Faculty contributes to major new AI partnership for doctoral research
The project will explore how publicly available AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot, are being used in doctoral research and will develop best practice
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures is playing a central role in a major new partnership between the University of Leeds and Aston University to enhance the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in doctoral research.
The £3.4m Artificial Intelligence Researcher Development Network Plus (AI.RDN+), funded by Research England, will bring together 20 universities from the Midlands Innovation and Yorkshire Universities consortia to build resources, training and guidance for PhD researchers and those who support them.
The four-year project will explore how publicly available AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, are being used in doctoral research and will develop best practice to ensure their use is innovative, ethical and inclusive.
AI.RDN+ will consult widely with PhD researchers, supervisors, examiners and professional services staff to understand how AI is already being used across disciplines – including the arts, humanities and cultures – and what new skills, training and resources are needed.
The network will then co-create a national resource base, including case studies and practical guidance on the opportunities and challenges AI presents for doctoral researchers.
Led at Leeds by Dr Hosam Al-Samarraie, Associate Professor in Digital Innovation Design at the School of Design, and the School of Medicine’s Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, Dean of Digital Transformation, the network has wide support from expert organisations including Jisc, the UK Council for Graduate Education, Vitae and the National Centre for Universities and Business.
Dr Hosam Al-Samarraie said:
“AI is rapidly reshaping the research landscape, but to unlock its true potential we need to understand both the opportunities and the challenges it presents for doctoral researchers. Through this network we can build the skills, resources and guidance that enable researchers across all disciplines – including the arts, humanities and cultures – to use AI tools creatively, responsibly and with confidence. I am proud to be leading this work at Leeds and working with colleagues across the UK to shape the future of research in this space.”
Professor Muhammad Tausif, Head of the School of Design, said:
“This timely funding will empower the higher education sector to responsibly realise AI's potential within doctoral research during a particularly critical time of the increasing use of these tools by the doctoral community. The School of Design is very pleased to be leading this exciting project, which will position us as leaders in AI.”
Professor Arunangsu Chatterjee, Dean of Digital Transformation at the University of Leeds, said:
“This award reflects the importance of collaboration across universities to understand and shape the role of AI in research. By working alongside Aston and partners across the Midlands and Yorkshire, we can bring together complementary expertise and perspectives. At Leeds, through One Leeds, we have committed to embracing AI in a way that is responsible, inclusive and guided by our values. I am particularly pleased to see Dr Hosam Al-Samarraie leading this work for Leeds.”
Professor Phil Mizen, Professor of Sociology and Policy at Aston University, said:
“The Artificial Intelligence Researcher Development Network Plus will provide detailed knowledge of the uptake and impact of publicly available AI tools across the doctoral ecosystem and use this to co-create much-needed information, resources and professional and skills training opportunities.”
Through its involvement in AI.RDN+, the Faculty will contribute to shaping national and international understanding of how AI can support future generations of researchers, while ensuring that the critical, ethical and creative perspectives of the arts, humanities and cultures are firmly embedded in this agenda.
