Professor Reklaitis' research involves the application of computing, information and systems technology to support the complex decisions inherent to the design and operation of processing systems. Areas of recent emphasis are investigation of approaches to support batch and semi-continuous operations as well as methodology for plant- and enterprise-wide planning and optimization with applications in the pharmaceutical industry and in integrated energy systems.

Batch process design encompasses the selection of components, processing recipe, operational modes, equipment type and capacity and unit operating profiles. Batch product and plant design problems are challenging because they involve discrete choices, dynamics, and parameter uncertainty. Their solution requires developments in process and logistical decision modeling, combinatorial optimization techniques, combined discrete-continuous simulation methods, and probabilistic decision tools such as Monte Carlo methods. Additionally, these applications require knowledge management tools to insure that data, information and models are accessible, maintained and organized to effectively support decision processes. Problems of current interest include development and design of pharmaceutical products and processes, including active ingredients and drug products.

Operational problems include the scheduling of multipurpose production facilities, taking into account technical, production, financial and market driven uncertainties, and the integration of scheduling decisions with enterprise-wide planning and process unit control functions. In the process setting, schedules define the assignment of equipment and other resources to manufacturing tasks, the sequencing of the execution of these tasks, and the determination of the timing for their execution. Areas of current interest include the investigation of techniques for developing robust schedules which give good performance in the presence of uncertainty, resource allocation involving resource level-task duration trade-offs, and optimal operating strategies for batch and continuous separation systems.

Enterprise-wide optimization and planning research is concerned with the formulation of mathematical models and development of effective solution strategies under which the operation of integrated production facilities, multiple interacting plant sites, and entire supply chains can be effectively coordinated. Current plant-scale emphasis is on real time process management frameworks which can accommodate combined batch and continuous plant operations with applications in pharmaceutical manufacture. Enterprise-wide planning research is concerned with the development of models and methods for addressing problems of planning under uncertainty, including management of product development pipelines, supply chain management and energy systems analysis. The technologies which are employed for these purposes include large scale linear, nonlinear, and discrete optimization methods, statistical techniques, knowledge-based methods, agent-based strategies as well as combined discrete-continuous simulation tools.

"Dropwise Additive Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Products for Solvent-based Dosage Forms," L. Hirshfield, A. Giridhar, L. S. Taylor, M. T. Harris, and G. V. Reklaitis, Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 103, 496-506 doi: 10.1002/jps.23803 (2014)

"A Novel Microwave Sensor to determine particulate blend composition on line," J. Austin, A. Gupta, R. McDonnell, G. V. Reklaitis, and M. T. Harris, Analytica Chimica Acta, 819, 82-93 ( 2014)

"Comparison of an Assumption Free Bayesian Approach with Optimal Sampling Schedule to a Maximum A Posteriori Approach for Personalizing Cyclophosphamide Dosing," G. E. Blau, S. Orcun, J. M. Lainez, G. V. Reklaitis, A. Suvannasankha, C. Fausel, and E. J. Anaissie, Pharmacotherapy, 34, 330-335 (2014)

"The Use of Near Infrared and Microwave Sensing to Monitor a Compaction Process," J. Austin, A. Gupta, R. McDonnell, G. V. Reklaitis, and M. T. Harris, Journal of Pharmaceutical Science, 102(6), 1895-1904 (2013)

"Intelligent Alarm Management Applied to Continuous Pharmaceutical Tablet Manufacturing: An Integrated Approach," A. Gupta, A. Giridhar, V. Venkatasubramanian, and G. V. Reklaitis, I&EC Research, 52, 12357-12368 (2013)

"Using a Stochastic Optimization Approach for the Design of Individualized Dosage Regimens," J. M. Lainez-Aguirre, and G. V. Reklaitis, AIChE Journal, 59, 3296-3307 (2013)

"Validation of a Novel Approach for Dose Individualization in Pharmacotherapy Using Gabapentin in a Proof of Principles Study," G. E. Blau, S. Orcun, J. M. Lainez, G. V. Reklaitis, A. Suvannasankha, C. Fausel, and E. J. Anaissie, Pharmacotherapy, 33, 727-735 (2013)

“Integrated Planning and Optimization of Clinical Trial Supply Chain System with Risk Pooling,” Y. Chen, J. Pekny, and G. V. Reklaitis, I&EC Research, 52, 152-165 (2013)