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We are pleased to present the 2025 DGM Young Scientist Award, which honors exceptional doctoral students who have graduated within the past two years. This prestigious award recognizes young scientists who have made significant contributions to nonprofit research in materials science and engineering. The DGM congratulates Dr. Alexander Koch of the Technical University of Dortmund on winning the award.

1) How did you originally get into materials science and engineering, and did you know from the outset that you wanted to pursue a Ph.D.? How did that lead you to the topic of your dissertation on the recycling of aluminum chips?

Early on, I was fascinated by how closely basic science is intertwined with practical applications in materials engineering. A material is never an end in itself but always part of a solution. This combination of depth and practical relevance led me to specialize in materials science during my mechanical engineering studies at TU Dortmund University. From the beginning of my time as a student assistant at the Chair of Materials Testing Technology (WPT), I was involved in exciting research projects. This generated an enthusiasm for scientific problem solving and a desire to make a lasting contribution to technology, which quickly led me to pursue a doctorate.

The topic of aluminum chip recycling emerged from a combination of curiosity, current relevance, and technological challenge, rather than being predetermined. With the support of my doctoral supervisor, Prof. Frank Walther, and in close collaboration with my research partners, I was able to develop the topic step by step. The combination of resource-efficient manufacturing and material evaluation has been a recurring theme in my work ever since.

2) In your lecture, "Sustainable Materials and Process Chains," you combine technology and environmental awareness. What experiences from your own studies and lectures influenced you at the time inform your courses? Do different concepts need to be used today to inspire students and impart knowledge to them in a sustainable way? What is your personal recipe for success?

I believe traditional lecture formats provide a solid foundation, but they are no longer sufficient to engage diverse students and promote sustainable learning. Therefore, my focus is on contemporary teaching that combines conventional elements with digital tools, interactive formats, and a high degree of practical relevance. In my lecture, "Sustainable Materials and Process Chains," based on my research, I use examples and data to show students how materials science can contribute to solving future issues, such as recycling, CO₂ reduction, and the circular economy. Rather than providing solutions myself, I encourage students to find ways to make established processes more sustainable in project ideas they develop.

During my studies, I was influenced by courses that did more than transfer knowledge; they established connections to reality and social responsibility. That's exactly what I try to convey today: thinking of materials engineering as part of a larger context.

3) Your work lies at the intersection of basic research and industrial application, with a clear focus on sustainable material use. Where would you like to take your research in the coming years, and what role should sustainability play in it?

To me, sustainability is not an additional topic, but rather the foundation of my research. In the coming years, I would like to expand my research on resource-efficient materials processing to new material systems, such as titanium and steel, as well as new process chains. It is important to me that the research remains at the interface between the laboratory and application. I aim to develop technologically implementable solutions that offer ecological and economic advantages, such as material cycles, energy-efficient processes, and durable, safe materials.

Another key area of interest for me is biomaterials, which I am now jointly responsible for as a group leader at WPT. In addition to resource efficiency, the focus here is on patient safety. In an aging society, new biocompatible and sustainable materials are needed to reconcile technical and medical requirements.

Congratulations again to Dr.-Ing. Alexander Koch on this special award. We look forward to honoring him and all the award winners at DGM-Tag 2025, where we can get to know them personally.