Harnessing AI for Research Success - A Practical Workshop for HDR Students and Researchers

This full day, hands-on in person workshop is designed for graduate researchers looking to harness the power of AI in their research. Dr Jason Downes will demonstrate how to use AI tools creatively and effectively to enhance your research and writing practice, while staying within university guidelines and maintaining academic integrity.

Learn how to:

● Generate fresh perspectives and creative approaches to research using AI tools

● Spark new ideas and overcome blocks in writing practice

● Use AI to support all stages of the writing process

● Transform the editing process with AI-assisted tools for clarity, flow and consistency

● Create time-saving workflows for common research administration tasks

● Transform routine administrative work into efficient, automated processes

● Use AI as a thinking partner to explore research questions from new angles

● Speed up literature review and note-taking processes

● Strengthen arguments and improve writing clarity with AI-assisted editing

● Develop strategies for knowing when (and when not) to use AI in research practice

Workshop Content

Understanding AI Fundamentals

• General overview of AI capabilities and limitations

• How AI works at a human level

• Understanding risks and responsible use within academic contexts

Research Workflow Enhancement

• Brainstorming and idea generation

• Literature review assistance using tools like Elicit and Consensus

• Note-taking strategies with Google Notebook LM

• Converting handwritten notes to digital format

• Creating literature matrices to compare and contrast articles

• Building specialised AI research assistant 'bots' for specific tasks

Writing and Communication

• Using AI for different stages of the writing process

• Editing and refining academic prose

• Creating participant information statements

• Developing impact statements and communications plans

• Preparing for conference organisation

Practical Applications

• Administrative task automation (including email management)

• Research project planning with tools like Goblin Tools

• Creating prompts for maximum effectiveness ('prompt engineering')

• Querying and analysing digital research notes

Ethical Considerations

• The University of Melbourne guidelines and policies

• Privacy laws and data protection

• Research ethics and academic integrity

• Researcher responsibility for outputs

• Environmental costs and sustainability considerations

• Labour practices and creative rights issues

• Work intensification and burnout prevention

What to Bring

• A fully charged laptop

• Current writing projects you're working on

• Details of your research project(s)

Facilitator

Dr Jason Downes

Dr Jason Downs bridges the gap between academic research and real-world innovation in higher education. With over two decades of global experience, from Australia to Vietnam, Jason brings a fresh, internationally informed perspective to educational leadership. His work spans shaping institutional policies to exploring AI's potential in learning and research, always with an eye on practical, forward-thinking solutions.

Jason has led courses across Asia-Pacific, including Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta, and Australia. He has experience teaching large undergraduate courses and courses at the postgraduate level. This global perspective informs his work in educational policy, program design, and stakeholder engagement. Jason has led teams responsible for institutional Academic Integrity, Quality and Standards and program design.

Jason also co-hosts the successful podcast "On The Reg" with Professor Inger Mewburn (The Thesis Whisperer), which has garnered over 140,000 downloads.