12 Jun 2026
From Molecules to Milk Cartons: Exploring New Paths Toward More Sustainable Packaging
Imagine opening a juice box made from materials designed with deeper scientific insight into how they behave at the smallest scales.
19 Sep 2024
Meet the WISE Fellows – Sadia Ilyas
In this series of interviews, you will meet the WISE Fellows. This time you will meet Sadia Ilyas, who has joined Luleå University of Technology as a WISE Fellow.
You will also be able to find out more about the fellow’s research here.
The Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE) is a prime opportunity for leading global researchers and academics in the field of sustainability to elevate their ideas. WISE provides an exceptional platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, creating unparalleled conditions for advancing science and technology.
-Through WISE, I can refine my research ideas and contribute to sustainable solutions in extractive metallurgy, says Sadia.
Sadia’s research bridges sustainability and materials science by developing cutting-edge hydrometallurgical extraction techniques that reduce energy consumption, minimize chemical usage, and alleviate carbon emissions. Her work focuses on extracting critical metalsfrom low-grade ores and recycling strategic elements from industrial and post-consumer waste. The impact of this research extends to industries related to advanced technologies (e.g., PCBs, superalloys), clean energy (e.g., batteries, solar panels), and strategic sectors (e.g., military, space).
Hydrometallurgy is the core of Ilyas’ research expertise, integrating the chemistry of metals, microbial processes, electrochemical reactions, chemical kinetics, and innovative extraction methods.
Research promotes waste minimization
-By promoting environmentally conscious recycling, my research not only fosters waste minimization but also opens new economic opportunities, such as jobs and business ventures. It ensures the supply of critical raw materials, contributing to a sustainable future, says Sadia.
Her research has far-reaching implications, not only for academia but also for industries such as mining, metallurgy, chemicals, and energy. Companies like Boliden, LKAB, and Stena Recycling stand to benefit from these groundbreaking technologies.
Sadia’s academic background
■ M.Phil. in major Inorganic Chemistry (Research—Hydrometallurgy) in 2005 and joined Lectureship in the Department of Chemistry, GC University Faisalabad, Pakistan (Oct 2005 to Apr 2007).
■ Ph.D. in major Inorganic Chemistry (Research—Hydrometallurgy) in 2011 at University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
■ Postdoc in Hydrometallurgy at Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (South Korea) using the microbial and chemical leaching of base and precious metals from primary and secondary resources (Feb 2012 to Feb 2014).
■ Assistant Professorship in the Department of Chemistry at GC University Faisalabad (Mar 2014 to Jan 2015), and then, at University of Agriculture Faisalabad (Jan 2015 to Feb 2021) in Pakistan. In between, I was selected as a Brain Pool Scientist by the National Research Foundation of Korea (Nov 2019 to Dec 2022), and also served as an Associate Professor (Research) at Jeonbuk National University (Feb 2021 to Feb 2022) and at Hanyang University (Mar 2022 to Mar 2024) in South Korea.
