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Prompt course · 9 lessons · 26 prompts · 1 hour · Beginner

AI for Postdoctoral Researchers

A prompt course built for postdoctoral researchers. Learn to use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for literature reviews, manuscripts, grants, data analysis, and lab tasks.

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What you'll learn

  • Literature reviews: Turn a folder of PDFs into a clear summary of themes and gaps.
  • Manuscript drafting: Shape rough notes into polished sections and answer reviewer comments.
  • Grant writing: Structure proposals and justify budgets with clear language.
  • Experiment design: Plan robust experiments and troubleshoot when things fail.
  • Data analysis: Write and debug analysis code, interpret stats, and clean messy data.
  • Conference talks: Prepare talk scripts, posters, and practice Q&A.
  • Mentoring students: Give better feedback and build training plans.
  • Lab admin: Handle emails, progress reports, and peer review drafts.

What's inside

9 lessons · 26 prompts
  1. Before you start · framework course RACE Prompt Framework: Role, Action, Context, ExpectationRACE fits postdoc work because it defines role, action, context, and expected quality when you ask for a grant proposal critique.
  2. Start here Daniela's Wednesday, two waysA day in the life of a Postdoctoral Researcher, before and after these prompts.
  3. 01 Lesson 1 · 5 prompts Literature Review & Summaries
  4. 02 Lesson 2 · 4 prompts Manuscript Drafting & Editing
  5. 03 Lesson 3 · 2 prompts Grant Writing & Budgeting
  6. 04 Lesson 4 · 3 prompts Experiment Design & Troubleshooting
  7. 05 Lesson 5 · 4 prompts Data Analysis & Coding Help
  8. 06 Lesson 6 · 2 prompts Conference Talks & Posters
  9. 07 Lesson 7 · 2 prompts Supervising & Mentoring Students
  10. 08 Lesson 8 · 2 prompts Lab Admin & Communication
  11. 09 Lesson 9 · 2 prompts Peer Review & Research Ethics

About this course

7 topics

Prompts for Postdoctoral Researchers: Papers, Grants, Lab Work

This course is a set of prompts made for postdoctoral researchers. Each lesson takes one part of your job, like a literature review or a grant budget, and shows you how to work with an AI tool to get it done faster.

You will use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. The prompts are written in plain language, with examples from real research work, so you can copy them and adjust them to your field.

  1. The lessons
    1. Literature Review & Summaries: Use AI to quickly digest and organize large sets of papers and find research gaps.
    2. Manuscript Drafting & Editing: Use AI to turn rough notes into polished manuscript sections and handle reviewer feedback.
    3. Grant Writing & Budgeting: Use AI to structure grant proposals and justify budgets for funding applications.
    4. Experiment Design & Troubleshooting: Use AI to plan robust experiments, troubleshoot failures, and calculate sample sizes.
    5. Data Analysis & Coding Help: Use AI to write and debug analysis code, interpret stats, and clean messy data.
    6. Conference Talks & Posters: Use AI to prepare conference presentations, from talk scripts to Q&A practice.
    7. Supervising & Mentoring Students: Use AI to give better feedback and create structured training plans for students.
    8. Lab Admin & Communication: Use AI to handle professional emails and progress reports efficiently.
    9. Peer Review & Research Ethics: Use AI to draft peer reviews and ensure ethical compliance in publications.
  2. What the course covers

    The course follows the arc of a postdoc's work. It starts with reading and summarizing papers, moves through drafting and editing manuscripts, then covers grants, experiments, data analysis, talks, mentoring, lab admin, and peer review.

    Each lesson gives you a set of prompts, a short explanation of why they work, and a note on what to check before you use the output.

  3. How the lessons connect

    The lessons build on each other. A literature review feeds a manuscript introduction. A manuscript draft feeds a conference talk. A grant budget feeds a progress report.

    You can take them in order or jump to the one you need today. The prompts stay in one place, so you can come back when a new task lands on your desk.

  4. How to use the prompts well

    Good prompts are specific. Tell the AI your field, your audience, and what you want the output to do. Ask for a summary in three paragraphs, or a reviewer response in a calm tone.

    Always read what the AI gives you. It can miss a nuance or invent a citation. Treat it as a fast first draft, not a final answer.

  5. Who this course is for

    This course is for postdoctoral researchers in any field, from biology to history to engineering. It is also useful for senior PhD students who are close to defending.

    You do not need any coding or AI experience. If you can write an email, you can write a prompt.

  6. Safety and privacy for research

    Unpublished data, patient information, and grant reviews should stay out of public AI tools. The course shows you what to keep private and what is safe to share.

    You will also learn how to check for bias, credit sources, and follow your institution's rules on AI use in research.

  7. Your next step

    Pick one task from your week, like summarizing a paper or drafting a progress report. Open your AI tool and try the matching prompt from the course.

    Notice how long it takes and what you do with the time you save. Then move to the next lesson when you are ready.