Strategic use of generative AI
Strategic use of generative AI
11 December 2025, 9h00-17h00
General context
Generative AI is rapidly transforming how we work, communicate, and conduct research. For researchers, support staff, and professionals across disciplines, understanding how to strategically use tools like ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) is becoming essential. This introductory training is designed to equip participants with a foundational understanding of generative AI, its practical applications, and its limitations. Whether you're drafting research proposals, automating routine tasks, or exploring new ways to generate content, this course will help you use AI tools more effectively and responsibly.
We will cover different aspects of using ChatBots powered with LLMs, including the ethical and ownership aspects, the theoretical background, and several examples of practical application, among which are how to strategically prompt your request for text generation in any context, how to generate high-quality content for research papers, and grant applications.
1/2 DAY TICKET:
This morning session introduces the core concepts of generative AI, including ethical considerations, data ownership, and hands-on examples of everyday use. It is ideal for administrative staff, support roles, and anyone curious about integrating AI into their workflow or personal projects.
FULL DAY TICKET:
Building on the morning session, the afternoon dives deeper into academic and research-specific use cases. Participants will explore how generative AI can support scientific writing, literature reviews, data analysis, and grant writing, with a focus on strategic prompting and critical evaluation of AI-generated content.
- Describe the evolution and core principles of generative AI models and their relevance to academic research.
- Identify the features, capabilities, and limitations of various generative AI tools used in research workflows.
- Apply prompt engineering techniques to generate relevant outputs for tasks such as literature reviews, content drafting, and brainstorming.
- Demonstrate the use of generative AI tools to support specific academic tasks, including writing, summarizing, and ideation.
- Evaluate the quality, reliability, and ethical implications of AI-generated content in the context of scholarly work.
- Integrate generative AI tools into personal research workflows to enhance productivity while maintaining critical oversight.
The workshop is designed for support staff and researchers who are new to using generative AI tools in their regular practise. Considering the high versatility of this new technology, the class is designed as an interdisciplinary initiative and is open to all researchers and support staff regardless of their field.
This course does not cover the use of coding or other potential automation tasks.
No prior experience in machine learning or coding expertise is required.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Perplexity, ASTA
Elicit, SciSpace
NotebookLM
Research Rabbit
Napkin.AI
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
- Brief historical background: from the first AI to generative AI
- Mapping generative AI tools
- Focus on Large Language Models (LLMs)
- Tools for genAI (CoPilot, Perplexity, and other competitors)
- Prompt engineering
- Ethical considerations
- Ownership, copyright, and authenticity
- Conducting a literature review
- Finding research gaps
- Citing AI use
- Writing texts like articles, reports, etc.
- Textual feedback approaches
- Sketches and illustrations
Practical info
11 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Herestraat 49
3000 Leuven
Belgium
11 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven train station is approximately 4 km from the campus Gasthuisberg. Buses depart very regularly to the Gasthuisberg Campus from Leuven train station.
For tickets and up to date schedules visit website De Lijn or use the De Lijn App.
Exit at the very last bus stop ‘Gasthuisberg Campus) make sure not to exit at ‘Gasthuisberg Kliniek =
hospital)
Once you get off the bus, go to your right and go up the street until you see stairs to your left. Climb the stairs all the way up between two buildings. Look for the signs containing blue circles and white numbers and follow them all the way from 2 up to number 12. You will cross several buildings and the walk will take max. 10 minutes. When you reach number 12, you have reached O&N 5, where you can find the reception.
11 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
The Gasthuisberg campus is west of the Leuven ring. Our buildings are situated behind the hospital (see black arrow near ‘RING NOORD’ on the map). If you come from the city center, you will arrive on campus from the east side (taking Mgr. Van Waeyenberglaan and roundabout Het Teken). If you come from Heverlee or Campus Arenberg, you will arrive from the west side (taking the Celestijnenlaan and Taborweg). When you arrive uphill at the intersection with the Rega Institute and the Red Cross building, you need to take the road down to the bicycle parking at Rega Institute (see map) where you can park. Next, follow the ‘Onderwijs & Navorsing blue route’ description below (start point is #9).
11 December 2025
Leuven - Campus Gasthuisberg
You arrive via the E314 highway – EXIT 16
After 200 m, keep left to drive underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
You arrive via the Leuven ring road
At the roundabout, take the exit towards ‘Spoed / Ziekenhuis’.
Follow the ring around Campus Gasthuisberg and pass the entrance of SPOED.
Continue right until you arrive at a second roundabout.
Follow the directions for E314.
Near the Fire Brigade Station, make a U-turn and follow the directions for ‘Ziekenhuis’.
Keep left and drive downhill, underneath the roundabout and into the tunnel.
Keep left and follow the arrows to Parking West.
Next, leave the parking at level +1 using the big stairs near the vending machines.
Follow the red carpet and arrows to 'Onco Dagcentrum' to get to the O&N buildings. Take the stairs on your left after exiting Parking West. You are now in front of the O&N4 building; on the left you will find O&N5.