Bernd Weber, a project engineer at the Giessen -Friedberg University of Applied Sciences, completed his doctorate ( Dr. agr.) at Justus Liebig University Giessen . The university collaborated with the Laboratory for Waste Management Technology (LET) at the Giessen-Friedberg University of Applied Sciences on this project.

The 40-year-old, originally from Hüttenberg, focused his dissertation on the "Low-Temperature Conversion (LTC) of Biogenic Residues for the Raw Material Recycling of Carbon and Phosphorus." The dissertation is based on a collaboration between three institutes and an industrial partner within a research focus on the intelligent utilization of problematic residues. The project was funded by the Hessian State Initiative for the Development of Scientific and Economic Efficiency (LOEWE). At the University of Applied Sciences, the LET team led by Prof. Dr. Ernst Stadlbauer concentrates on processes for converting organic residues into crude oil and coal. Here, the geological formation of oil and coal is simulated in the laboratory in accelerated time. At Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), the Institute of Plant Nutrition (Prof. Dr. Diedrich Steffens) and the Chair of Process Engineering (Prof. Dr. Elmar Schlich) focus on the recovery of phosphorus contained in biogenic residues as a secondary raw material fertilizer. This aligns with the principles of the circular economy.

In his experiments, Bernd Weber demonstrated how high-quality phosphorus and carbon can be obtained using this method. He used rapeseed press cake, sewage sludge, and animal meal as starting materials. The key to success was the addition of soda to the substrate, which improved the product properties. The doctoral candidate thus demonstrated possibilities for the energy-efficient use of resources and alternative energy generation.

With his doctorate, Weber continued his academic qualification, which he began in 1989 at the Giessen -Friedberg University of Applied Sciences with a degree in Energy and Heat Engineering, graduating with a diploma in 1993. As an engineer, he initially focused on environmental and building services engineering before moving from Central Hesse to Mexico City in 1999. He found his international experience invaluable, working in metal manufacturing and performing practical and administrative tasks in the technical service of industrial goods. In 2007, he returned to his alma mater, where he has since been primarily involved in research and development at the Laboratory for Waste Management Technology.