Research-a-thon

• Competition launch: October 1, 2026
• Submission deadline: 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2026
• Winners announced: Spring 2027

Researchers from across Penn State are invited to participate, individually or as collaborative teams. Projects from any discipline or research area are welcome.

Complete the Research-a-thon submission form to tell us how AI contributed to your project.

Research-a-thon Submission Form

Upload a single Word or PDF document that includes the following sections.

Please keep the document to less than three pages (excluding figures and references) in Times New Roman 11 pt font, single column and single spaced format.

1. Research Problem (.25-.50 pages)
   Briefly describe the research problem, hypothesis, or question you are working on. Write this description so it is concise and accessible to a broad, non-specialist audience.
   
2. Generative AI Workflow (1–1.50 pages)
   Describe how you use generative AI tools throughout your research workflow to accomplish your goals related to the research question defined above. Be specific about which tools you use, at which stages of your research process, and how they fit into your broader methodology.
   
3. Impact and Value (0.50 pages)
   Describe what your generative AI use enables you to accomplish that would be difficult or impossible otherwise. We're interested in these and any other ways GenAI use has been helpful to your research. For example:
   1. Is it shortening the time required for you or your team to complete small or large research tasks?
   2. Is it unlocking new capabilities that would otherwise be outside your reach or scope?
4. Innovation (0.25–0.50 pages)
   Explain why your use of generative AI is innovative compared to your peers in the field. Your approach doesn't need to be entirely novel, but let us know if you're using generative AI in a way that is distinctive or different from common practice.

The following awards will be presented to the researchers whose work best meets the Research-a-thon criteria:

• First Place: $5,000
• Second Place: $2,000
• Third Place: $1,000
• Honorable Mentions: $500

A panel of judges will evaluate each submission on criteria such as innovation and originality, the significance of AI’s contribution to the research, and the impact on research outcomes. The strongest submissions will demonstrate how AI has transformed both the conduct of the research and its outcomes, showcasing the transformative potential of generative AI.

Through the Research-a-thon and engagement with Penn State’s Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence, participants can showcase innovative approaches to AI-supported research, share lessons with the Penn State research community, and help demonstrate the transformative potential of Generative AI across disciplines.