Working with AI agents for scholarly tasks for PIs and team leaders
Working with AI agents for scholarly tasks for PIs and team leaders
2nd December 2026, 14h00-18h00
General context
Note: This is an internal course.
Agents allow you to go beyond simple chat-based interactions. In this sessoin you'll learn how to move from chat-based interaction to design structured agentic workflows.
Using rich context, and skills combining with a supervised step procedure you will be able to draft a paper introduction and explore with your own examples.
We also help you unlock the power of agentic coding Claude and GitHub Copilot, you will learn to write effective prompts and leverage LLMs for multi-file coding tasks.
- Explain key concepts and terminology related to agentic coding (agents, planning, loops, tools, guardrails)
- Describe the agent loop (goal → plan → act → observe → revise) and its implications for software development
- Summarize common failure modes and risks of agents
- Create and reuse Skills files and onther context related documents to levarage agents work
The course features a mix of explanations, live demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, giving you the opportunity to apply LLMs to real-world cases.
To follow along effectively with this course you need to have a GitHub Copilot license or a Claude license.
Tip: For GitHub Copilot educators can apply for a free Pro license through GitHub Education.
Group and team leaders
Required
- Familiarity with chat-based LLM tools
- Basic programming experience (Python or other)
- GitHub copilot license
Advised
- Familiarity with Git is advisable
- Experience with prompting is advised
- Claude license (pending availability)
- Copilot agent
- GitHub Copilot (code)
- Claude (upon availability)
Copilot studio (upon availability)
VS Code will be used with Claude/Github Copilot installed
AI methods used
This course focuses on the application of large language models (LLMs) and agent-based AI workflows for drafting and coding tasks.
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
Concepts and possibilities
Agents for drafting
Agents for coding
Practical info
02 December 2026
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
02 December 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.
02 December 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.
02 December 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.