Harris is Professor of Sustainable Manufacturing Systems. His work combines mechanical engineering science with process systems engineering and intelligent automation to accelerate the discovery, development and sustainable manufacture of high value chemicals. As a result, his research programme combines both experimental and computational components. At the core of his work is process intensification techniques with emphasis on chemical reactor technology and it is combined with algorithm-based automation.

A key recent application is the development of smart microreactor technology for enzymatic reactions for the future manufacture of vaccines. Other applications include functional nanomaterials, supramolecular materials, switchable nanomaterials and quantum dots, bioprocessing, formulated products and crystallisation.

Harris is also experienced and active in technology transfer to industry and has led the establishment of university spin outs. He is graduate of Imperial College London and a Chartered Engineer. He has links with industry and particularly in the process and chemical sector.

Research Interests

• Process intensification and flow technologies for chemical synthesis
• A.I. and robotics for automating discovery in materials science and engineering
• Mathematical and algorithmic optimisation
• Artificial Intelligence for process automation
• Industrial automation systems and control
• Manufacturing and supply chain planning and scheduling systems
• Circular Manufacturing Systems enabled by bioprocessing
• Flow technologies for vaccines manufacturing

Further Information

• Research profile