The joint project for Leeds and Aston University to establish a research network for artificial intelligence (AI) tools has earned £3.4 million from the Research England Development Fund.
The four-year UKRI funding evaluates publicly available AI tools for doctoral research and encourages researchers to adopt and innovate responsible AI.
The Artificial Intelligence Researcher Development Network (AI.RDN+) is led by Dr. Hosam Al-Samarraie, Associate Professor of Digital Innovation Design, and Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, Dean of Digital Transformation at the University of Leeds.
The network also includes 12 universities that make up the eight Midland Innovation Research University and the Yorkshire University Consortium.
Together, through this network, we can build shared resources and approaches that allow the adoption of AI in doctoral research to be innovative and ethical, and that will truly benefit researchers and society.
Publicly available AI tools such as ChatGpt and Microsoft Copilot are rapidly adopted by academia, but they could provide innovative ways to reduce workloads, streamline processes, and carry out research. This is especially true for PHD-level research, which holds a key position in relation to new discoveries and translation of their knowledge.
Professor Chatterjee said: “The award reflects the importance of inter-university collaboration to understand and shape the role of AI in research. Working with Aston and partners in Midland and Yorkshire, we can bring together complementary expertise and perspectives.
“In Leeds, through one Leeds, we have committed to embracing AI in a responsible, inclusive and guided way. Dr. Hosam Al-Samarae is particularly pleased to lead this work for Leeds and bring both expert and vision to the partnership. Society.”
Identify best practices
In contrast to the attention directed at undergraduate use, little work has been done to understand the use of public AI tools used by doctoral researchers, their supervisors and examiners.
Doctoral researchers and their enablers feel unequipped in relation to the responsible and proper use of publicly available AI tools in the course of their doctoral research, with little guidance from research or institutions of higher education.
ai.rdn+ addresses these challenges. We carry out an extensive consultation process with research staff, including doctoral researchers, supervisors, examiners, professional service staff and technicians, to understand how they will be used to innovate publicly available AI tools, and challenges will be identified and negotiated.
Using this information, AI.RDN+ creates a resource base with guidance that identifies what AI tools are available, how to use them, and best practice case studies. This information will be available in the newly created AI.RDN+ portal.
Construction skills
The network also equips doctoral researchers who create training resources for all stakeholders, build skills and knowledge of publicly available AI tools, and enable them with the knowledge needed for future research. As part of this, we will co-create and test guidance, training, and professional and career development resources in collaboration with 20 universities in the Midlands Innovation and the Yorkshire University Consortium. AI.RDN+ could also shape understanding and practice in the UK's higher education sector and beyond.
Like universities, AI.RDN+ has been actively supported by a variety of professional organizations, including JISC, UK Digital, Higher Education, Technical and Technology Institutions for Research and Innovation, the UK Graduate Education Council (UKCGE), Vitae, Trusted Voice on Research Culture and Researcher Development, National Centres at the University (NCUB).
It also researches the professional and career development of postdoctoral researchers, supported and prosperous on two other England-funded research projects – Next Generation Research Supervision Project (RSVP), the future of doctoral supervision.
Professor Phil Mizen, professor at Aston University, said: “The AI Researcher Development Network Plus, a researcher development network that provides in-depth knowledge of the intake and impact of AI tools available and available throughout the PhD ecosystem, and uses this to collaborately create the information, resources, professional and skill training opportunities needed. Our project is a unique opportunity to build unique opportunities for clients to use research.”
“We are pleased to announce that we are committed to providing a wide range of services,” said Professor Alex Sabs, vice president and CEO of Aston University. “We are pleased to see Aston University awarded this important grant thanks to the exceptional work of Professor Phil Mizen and the AI.RDN+ Project Team, which will bring careers and great benefits across the research and innovation ecosystem.”
More information
For more information, please contact Becky Pascoe, University of Leeds Press Office, r.pascoe@leeds.ac.uk
Photo credit: Adobe
The eight Midland Innovation Colleges are Aston University, Cranfield University, University of Birmingham, Keele University, Loughborough University, University of Leicester, University of Nottingham and Warwick University.
12 Yorkshire universities include Bradford University, Leeds University, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Concers University, Leeds Arts University, Hals University, Huddersfield University, Sheffield University, York University.
UKRI Research Ingland shapes healthy, dynamic, diverse and comprehensive research and knowledge exchange at UK universities. Over £2 billion is distributed to universities in the UK each year. It works to understand strategy, capabilities and capabilities. Support and challenge universities, support universities, generate new knowledge, strengthen the economy, and enrich society.
