Peer Mentoring Group (PMG) Conveners: Sujatha Koduvayur, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and Brooke Gowl, Appalachian State University
The AI in RD Peer Mentoring Group (PMG) is now being launched to provide a vehicle for supporting NORDP members interested in using artificial intelligence (AI) in their research development (RD) practice, such as instructing researchers on how to securely and efficiently incorporate AI in their work.
The 2025 NORDP Conference included several sessions that addressed the use of AI in RD. AI, when used judiciously, can significantly impact research endeavors by strengthening the practice of RD. Currently, RD professionals are using AI to perform targeted grant searches; assist with proposal development by creating summaries, checklists, and other resources from notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) and other solicitation guidelines; and support team science practices by creating ideation meeting summaries and identifying potential collaborators. Having a PMG to disseminate these practices, learn from each other, and jointly find better and more efficient ways to leverage AI tools in our work directly aligns with NORDP’s mission to advance RD as a profession.
The AI in RD PMG will share current practices and explore new ways to:
- include AI in our RD daily practice,
- learn about privacy and ethical concerns,
- discuss program director-invited presentations on AI applications,
- design and develop faculty resources on best practices for AI-assisted grantwriting,
- converse about other AI-related topics in RD.
The PMG will invite external experts for guest lectures in addition to the discussion of case studies encountered by PMG members who currently use AI in their daily tasks.
NORDP Members can view and join PMGs via the WisdomShare Platform or you can email Sujatha Koduvayur or Brooke Gowl to learn more about and get involved with the new AI in RD PMG. Questions about the WisdomShare platform can be directed to mentorprogram@nordp.org.
NORDP Members interested in learning more about all eight active PMGs, including AI in RD, can join the 2025-2026 Peer Mentoring Group Kickoff on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from 1:00–2:00 PM Eastern.
Register for the PMG Kickoff here!
In addition to the new AI in RD PMG, the following seven PMGs are also currently active:
- AI in RD: exploring the use of AI in research development workflow and applications
- Career & Professional Development: exploring how to become more efficient and effective in our roles
- Coaching & RD: developing and implementing coaching as part of the research development (RD) skillset
- Collaboration & Team Science: building collaborations and interdisciplinary research programs
- Faculty Development: supporting RD professionals who perform faculty development through programming and workshops
- Leadership & Management: leading in both official and unofficial capacities
- Proposal Development & Project Management for Research: Supporting proposal development for faculty grant seeking and leveraging project management tools and methodologies to enhance efficiency and success in securing extramural funding
- Strategic Planning & Advancement: guiding policy and planning for enhanced research and scholarship
NORDP News 