Strategic use of generative AI - Leuven

Strategic use of generative AI - Leuven

07 February 2025

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson

Artificial Inteligence
generative AI
live training

Strategic use of generative AI - Leuven

Target Audience:
VIB PhD student
VIB postdoc
VIB staff scientist
VIB group leader or expert
VIB administrative support
VIB technical support
Flemish academic or researcher
Non-Flemish academic or researcher
Industry professional
Location:

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson

Duration:

7 February 2025, 9h00-17h00

General context

Over the last few months, the rapid establishment of generative AI and Large Language Models (LLM) has opened new frontiers in a variety of domains.

This hands-on class aims to provide you the necessary skills to effectively use this cutting-edge technology in a interdisciplinary way.

With two formats of participation possible, we wish to offer opportunities for everyone to build enough knowledge to a variety of applications.

1/2 DAY TICKET:
In the morning you will follow an introduction on ethics, ownership and general hands-on application of generative AI that can be used holistically. This is meant for anyone including admin, support, and others to use for their work or personal interests.

FULL DAY TICKET:
After a general view, we will navigate deeper in the use of generative AI for research, from scientific writing to analysis, we will introduce how genAI can be supportive in this process.

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 how to strategically prompt your request for text generation in any context,  how to generate high-quality content for research papers, and grant applications.


 

Learning outcomes

The class aims to show participants how to effectively integrate new generative AI tools within their work and research workflow. AI tools are not intended as substitutes, but rather as tools to support brainstorming, exploration, analysis and synthesis processes.

Objectives include:

  • Providing a background of the evolution of generative AI models
  • Providing an overview of the features and capabilities of genAI
  • Analysing prompt engineering techniques for different purposes
  • Exploring several applications of genAI in academic research (afternoon session)
  • Providing hands-on experience with using different genAI tools for work and research purposes
  • Critically evaluating the AI generated outcomes
     
Event intended for

The workshop is designed for support staff and researchers who are approaching the use of new generative AI tools. 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.

No prior experience in machine learning or coding expertise is required.

Trainers

Bruna Piereck
VIB Training & Conferences - Trainer picture - Bruna Piereck
VIB Training & Conferences / ELIXIR, BE

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.

Contact Bruna Piereck :
Alexander Botzki
VIB Training & Conferences / ELIXIR, BE

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'.

Contact Alexander Botzki :

Program

Brief historical background: from 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

Doing quantitative research

Writing an article (storytelling, etc.)

Presenting the outcome

Practical info

Location & Venue

07 February 2025

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson

Martelarenlaan 36
3010 Leuven
Belgium

Public transport

07 February 2025

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Public transport

The hotel is located 300m from Leuven Central Station, just a short 5 minute walk.

Bike

07 February 2025

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Bike

Bike parking Leuven

Using your bike for longer distances? Check Cycle Highways.

Route description

07 February 2025

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Parking

Underground P1-Parking Station Leuven, Martelarenlaan 4, 3010 Leuven or parking De Bond, Martelarenlaan 18, 3010 Leuven.

Venue contact

07 February 2025

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson
Location contact

+32 16 61 66 02

sales.leuven@parkinn.com

Extra information

Leuven - Park Inn by Radisson