The NEWP Lab congratulates Kilian Kozerke on the completion of his research in Cambridge, and the successful defence of his (M.Sc) in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration at Rhenish-Westphalian Technical University (RWTH) in Aachen, Germany!
With (just!) six months in Cambridge, Kilian delivered an ambitious and highly rigorous project exploring the recovery of gallium from low-concentration semiconductor wastewater streams. Dr. Nathanial Cooper served as the project’s primary supervisor.
Kilian’s project expounded upon recent work published by Jain et al. in Water Research by extending selective gallium recovery from low-concentration semiconductor wastewater streams into a system-level framework for integrated resource recovery and process design [1]. Building from Jain et al.’s contribution, Kilian’s thesis addressed actionable pathways towards the recovery of gallium from the treated effluent of semiconductor wastewater streams by examining their capacity for reintegration in fabrication processes.
At the NEWP lab, he received supervisory support in the development of a process model to evaluate and optimize system design using first-principles mass and energy balances. Kilian coupled this approach with a two-part complementary framework: deploying a techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment to evaluate actionable, sustainable paths towards the valorization of these wastewater streams. While the original scope of Kilian’s project intended to integrate both gallium recovery and hydrogen production, and to examine semiconductor wastewater streams for the recovery of critical materials as well as their potential as clean energy carriers, the depth and complexity of the recovery pathway required focused restraint during the thesis period, leaving these areas to future research. Now based in Germany and beginning a two-year industrial program with Bosch, Kilian plans to develop his postgraduate work into publication with Dr Cooper.
The NEWP Lab looks forward to extending the Hydrogen thrusts of Kilian’s research into the exciting areas which lay beyond the scope of our time together in Cambridge. Kilian is a valued collaborator whose presence and insight will always be appreciated and welcome as we develop this next chapter. The NEWP Lab and the IfM are proud of what he has accomplished during his time in Cambridge, admire his industrious work ethic and good humour, and look forward to continuing our work together following the achievement of this milestone.
Congratulations, Kilian!
Fig. 1: Samsung UE40MU6409U – power supply board – Taiwan Semiconductor TS10K60S – Glass Passivated Bridge Rectifier, 4 December 2022, uploaded by Raimond Spekking and accessed via Wikimedia Commons. © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons). Public Domain.
The NEWP Lab can accommodate visiting postgraduate students.
The NEWP Lab hosts a limited number of visiting postgraduate researchers who seek to engage in focused, high-impact research within our group over a shorter period of time. Visiting students remain enrolled at their home universities while contributing to carefully defined projects which align with our work in sustainable water and energy systems. Their time in Cambridge is structured by close academic supervision, integration into active research initiatives and social circles, and engagement with our broader academic and industry networks. The NEWP Lab seeks projects motivated by a desire to improve environmental health, social outcomes, and industrial sustainability. Prospective inquiries should communicate real-world relevance and a commitment to academic rigor. Students are encouraged to initiate a conversation about their interests and where they may benefit from supervision within our lab.
Newp Lab 