Aston University and the University of Leeds have secured £3.4 million to launch a network supporting PhD researchers in the use of publicly available AI tools. The initiative will assess how technologies like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot are applied in research, while identifying challenges and best practices for ethical and effective adoption.
The network will create an online hub with guidance, case studies, and training resources for doctoral candidates and research support staff. It will engage universities across the Midlands and Yorkshire to co-develop professional development programmes, enabling staff and students to integrate AI responsibly into complex research projects.
The project brings together academics from both universities, with additional support from Midlands Innovation and Yorkshire Universities, as well as organisations including Jisc, Vitae, and the National Centre for Universities and Business. The initiative also complements existing Research England programmes focused on doctoral supervision and postdoctoral career development.
AI.RDN+ aims to equip the next generation of researchers with the skills and frameworks needed to leverage AI while maintaining research integrity. The programme has potential to influence AI adoption strategies across UK higher education, supporting innovation and providing models for collaboration between universities and industry partners.
