diff --git a/config/train_example.yml b/config/train_example.yml
index bc65cc3e..2985afcc 100644
--- a/config/train_example.yml
+++ b/config/train_example.yml
@@ -50,8 +50,12 @@ agent:
         exponent: 0.5
         importance: 0.4
     learn:
+      optimizer:
+        class_name: Adam
+        config:
+          learning_rate: 1.e-4
+        module: keras.optimizers
       buffer_prefill: 500
-      learning_rate: 1.e-4
       batch_size: 64
       steps_per_update: 2
       steps_per_target_update: 5000
diff --git a/src/py/agents/config.py b/src/py/agents/config.py
index 03636f42..82c26646 100644
--- a/src/py/agents/config.py
+++ b/src/py/agents/config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 """Common config typings for agents."""
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import Any, Optional
+
+import tensorflow as tf
 
 from .utils.replay_buffer import PriorityConfig
 
@@ -30,3 +32,25 @@ def from_dict(cls, config: dict):
         if config.get("priority", None) is not None:
             config["priority"] = PriorityConfig.from_dict(config["priority"])
         return cls(**config)
+
+
+# Note: Use dataclass rather than TypedDict to enforce serialization format.
+@dataclass
+class KerasObjectConfig:
+    """Config for a serialized Keras object."""
+
+    class_name: str
+    """Name of the object's class, e.g. `Adam`."""
+
+    config: dict[str, Any]
+    """Constructor args for the class, e.g. `learning_rate`."""
+
+    module: str
+    """Module where the class is found in, e.g. `keras.optimizers`."""
+
+    registered_name: Optional[str] = None
+    """Name under which the class was registered as a Keras serializable."""
+
+    def deserialize(self):
+        """Gets the Keras object described by this config."""
+        return tf.keras.saving.deserialize_keras_object(self.__dict__)
diff --git a/src/py/agents/dqn_agent.py b/src/py/agents/dqn_agent.py
index 1094b504..c7464354 100644
--- a/src/py/agents/dqn_agent.py
+++ b/src/py/agents/dqn_agent.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """DQN agent."""
 import warnings
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Optional, Union
+from typing import Optional, Union, cast
 
 import numpy as np
 import tensorflow as tf
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 from ..models.utils.greedy import decode_action_rankings
 from ..utils.typing import Experience, TensorExperience
 from .agent import Agent
-from .config import ExperienceConfig
+from .config import ExperienceConfig, KerasObjectConfig
 from .utils.dqn_context import DQNContext
 from .utils.epsilon_greedy import EpsilonGreedy, ExplorationConfig
 from .utils.q_dist import project_target_update, zero_q_dist
@@ -23,15 +23,15 @@
 class DQNLearnConfig:
     """Config for DQN learning algorithm."""
 
+    optimizer: KerasObjectConfig
+    """Config for the TF Optimizer."""
+
     buffer_prefill: int
     """
     Fill replay buffer with some experience before starting training. Must be
     larger than `batch_size`.
     """
 
-    learning_rate: float
-    """Learning rate for gradient descent."""
-
     batch_size: int
     """
     Batch size for gradient descent. Must be smaller than `buffer_prefill`.
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ class DQNLearnConfig:
     to None to disable.
     """
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, config: dict):
+        """Creates a DQNLearnConfig from a JSON dictionary."""
+        config["optimizer"] = KerasObjectConfig(**config["optimizer"])
+        return cls(**config)
+
 
 @dataclass
 class DQNAgentConfig:
@@ -80,7 +86,7 @@ def from_dict(cls, config: dict):
         else:
             config["exploration"] = ExplorationConfig(**config["exploration"])
         config["experience"] = ExperienceConfig.from_dict(config["experience"])
-        config["learn"] = DQNLearnConfig(**config["learn"])
+        config["learn"] = DQNLearnConfig.from_dict(config["learn"])
         return cls(**config)
 
 
@@ -102,7 +108,6 @@ def __init__(
         """
         super().__init__()
         self.config = config
-        self.optimizer = tf.keras.optimizers.Adam(config.learn.learning_rate)
         if rng is None:
             rng = tf.random.get_global_generator()
         self.rng = rng
@@ -135,7 +140,11 @@ def __init__(
         self.agent_contexts: AgentDict[DQNContext] = {}
 
         self.step = tf.Variable(0, name="step", dtype=tf.int64)
+
         # Ensure optimizer state is loaded from checkpoint.
+        self.optimizer = cast(
+            tf.keras.optimizers.Optimizer, config.learn.optimizer.deserialize()
+        )
         self.optimizer.build(self.model.trainable_weights)
 
         # Log initial weights.
diff --git a/src/py/agents/drqn_agent.py b/src/py/agents/drqn_agent.py
index beae1045..9fb6cb5a 100644
--- a/src/py/agents/drqn_agent.py
+++ b/src/py/agents/drqn_agent.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """DRQN agent."""
 import warnings
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Optional, Union
+from typing import Optional, Union, cast
 
 import numpy as np
 import tensorflow as tf
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def from_dict(cls, config: dict):
         else:
             config["exploration"] = ExplorationConfig(**config["exploration"])
         config["experience"] = ExperienceConfig.from_dict(config["experience"])
-        config["learn"] = DRQNLearnConfig(**config["learn"])
+        config["learn"] = DRQNLearnConfig.from_dict(config["learn"])
         return cls(**config)
 
 
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ def __init__(
         """
         super().__init__()
         self.config = config
-        self.optimizer = tf.keras.optimizers.Adam(config.learn.learning_rate)
         if rng is None:
             rng = tf.random.get_global_generator()
         self.rng = rng
@@ -147,7 +146,11 @@ def __init__(
         self.agent_contexts: AgentDict[DRQNContext] = {}
 
         self.step = tf.Variable(0, name="step", dtype=tf.int64)
+
         # Ensure optimizer state is loaded from checkpoint.
+        self.optimizer = cast(
+            tf.keras.optimizers.Optimizer, config.learn.optimizer.deserialize()
+        )
         self.optimizer.build(self.model.trainable_weights)
 
         # Log initial weights.