Artificial Intelligence (AI) Made Simple
Diversifying a research portfolio is essential for enhancing the impact and sustainability of your work, as it mitigates risks associated with current funding fluctuations and can also foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The integration of AI in the research process can facilitate the generation of innovative hypotheses, thus broadening the scope of inquiry. The following will assist in generating hypotheses for:
- Utilizing Pitt's Core Facilities
- Collaborating with another faculty member
- Applying for non-federal and private foundation grants
- Applying for sponsored research
For basic information about using AI and additional ideas for enhancing creativity in your grant writing, see this past presentation from Pitt faculty.
Generate Hypotheses Utilizing Pitt Core Facilities
Use this tool to help you brainstorm how to utilize Core facilities at Pitt to go in new and unique directions with your research. Paste the abstract of a key paper in between [ ] in the first box. Paste Core facility equipment* into the [ ] of the second box. Hit "Generate", which will produce a prompt for ChatGPT. Copy it in its entirety and then paste that into ChatGPT. This will produce 8 different hypotheses for you to research further. Once you narrow down viable options, work with the Core Managers, who can either help you or connect you with faculty at Pitt with expertise in that area for a potential collaboration.
*Search HS Core facilities here. Pick a category at the top, such as "imaging and microscopy". Copy and paste all text from that page into the [ ] above or you can be even more specific if you know the equipment of interest. All facilities, including those in specific departments and centers, can be found here.
Generate Hypotheses for Collaborating with Another Faculty Member
Use this tool to help you brainstorm a list of faculty you might want to collaborate with, if you don't already have someone in mind. Paste the abstract from one of your key papers in between [ ] in the first box. Paste a university's name (like "University of Pittsburgh") in between [ ] of the second box. Hit "Generate", which will produce a prompt for ChatGPT. Copy it in its entirety and then paste that into ChatGPT. This will produce 8 different faculty members and how your research might complement each other.
Use this tool to help you brainstorm ways to collaborate with another faculty member in new and unique directions. Paste the abstract from one of your key papers in between [ ] in the first box. Paste the bio of the identified faculty member, including their areas of expertise, in between [ ] of the second box. Hit "Generate", which will produce a prompt for ChatGPT. Copy it in its entirety and then paste that into ChatGPT. This will produce 8 different hypotheses and how your areas of expertise contribute to each for you to research further.
Generate Hypotheses for Applying for Non-Federal and Private Foundation Grants
Use this tool to help you brainstorm ways to apply for non-federal and private foundation grants. Paste the abstract from one of your key papers in between [ ] in the first box. Hit "Generate", which will produce a prompt for ChatGPT. Copy it in its entirety and then paste that into ChatGPT. This process will produce 5-10 non-federal and private foundations that you could apply for, with hypotheses for each that you can research further. Once you have a solid proposal, obtain further support from the Office of Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR), a "full-service partner for Pitt faculty in securing and stewarding foundation and corporate philanthropic gifts and grants".
Generate Hypotheses for Applying for Sponsored Research
Use this tool to help you brainstorm hypotheses that could be used to apply for sponsored research. Paste the abstract from one of your key papers in between [ ] in the first box. Hit "Generate", which will produce a prompt for ChatGPT. Copy it in its entirety and then paste that into ChatGPT. This will produce a list of 5-10 startups, venture funding, or companies that fund research like yours, along with 1-2 hypotheses for each with a description of how they fit the mission.
Note: Use these hypotheses as brainstorming, and do your own research to determine accuracy, relevance, feasibility, and originality. Notice Number: NOT-OD-25-132 Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications (July 17, 2025): "NIH is providing guidance to researchers on the appropriate usage of artificial intelligence (AI) to maintain the fairness and originality of NIH’s research application process. NIH is also instituting a new policy limiting the number of applications that NIH will consider per Principal Investigator per calendar year."