Director of the Institute of Industrial Apparatus and Energy from 1993 to 2009 and subsequently as Director of the Institute of Machines and Energy Equipment starting in 2011.
Professor Taler has established himself as a preeminent researcher in the field of thermal engineering with approximately 300 scholarly publications, 10 authored books, and over 20 book chapters to his name. His habilitation work in 1987 on the simulation of natural circulation boiler dynamics, which accounted for thermal stresses, represents a significant contribution to the understanding of power plant equipment behavior under operational conditions. His research in heat transfer engineering has provided critical insights for improving the efficiency and reliability of thermal power systems across numerous industrial applications. Professor Taler's methodological approaches to analyzing thermal processes have been widely adopted by engineers and researchers working in energy conversion technologies throughout Poland and internationally.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to science and education, Professor Taler has received multiple state honors including the Gold Cross of Merit in 1993, the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 2011, and the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 2022. He has served as a supervisor for the Power Engineering Department and contributed to national scientific governance as a member of the Scientific Excellence Council of the first term until 2019. Throughout his prolific career, Professor Taler has mentored generations of engineers and shaped energy engineering education at Krakow University of Technology. His ongoing research continues to advance thermal power engineering methodologies while training future specialists in energy systems design and optimization.
