October 15–16, 2026
Doherty Hall | Carnegie Mellon University
Founded in 1979, the ChEGSA Symposium showcases CMU Chemical Engineering graduate research and connects students with faculty, alumni, and industry. The two-day program includes student talks, a poster session, the Lubrizol Keynote Lecture, and a career panel.
Lubrizol Keynote Lecture
Antonio del Río Chanona
Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London
Thursday, October 15 | 10:30 a.m.
Machine Learning for Chemical Engineering: From Automated Experimentation to Intelligent Process Control and Large Language Models
Machine learning is increasingly changing not only how we model chemical engineering systems, but also how we design experiments, operate processes, and interact with engineering knowledge. In this talk, I will discuss some of the opportunities that arise when machine learning moves from prediction towards decision-making.
I will first introduce Bayesian optimization as a framework for automated design of experiments, where experiments are selected sequentially to learn efficiently while balancing exploration and exploitation. I will discuss how these ideas can be used in chemical engineering and industrial research, particularly when experiments are expensive, data are limited, or operating constraints must be respected. I will then consider reinforcement learning as a data-driven approach to process control, including applications to complex industrial systems and bioprocesses such as microalgae cultivation.
Finally, I will discuss some of the rapidly emerging opportunities created by large language models and agentic AI in chemical engineering, including systems that can interpret engineering information and automatically construct process simulations from flowsheets and images. Throughout the talk, I will use examples from our research and collaborations with industry to highlight both what these methods can already do and some of the challenges that remain.
Read Antonio’s biography
Antonio del Río Chanona is Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, where he leads the Optimisation and Machine Learning for Process Systems Engineering group. He is Co-Director of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Synthesis and Reaction Technology and Associate Director for Education at the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, and research chair of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering for Artificial Intelligence.
His research develops optimisation and artificial intelligence methods for chemical and biological systems, with particular emphasis on Bayesian optimisation, reinforcement learning, hybrid modelling, and large-language-model and multi-agent systems. These methods are applied to autonomous experimentation, bioprocess development, molecular and process design, industrial control, and sustainable chemical value chains.
Antonio received his degree in Chemical Engineering from UNAM and his PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he was awarded the Danckwerts-Pergamon Prize for the best PhD thesis of his year. His distinctions include the IChemE Junior Sargent and Nicklin Medals, an EPSRC Research Fellowship and recognitions from the International Federation of Automatic Control and the European Operations Research Society. He is actively involved in teaching, mentoring and the organisation of international training programmes in optimisation and machine learning.
Schedule
Thursday, October 15
| Time | Program and presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30–9:20 a.m. | Breakfast and registration | Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 9:20–9:30 a.m. | Welcome and opening remarks | Doherty Hall 1212 |
| Student research talks Session chair: Edwin J. Lebrón Pérez | Judges: Prof. Jim Schneider (CMU) and Dr. Javier Lanauze (PPG) |
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| 9:30–9:45 a.m. | Samantha Yang (Whitehead Group) Mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer via lipid nanoparticle recycling |
Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 9:45–10:00 a.m. | Arsh Bhatia (Laird and Grossmann Groups) Graph Neural Networks for Supply Chain Resiliency Mapping |
|
| 10:00–10:15 a.m. | Shakira Marie Martínez Vásquez (Niepa Group) Interfacial Stress as an Environmental Cue for Adaptive Material Assembly by Brucella pituitosa |
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| 10:15–10:30 a.m. | Break | — |
| 10:30–11:45 a.m. | Lubrizol Keynote Lecture Antonio del Río Chanona Machine Learning for Chemical Engineering: From Automated Experimentation to Intelligent Process Control and Large Language Models |
Doherty Hall 2210 |
| 11:45 a.m.–1:15 p.m. | Speakers’ Networking Luncheon Speakers and industry guests; by invitation |
Singleton Room Roberts Hall 401 |
| Student research talks Session chair: Malena Rybacki | Judges: Prof. Bob Tilton (CMU) and Dr. Sebastian Uribe (Missouri University of Science and Technology) |
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| 1:15–1:30 p.m. | Emerson Uhlig (Khair Group) Mixing oil and water without stirring: a generalized diffusion path theory of spontaneous emulsification |
Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 1:30–1:45 p.m. | Amy Apgar (Niepa Group) Under-oil Microfluidic Platform for Monitoring Babesia microti Pathogenesis |
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| 1:45–2:00 p.m. | Andres I. Cardenas (Torres Group) Multi-agent Process Design: The role of Game Theory and Reinforcement Learning |
|
| 2:00–2:15 p.m. | Break | — |
| Student research talks Session chair: Naseeha Mohammed | Judges: Prof. Aisulu Aitbekova (CMU) and Dr. Sami Mohammed (Lubrizol) |
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| 2:15–2:30 p.m. | Camila Cue (Niepa Group) One Treatment, Four Strains: Electrochemical Therapy Against Multidrug-Resistant Candidozyma auris |
Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 2:30–2:45 p.m. | Edwin J. Lebrón Pérez (Chan Group) Designing Dynamic Bicontinuous Thermosets through Polymerization-Induced Microphase Separation |
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| 2:45–3:00 p.m. | Maryam Ali (Tilton Group) Influence of electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions on the partitioning of colloidal particles in polyelectrolyte complex coacervates |
|
| 3:00–3:15 p.m. | Break | — |
| Student research talks Session chair: Khantey Lim | Judges: Prof. Lorenz Biegler (CMU) and Dr. Anna Akkus (Lubrizol) |
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| 3:15–3:30 p.m. | Hannah Elaine Schutte (Chan and Jen Groups) Algal-Based Biopolymers: Design and Synthesis of Spirulina-Derived Cyanophycin Elastomers |
Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 3:30–3:45 p.m. | Sergio Bugosen (Laird and Gounaris Groups) A Decomposition Approach to Power Grid Capacity Expansion Planning under Operational Uncertainty |
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| 3:45–4:00 p.m. | Naseeha Mohammed (Whitehead and Schneider Groups) Protein Corona Engineering Enhances Lipid Nanoparticle-Mediated RNA Transfection in the Heart |
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| 4:00–4:15 p.m. | Closing remarks | Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 4:15 p.m. | Networking happy hour | Graduate Lounge Doherty Hall A209 |
Friday, October 16
| Time | Program and presenter | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30–9:20 a.m. | Breakfast and registration | Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 9:20–9:30 a.m. | Opening remarks | Doherty Hall 1212 |
| Student research talks Session chair: Arsh Bhatia | Judges: Prof. Aisulu Aitbekova (CMU) and Dr. Len Gerlowski (Independent Consultant) |
||
| 9:30–9:45 a.m. | Ladan Nikfarjam (Robinson and Chan Groups) Post-translational modifications shape tau aggregation behavior and self-assembly |
Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 9:45–10:00 a.m. | Robert Maligon Querimit (Torres Group) Automating Process Synthesis for Critical Minerals with Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning |
|
| 10:00–10:15 a.m. | Sunny Surprenant (Chan Group) Processing-Induced Evolution of Protein Secondary Structure and Mechanical Properties in Dynamic Reprocessable Protein-Based Polymer Networks |
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| 10:15–10:30 a.m. | Break | — |
| 10:30–11:45 a.m. | Panel conversation: Navigating Career Directions Moderator: Charlotte Tausche Panelists: Antonio del Río Chanona, Jennifer Larimer (Dow), and David Adrian (Dow) |
Doherty Hall 2210 |
| 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. | Luncheon | Doherty Hall |
| 12:45–2:45 p.m. | Poster session Judges: Jennifer Larimer (Dow), Crystal Azzarello (PPG), Neslihan Cilek (CMU), Suryavarshini Sundar (CMU), Yousra Timounay (CMU), and Prof. Derin Sevenler (CMU) |
Doherty Hall A226 |
| 2:45–3:00 p.m. | Break | — |
| Student research talks Session chair: Gayatri Moghe | Judges: Prof. Ana Inés Torres (CMU) and Dr. David Adrian (Dow) |
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| 3:00–3:15 p.m. | Jason Yao (Gounaris Group) Multi-Period Robust Optimization for Designing Membrane Diafiltration Systems Under Operational Disturbances |
Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 3:15–3:30 p.m. | Andrew Ashmar (Chan Group) Covalent sidechain modifications modulate self-assembly behavior of amyloid-like fibrils |
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| 3:30–3:45 p.m. | Peter Cook (Tilton Group) Accelerating emulsion formulation screening through robust and interpretable machine learning |
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| 3:45–4:00 p.m. | Closing remarks | Doherty Hall 1212 |
| 4:00 p.m. | Reception and awards ceremony Hors d’oeuvres served |
Graduate Lounge Doherty Hall A209 |
View the symposium proceedings (PDF)
All sessions are open to registered attendees except where noted.