Darius shares fascinating insights into his research and recounts an unforgettable time in the US:
As part of my bachelor’s thesis, I took advantage of the outstanding international opportunities offered by MCI and went on a five-month research stay at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I worked at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management in the Keller Lab under Prof. Dr. Arturo Keller to explore a question that extends far beyond the scope of my stay: the question of the water purification of tomorrow.
New types of emerging pollutants, such as PFAS and pharmaceutical residues, are already contaminating our water bodies and ultimately finding their way into drinking water and, consequently, into the human body. The situation is serious. The EU has also recognized this and is seeking new technologies, including adsorption. I characterized three novel adsorbent materials derived from waste streams with respect to selected PFAS and pharmaceutical residues, thereby analyzing their potential for purifying water of precisely these substances.
I’ve gained so much from my time in the U.S., both professionally and personally. Professionally, what stands out most is working independently and solving problems in the complex day-to-day routine of the lab. On a personal level, it’s the impressive and inspiring people I had the chance to meet – many of whom I’m now lucky enough to call my friends. Add to that the hours spent on a surfboard at sunset – which, of course, is what makes UCSB so special – and the breathtaking scenery of the U.S. national parks.
A stay abroad in this context offers potential for growth in every way. It has shown me how important it is to step outside your comfort zone every once in a while, and take on entirely new challenges. This broadens your horizons immensely and opens up a new perspective on the possibilities life has to offer. In this way, through organization and focused interest, a dream you once had becomes a dream you’re living – one that shapes you for a lifetime.
In this regard, I would like to extend my special thanks to the MCI and the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation, as well as to everyone who contributed – without whom this experience would not have been possible in this form – thank you very much.
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