Research Themes

Our group works across several interconnected research themes. Click "Selected Papers" to explore key publications in each area.

Bayesian Optimization & Data-Driven Optimization

Many engineering optimization problems can be described as 'costly' black-box problems, where the number of function evaluations is constrained. Our research develops efficient optimization methods that rely solely on function evaluations — from surrogate-based approaches such as Bayesian optimization to direct derivative-free methods. We also explore human-in-the-loop Bayesian optimization, enabling domain experts such as engineers and chemists to inform the decision-making process. This spans applications including experimental design, catalyst discovery, and bioprocess optimization.

  • Predicting calcium carbonate yield from wet carbonation of recycled cement paste using interpretable ensemble machine learning
    Y. Li, EA del Rio Chanona, HS Wong
    Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025 [Link]
  • Data-driven optimization for process systems engineering applications
    D. van de Berg, T. Savage, P. Petsagkourakis, D. Zhang, N. Shah, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Chemical Engineering Science, 2022 [Link]
  • An integrated dimensionality reduction and surrogate optimization approach for plant-wide chemical process operation
    T. Savage, F. Almeida-Trasvina, EA Del Rio Chanona, R. Smith, D. Zhang
    AIChE Journal, 2021 [Link]
  • Data-driven coordination of expensive black-boxes
    D. van de Berg, P. Petsagkourakis, N. Shah, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2022 [Link]
  • Surrogate Modelling and Optimization for Complex Liquefied Natural Gas Refrigeration Cycles
    T. Savage, F. Almeida-Trasvina, A. Del-Rio Chanona, R. Smith, D. Zhang
    IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2020 [Link]

Reinforcement Learning & Process Control

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a subfield of AI which trains models to make optimal sequential decisions. Chemical processes are inherently stochastic and dynamic — making RL a natural fit. However, traditional RL is data-hungry and does not consider safety constraints, which is a major drawback for process engineering. Our research designs new RL algorithms that can optimize complex chemical and biochemical processes while respecting safety constraints and requiring fewer data. We also develop advanced model predictive control strategies and hierarchical control architectures that integrate learning-based methods with classical control.

  • Control-informed reinforcement learning for chemical processes
    M. Bloor, A. Ahmed, N. Kotecha
    Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2025 [Link]
  • PC-Gym: Benchmark environments for process control problems
    M. Bloor, J. Torraca, IO Sandoval, A. Ahmed
    Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2025 [Link]
  • A survey and tutorial of reinforcement learning methods in process systems engineering
    M. Bloor, M. Mowbray, EA del Rio Chanona
    Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2025 [Link]
  • Data-driven Koopman MPC using mixed stochastic-deterministic tubes
    Z. Zhong, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Journal of Process Control, 2025 [Link]
  • Nonlinear Wasserstein distributionally robust optimal control
    Z. Zhong, JJ Zhu
    arXiv preprint, 2023 [Link]
  • Distributional reinforcement learning for scheduling of chemical production processes
    M. Mowbray, D. Zhang, EA del Rio Chanona
    arXiv preprint, 2022 [Link]
  • Chance Constrained Policy Optimization for Process Control and Optimization
    P. Petsagkourakis, IO Sandoval, E. Bradford, F. Galvanin, D. Zhang, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Journal of Process Control, 2022 [Link]
  • Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning for Plantwide Control
    M. Bloor, A. Ahmed, N. Kotecha, C. Tsay
    Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2024 [Link]

Large Language Models & Generative AI

Our research leverages large language models (LLMs) and generative AI to support decision-making in process systems engineering. We develop multi-agent LLM frameworks for automating sustainable operational decisions, apply chemistry-aware language models to trace material flows across industrial value chains, and build AI agents for tasks such as chemical lab management and process safety. Our goal is to harness the reasoning and generative capabilities of LLMs to accelerate engineering workflows, from supply chain analysis to experiment planning.

  • Multi-Agent LLMs for Automating Sustainable Operational Decision-Making
    E. Pajak, A. Bahamdan, K. Hellgardt, A. del Río-Chanona
    Systems and Control Transactions, 2025 [Link]
  • CarAT: carbon atom tracing across industrial chemical value chains via chemistry language models
    E. Pajak, D. Walz, O. Walz, LM Helleckes, K. Hellgardt, A. del Rio Chanona
    Green Chemistry, 2026 [Link]
  • An analysis of multi-agent reinforcement learning for decentralized inventory control systems
    M. Mousa, D. van de Berg, N. Kotecha
    Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2024 [Link]
  • An Attentive Graph Agent for Topology-Adaptive Cyber Defence
    IO Sandoval, IS Thompson, V. Mavroudis
    arXiv preprint, 2025 [Link]

Discovery & Molecular Design

We apply machine learning to accelerate scientific discovery, from catalyst design to molecular property prediction. This includes symbolic regression for interpretable model discovery, machine learning interatomic potentials for molecular dynamics, Bayesian optimization for chemical experiments, and deep learning methods for chemical engineering applications. Our work also covers hybrid modelling — combining first-principles models with data-driven approaches to create more accurate representations of complex systems, leveraging Bayesian inference, transfer learning, and multiscale modeling.

  • Constraint-Guided Symbolic Regression for Data-Efficient Kinetic Model Discovery
    M-C. Servia, IO Sandoval, K. Kuok, K. Hellgardt
    arXiv preprint, 2025 [Link]
  • Fine-tuning foundation models of materials interatomic potentials with frozen transfer learning
    M. Radova, WG Stark, CS Allen, RJ Maurer
    npj Computational Materials, 2025 [Link]
  • Constructing a symbolic regression-based interpretable soft sensor for industrial data analytics and product quality control
    H. Kay, S. Kay, M. Mowbray, A. Lane
    Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2024 [Link]
  • Physics-Informed Automated Discovery of Kinetic Models
    MA de Carvalho Servia, IO Sandoval
    AIChE Annual Meeting, 2024 [Link]
  • Cross-disciplinary perspectives on the potential for artificial intelligence across chemistry
    AM Mroz, AR Basford, F. Hastedt
    Chemical Society Reviews, 2025 [Link]
  • Machine learning for biochemical engineering: A review
    M. Mowbray, T. Savage, C. Wu, Z. Song, BA Cho, EA Del Rio-Chanona, D. Zhang
    Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2021 [Link]

Sustainability & Supply Chain Optimization

We develop optimization frameworks for sustainable chemical value chains and supply chain operations. This involves mathematical modeling, simulation, and optimization techniques to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and support the transition toward sustainable chemicals manufacturing. Our research spans the reconfiguration of supply chains, design and operations of integrated energy systems, and graph-based machine learning for configuration of chemical value chains — often in collaboration with industry partners such as BASF.

  • Distributional reinforcement learning for inventory management in multi-echelon supply chains
    G. Wu, MA de Carvalho Servia, M. Mowbray
    Digital Chemical Engineering, 2023 [Link]
  • Modelling and Control of Industrial Boiler Networks: Development of an Operator Training Simulator
    BD Setiawan, A. Ahmed, M. Mehmet
    SSRN, 2024 [Link]
  • Superstructure Reaction Network Design for the Synthesis of Biobased Sustainable Nitrogen-Containing Polymers
    T. Savage, D. Zhang
    Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2020 [Link]
  • Data-driven coordination of subproblems in enterprise-wide optimization under uncertainty
    D. van de Berg, P. Petsagkourakis, N. Shah, EA del Rio-Chanona
    AIChE Journal, 2023

All Publications

A comprehensive collection of selected publications from across all of our research themes — spanning optimization, control, AI, molecular design, and sustainability.

  • CarAT: carbon atom tracing across industrial chemical value chains via chemistry language models
    E. Pajak, D. Walz, O. Walz, LM Helleckes, K. Hellgardt, A. del Rio Chanona
    Green Chemistry, 2026 [Link]
  • Constraint-Guided Symbolic Regression for Data-Efficient Kinetic Model Discovery
    M-C. Servia, IO Sandoval, K. Kuok, K. Hellgardt
    arXiv preprint, 2025 [Link]
  • Cross-disciplinary perspectives on the potential for artificial intelligence across chemistry
    AM Mroz, AR Basford, F. Hastedt
    Chemical Society Reviews, 2025 [Link]
  • Fine-tuning foundation models of materials interatomic potentials with frozen transfer learning
    M. Radova, WG Stark, CS Allen, RJ Maurer
    npj Computational Materials, 2025 [Link]
  • Multi-Agent LLMs for Automating Sustainable Operational Decision-Making
    E. Pajak, A. Bahamdan, K. Hellgardt, A. del Río-Chanona
    Systems and Control Transactions, 2025 [Link]
  • An Attentive Graph Agent for Topology-Adaptive Cyber Defence
    IO Sandoval, IS Thompson, V. Mavroudis
    arXiv preprint, 2025 [Link]
  • Control-informed reinforcement learning for chemical processes
    M. Bloor, A. Ahmed, N. Kotecha
    Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2025 [Link]
  • PC-Gym: Benchmark environments for process control problems
    M. Bloor, J. Torraca, IO Sandoval, A. Ahmed
    Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2025 [Link]
  • A survey and tutorial of reinforcement learning methods in process systems engineering
    M. Bloor, M. Mowbray, EA del Rio Chanona
    Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2025 [Link]
  • Data-driven Koopman MPC using mixed stochastic-deterministic tubes
    Z. Zhong, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Journal of Process Control, 2025 [Link]
  • Predicting calcium carbonate yield from wet carbonation of recycled cement paste using interpretable ensemble machine learning
    Y. Li, EA del Rio Chanona, HS Wong
    Journal of Cleaner Production, 2025 [Link]
  • An analysis of multi-agent reinforcement learning for decentralized inventory control systems
    M. Mousa, D. van de Berg, N. Kotecha
    Computers & Chemical Engineering, 2024 [Link]
  • Constructing a symbolic regression-based interpretable soft sensor for industrial data analytics and product quality control
    H. Kay, S. Kay, M. Mowbray, A. Lane
    Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2024 [Link]
  • Physics-Informed Automated Discovery of Kinetic Models
    MA de Carvalho Servia, IO Sandoval
    AIChE Annual Meeting, 2024 [Link]
  • Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning for Plantwide Control
    M. Bloor, A. Ahmed, N. Kotecha, C. Tsay
    Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2024 [Link]
  • Modelling and Control of Industrial Boiler Networks: Development of an Operator Training Simulator
    BD Setiawan, A. Ahmed, M. Mehmet
    SSRN, 2024 [Link]
  • Data-driven coordination of subproblems in enterprise-wide optimization under uncertainty
    D. van de Berg, P. Petsagkourakis, N. Shah, EA del Rio-Chanona
    AIChE Journal, 2023 [Link]
  • Distributional reinforcement learning for inventory management in multi-echelon supply chains
    G. Wu, MA de Carvalho Servia, M. Mowbray
    Digital Chemical Engineering, 2023 [Link]
  • Nonlinear Wasserstein distributionally robust optimal control
    Z. Zhong, JJ Zhu
    arXiv preprint, 2023 [Link]
  • Data-driven optimization for process systems engineering applications
    D. van de Berg, T. Savage, P. Petsagkourakis, D. Zhang, N. Shah, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Chemical Engineering Science, 2022 [Link]
  • Data-driven coordination of expensive black-boxes
    D. van de Berg, P. Petsagkourakis, N. Shah, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2022 [Link]
  • Distributional reinforcement learning for scheduling of chemical production processes
    M. Mowbray, D. Zhang, EA del Rio Chanona
    arXiv preprint, 2022 [Link]
  • Chance Constrained Policy Optimization for Process Control and Optimization
    P. Petsagkourakis, IO Sandoval, E. Bradford, F. Galvanin, D. Zhang, EA del Rio-Chanona
    Journal of Process Control, 2022 [Link]
  • An integrated dimensionality reduction and surrogate optimization approach for plant-wide chemical process operation
    T. Savage, F. Almeida-Trasvina, EA Del Rio Chanona, R. Smith, D. Zhang
    AIChE Journal, 2021 [Link]
  • Machine learning for biochemical engineering: A review
    M. Mowbray, T. Savage, C. Wu, Z. Song, BA Cho, EA Del Rio-Chanona, D. Zhang
    Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2021 [Link]
  • Superstructure Reaction Network Design for the Synthesis of Biobased Sustainable Nitrogen-Containing Polymers
    T. Savage, D. Zhang
    Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2020 [Link]
  • Surrogate Modelling and Optimization for Complex Liquefied Natural Gas Refrigeration Cycles
    T. Savage, F. Almeida-Trasvina, A. Del-Rio Chanona, R. Smith, D. Zhang
    IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2020 [Link]