The SCI Sydney Andrew Scholarships supports PhD students studying subjects in emerging areas of agriculture and the chemical industry.
We are delighted to announce that Luca Riezzo, from The University of Manchester, has been awarded an SCI Sydney Andrew Scholarship to support his PhD project "An AI-Enabled Self-Dirven Laboratory Framework for Catalytic Reaction Kinetics Discovery".
Dr Sydney Andrew, a brilliant industrial chemical engineer who exemplified the SCI mission of encouraging the application of chemical and related sciences for public benefit, died in November 2011. A life member of SCI, Dr Andrew was awarded the Society’s Medal and have a lecture on ‘Neglected Science: a view from industry’. He bequeathed a substantial share of his estate to SCI for the support of scientific innovation on the theme of neglected science. These are areas of science which, though of importance in agriculture and the chemical industry, receive scant attention from academic research, and for academic research into Neglected Science
"I am Luca Riezzo, a PhD researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester and a recipient of the SCI Sydney Andrew Scholarship. I graduated from The University of Manchester in 2025 with a Master of Engineering (MEng) degree in Chemical Engineering.
"During my undergraduate studies, I became actively involved in research and developed a strong interest in machine learning, data analytics, and interpretable modelling approaches for process systems engineering. My research explored the integration of data-driven approaches with first-principles knowledge to develop hybrid models that enhance process understanding, prediction, and optimisation in biochemical and chemical reaction engineering. This experience inspired my continued interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and chemical engineering research and ultimately led me to pursue doctoral studies in this area.
"In September 2025, I began my PhD at The University of Manchester under the supervision of Dr Dongda Zhang. My research project, entitled “An AI-Enabled Self-Driven Laboratory Framework for Catalytic Reaction Kinetics Discovery,” aims to develop an autonomous framework that combines physics-guided symbolic regression with model-based design of experiments (MBDoE) to accelerate kinetic model development for catalytic reaction systems. The project seeks to address longstanding industrial challenges where the development of reliable kinetic models is often slow, resource-intensive and dependent on extensive experimentation due to incomplete understanding of underling reaction networks.
"By integrating interpretable machine learning with intelligent experimental design, the framework will generate physically meaningful reaction rate expressions while simultaneously designing informative experiments for knowledge gain. This has the potential to significantly reduce experimental burden, shorten process development timelines, and improve confidence in model-based decision-making. The resulting kinetic models will provide greater transparency than conventional black-box approaches, enabling engineers to better understand reaction behaviour and support reactor design, process optimisation, and digital twin development. A key aspect of the research is the incorporation of a human-in-the-loop approach, ensuring that domain experts remain actively involved in validating AI-generated insights and maintaining physical plausibility. Through collaborations with industrial and academic partners, the project aims to contribute to the development of self-driving laboratories and support the digital transformation of chemical manufacturing.
"I am honoured to receive the SCI Sydney Andrew Scholarship and am sincerely grateful for the support provided by SCI. The scholarship will provide valuable opportunities to engage with the SCI community and foster collaborations that will support the impact and development of my research throughout my PhD."
Luca Riezzo
PhD Student
The University of Manchester
Visit Blog