Companion Website

AI-Enabled
Research 2.0

From Lab to Practice: A Hands-On Guide to AI Tools Across the Academic Research Lifecycle

Eight practical laboratory modules mapping every phase of academic research — from systematic literature review to computational simulation — to curated, evidence-based AI toolsets. Developed and validated at the Symbio Living Lab, Zayed University.

Explore the Labs ↓ Browse AI Tools
8
Lab Modules
70+
AI Tools
10
Chapters
2
Authors
Symbio Living Lab
AI-Enabled Research 2.0
Ahmed Seffah · Fatna Belqasmi
Zayed University, UAE

Authors: Ahmed Seffah, P.Eng., Ph.D., HDR & Fatna Belqasmi

Institution: College of Technological Innovation, Zayed University

Focus: Human-Centric AI | Genuine Sustainability

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Quick-Start Guide

Three steps to get started

1
Choose your research phase
Identify where you are in your research lifecycle — discovery, design, analysis, experimentation, or dissemination.
2
Find the matching lab
Each of the 8 labs maps to a specific research task with a curated, evidence-based AI toolset and step-by-step workflow.
3
Download & practice
Get the workbook, follow the guided workflow, and apply the tools to your own research project immediately.
8 Laboratory Modules

From literature to simulation,
every research phase covered

Each lab pairs a research methodology with a curated AI toolset. Click any card to see the full workflow.

Featured Case Study

HONOR-ME & DevicePassport: AI for a Circular Economy

Undergraduate capstone students developed two AI-powered sustainability applications using the Lab 4 prototyping workflow. HONOR-ME matches humanitarian device donors with recipients using intelligent AI, while DevicePassport creates lifecycle passports for electronic devices — together constituting a novel AI Sustainability Companion design pattern.

Tools Used Figma AI, Galileo AI, Uizard, v0.dev for rapid prototype iteration
Methods Applied Design Thinking, Rapid Prototyping, AI-assisted A/B testing, WCAG accessibility
SDG Impact Addresses UN SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) through circular economy design
Lab Chapter Lab 4 — Prototype Development & Proof-of-Concept Validation
AI Tools Directory

70+ tools, mapped to your research method

Filter by research phase or method type to find the right AI tool for your workflow.

View Full Directory (70+ tools) →
Methodological Framework

Four principles for AI-augmented research

Distilled from two years of longitudinal application across graduate and undergraduate courses at Symbio Living Lab.

1
Evidence-Based Tool Selection
Tool choices must be grounded in published usability evidence and peer-reviewed case studies — not novelty or marketing claims.
2
Human Judgment Remains Central
AI augments but never replaces researcher authority. At every stage, the researcher retains interpretive accountability for AI outputs.
3
Methodology Drives Tool Choice
Research questions and epistemological commitments determine which AI tools are appropriate — not the reverse.
4
Reproducibility Requires Documentation
Document prompts, parameters, and tool versions with the same rigor applied to statistical procedures or lab protocols.
Downloads & Resources

Everything you need to start doing

Lab Workbooks
8 workbooks · PDF & .docx
Step-by-step guided workbooks for each lab, with exercise prompts, tool checklists, and reflection questions.
Download All Workbooks →
Prompt Library
120+ curated prompts
Copyable ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini prompt templates organized by research task, framework, and discipline.
Browse Prompts →
Educator Pack
10 slide decks · syllabus · rubrics
Ready-to-use lecture slides, course syllabus templates, and grading rubrics for each chapter. Editable PowerPoint format.
Access Educator Resources →
Glossary
60+ key terms
Searchable definitions covering AI methods, research methodologies, ethical frameworks, and statistical concepts used throughout the book.
Open Glossary →
Dataset Starters
8 starter datasets · CSV / JSON
Pre-processed sample datasets for each lab, ready to load into the featured AI tools. Ideal for immediate hands-on practice.
Download Datasets →
Reference Library
Full bibliography · Zotero public group
Complete bibliography with public Zotero group library, BibTeX export, and annotated reading lists per chapter.
Open in Zotero →
About the Authors

The team behind the framework

AS
Ahmed Seffah
P.Eng., Ph.D., HDR — Full Professor, Zayed University · Symbio Living Lab Director
30-year international research career spanning Canada (Full Professor, Concordia University), the USA (Distinguished Visiting Scholar, IBM Almaden Research Centre), Europe, and the UAE. Holder of a French Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR). Expert in Human-Centric AI, software engineering, and sustainable design. IFIP TC13 and TC9 representative; ACM senior member. Founder of the CODER Living Lab (Finland) and Symbio Living Lab (UAE). Has designed and accredited 15+ academic programmes and secured major research funding across NSERC Canada and EU frameworks.
FB
Fatna Belqasmi
Ph.D. — Associate Professor, Zayed University · Symbio Living Lab
Researcher at the Symbio Living Lab at Zayed University's College of Technological Innovation. Her work focuses on AI-enabled sustainability research, network systems, and the integration of AI tools into graduate research methods curricula. Co-developer of the eight-lab AI research framework presented in this book, validated across graduate cybersecurity, HCI, and capstone project contexts.
Symbio Living Lab — Human-Centric AI | Genuine Sustainability
An interdisciplinary research lab at Zayed University's Abu Dhabi campus, comprising 8 professors from 3 faculties and 20+ student researchers from across the UAE. All projects are driven by the UN SDGs and the UAE National Strategy for sustainability, food security, and climate change. Member of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL).
Community

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Discussion Forum
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Applied the labs in your own research? Share your experience and be featured on the site.
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Events & Webinars
Upcoming: IFIP-HCI, ICT4Sustainability, and ISCRAM in Abu Dhabi (2027/2028). Online workshops monthly.
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