Practical generative AI for PIs and team leaders
Practical generative AI for PIs and team leaders
28 October 2026, 14h00-18h00
General context
Note: This is an internal course.
Generative AI technologies are quickly becoming an essential part of the academic research toolkit, supporting tasks to create, analyze, and structure information. This training provides a foundation in the core principles of generative AI, their capabilities and limitations, and explores how these systems can be applied responsibly in scholarly work.
During this training, you will explore different AI tools in supporting tasks from literature reviews to content drafting, summarization, and visualization. You will learn how to design effective prompts to generate high-quality outputs and critically assess the reliability of AI-generated content.
- Identify the features, capabilities, and limitations of various generative AI tools used in research workflows.
- Apply prompt engineering techniques to generate relevant outputs for scholarly tasks.
- Use generative AI tools and agents to support specific academic tasks, including literature review, content drafting, and brainstorming.
- Evaluate the quality and reliability of AI-generated outputs in academic research.
This training blends conceptual introductions with hands-on demonstrations and exchange moments. You will experiment with generative AI platforms in guided exercises and practice designing effective prompts in real academic scenarios.
Group and team leaders
No prior experience with AI tools is required.
AI agents is not in scope for this session.
It will be covered in a dedicated session (2nd December)
- Copilot
- Perplexity
- Asta
- Undermind.ai or Consensus
- Research Rabbit
- Notebook LM
- Napkin.ai
AI methods used
This training focuses on generative AI models, particularly large language models and researcher-oriented tools (e.g. chat-based assistants, literature discovery, and summarization platforms) used to support scholarly workflows.
Trainers
Bruna Piereck
Bruna Piereck is a bioinformatics trainer at VIB and ELIXIR-BE training coordinator deputy. She obtained a Master and PhD degree in Molecular Genetics, with a focus on Bioinformatics from the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil, in 2019. During her PhD, she had the chance to collaborate with the university of Luxembourg and the McGill university in Quebec Canada for a short time. Ever since she has been involved with teaching and research and Since March 2022, she joined VIB with the mission of teaching and assist other trainers in a variety of topics.
Alexander Botzki
Alexander Botzki at the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology, Belgium has with his group the mission of providing technology training in domains of VIB Technologies, Bioinformatics & AI, Software Development, and Research Data Management. Between 2014 and 2022, he was head of the VIB Bioinformatics Core. From September 2009 to July 2014, he was responsible for the roll-out of E-Notebook (electronic lab notebook) to VIB's researchers within 75 research groups.
Before joining VIB, Alexander worked on various computational biology projects for Algonomics (bought by Lonza, 2008-2009) and DevGen (now Syngenta, from 2006-2008). During Alexander's PostDoc at Sanofi Aventis in Strasbourg, he executed various virtual screening campaigns on the compound selection of the merged enterprise. He received his doctoral degree with the group of Prof. Dr. Armin Buschauer (University of Regensburg, Germany) on 'Structure-based design of hyaluronidase inhibitors'.
Program
Strengths and Limitations
Discussion and Exchange
Literature research
Summarization and Drafting
Creating visuals
Practical info
28 October 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
28 October 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
28 October 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
28 October 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.