Wednesday 27 January 2027 | 14:30 - 16:00 I Workshop Room
AI is moving beyond chatbots and becoming something much more useful for researchers: agents that can carry out tasks, interact with data, and help automate parts of the scientific workflow...
In this practical workshop, you will be introduced to the core concepts behind Agentic AI and explain what scientists actually need to know to start using it effectively. He'll unpack the terminology, show how these systems work under the hood, and discuss what determines whether you should trust an AI-generated result.
The workshop hosts will then share examples from their own work and colleagues across the life sciences who are already using AI to solve real research problems — from analysing genomic and single-cell datasets to drafting grants, papers and other research outputs.
Most of the session will be hands-on. Participants will build their own AI-powered website or tool designed to tackle a challenge they face in their day-to-day work. The goal is simple: leave with something genuinely useful that you can continue using after the workshop.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will:
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Understand the key concepts and terminology behind Agentic AI
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Understand how AI agents are built and why that matters when interpreting outputs
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Be able to identify opportunities to use Agentic AI in their own research
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Gain confidence in evaluating the strengths and limitations of AI-generated results
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Build a simple AI-powered tool to support a real research task
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Leave with practical ideas for incorporating AI into their day-to-day workflow
Who should attend
This workshop is aimed at life science researchers who are curious about how AI can help them work more effectively, regardless of their technical background.
It will be particularly valuable for:
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Wet-lab scientists
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Bioinformaticians and computational biologists
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Genomics researchers
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PhD students and postdoctoral researchers
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Principal investigators and research group leaders
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Anyone interested in building practical AI tools for research
No coding or AI experience is required.
Workshop outline
- Understanding Agentic AI and What It Can Do for Researchers.
You will be introduced to key concepts behind Agentic AI and then see examples of how researchers are already putting these tools to work.
- Build Your Own Research Tool.
In the hands-on portion of the workshop, participants will identify a challenge in their own work and build a simple AI-powered website or application to help address it.
**Please register your interest in being considered for a workshop place when completing your festival ticket registration.**