AI in Research Program

Student using ChatGPT

Empowering the CMU community to incorporate AI tools into their research workflows responsibly and effectively. The AI in Research (AIR) Program is an initiative from CMU Libraries that provides support for using AI at all stages of the research process, and provides resources such as frameworks, tools, and training. We help researchers assess and select the best AI-powered tool for their needs, keep them informed about evolving AI standards and practices in scholarly work, and connect them with peers leveraging AI across the various stages of the research lifecycle.

 

 

The Right Tool for the Job?

Many tools or databases provided by the Libraries boast GenAI-enhanced features added by vendors — some helpful, some less so. Our librarians developed a Tool Assessment Framework to help CMU researchers better understand a given tool’s strengths, limitations, and potential risks before integrating it into their workflows (see the table below for tools we have assessed so far). Note that a tool’s inclusion in this list does not mean unconditional endorsement.

To learn more about the evaluation process, or to dig deeper into a specific tool, schedule a meeting with one of our librarians by filling out this form (select “Using AI in Research” in the drop-down).

 

 

Sorrells Library

 

Training & Resources

Our growing suite of training opportunities and resources is designed to help researchers across all disciplines understand how to use GenAI and other AI-powered tools effectively and responsibly in their research.

Training Opportunities:

We offer a selection of scheduled and on-demand training opportunities to help AI power your research.

Examples of past trainings include:

Reach out to coordinate a free training session for your department, lab, or class.

 

View all upcoming workshops and events.

 

Resources and Guides:

  • Artificial Intelligence Research LibGuide: Provides essential definitions of key artificial intelligence concepts and connects researchers to CMU Libraries' specialized resources, including research tools, datasets, and scholarly articles.
  • Generative AI LibGuide: Provides essential resources for understanding and effectively using AI tools in academic settings, covering prompt engineering techniques, ethical considerations, citation practices, and CMU-specific guidelines to support teaching, learning, and research applications.
  • Making Your Research Data AI-Ready: Curated materials and guidance on how to ensure your data is optimized for machine learning environments.
  • TDM Guide: Resources and support for text and data mining projects.
  • Best Practices for Large Language Models: A curated selection of examples to get the best out of AI chatbots. 
  • CLEAR: A framework for prompt engineering.
  • Anthropic's Prompt Engineering Tutorial: An interactive tutorial that helps you understand how to engineer optimal prompts within Claude.

 

Community of Practice

To foster campus-wide collaboration and knowledge sharing, we’re building an AI In Research Community of Practice with events, meetups, and speaker series.

Current activities:

  • AI In Research Pop-Up: We can visit your department or research group by request to demo CMU Library supported AI-tools, share our experience on evaluating these tools, and discuss how to use these tools effectively without compromising critical thinking. Email Us to request a Pop-Up event!
  • AIR Speaker Series: We invite researchers from across disciplines to share their experiences on how they use GenAI in their research and how AI applications are impacting their workflows.

Other relevant communities:

  • Tartan Research Data Alliance: The Tartan Research Data Alliance is a community of practice returning in Fall 2026. At its heart, the TRDA is a bottom-up network where fellows learn by doing together, building fluency in documenting the three pillars of modern research: data, code, and the use of large language models (LLMs). See more details for enrollment.

 

In Person and Virtual Consultations

Library faculty with expertise in using AI-tools to brainstorm research ideas, navigate literature, find critical information, or assist in writing and coding are happy to offer one-on-one consultations to help you navigate the process of integrating AI in your research while maintaining critical thinking.

 

Email Us

 

Our Team

 

Primary Contact(s)

 

Manage

Manage Information & Data

Work with our specialists to evaluate, select, and implement the tools to organize your data and keep your project on track.