Course 4
Date
21 – 23 January 2027
Faculty
Kene David Nwosu
GRAPH Courses
Université de Genève, Switzerland
Prof. em. Matthias Egger
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), Switzerland
Venue
Wengen, Switzerland
Course description
Generative AI is rapidly changing how epidemiologists analyse data, search the literature, write, and communicate their findings. At the same time, these tools raise important questions about validity, transparency, reproducibility, confidentiality, and scientific integrity. This course introduces the responsible use of generative AI for epidemiologic research, combining structured lectures with extensive hands-on practical work. Topics include AI-assisted data analysis; literature searching and summarisation; scientific writing; the creation of presentations, infographics, and promotional materials; the design of study-related websites; and an outlook on how emerging agentic AI capabilities will shape the future of research. Throughout, participants will examine the limitations of each application and learn strategies for mitigating them. Participants will also have the opportunity to demonstrate their own uses of AI in research.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to equip participants with practical, critical, and ethically grounded skills for using generative AI in epidemiology. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the main opportunities and limitations of generative AI for epidemiologic research, including risks of error, bias, and over-reliance on automated outputs.
- Use AI coding assistants to support epidemiological data analysis workflows, from project setup and exploratory analysis through regression modelling to report generation.
- Use AI tools to support literature searching, summarisation, and scientific writing, and evaluate their current capabilities for systematic reviews.
- Design and publish a website for an epidemiological study using generative LLM coding assistants.
- Create scientific illustrations, infographics, and promotional materials for research studies using generative AI.
Course audience
PhD students, postdocs, researchers, lecturers, and public health professionals with an interest in using generative AI responsibly in epidemiologic research, evidence synthesis, teaching, and scientific communication.
Course outline
The course runs over three days and consists of lectures and computer practical sessions.
Morning sessions will consist of lectures. During the extended afternoon break, participants review course materials, catch up on email, or ski. We reconvene at 4:30 pm for the computer sessions.
Thursday, 21 January 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Friday, 22 January 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Saturday, 23 January 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Credits
1.0 ECTS
Course materials
Bring a portable computer.
Onsite University of Bern IT staff provides support upon e-mail () request
Course fee
| PhD Bern: | CHF 600 |
| PhD other: | CHF 800 |
| Academic: | CHF 1’000 |
| Industry: | CHF 2’000 |
Registration
Go to registration information
Accommodation
Book your accommodation separately. Please see recommendations for special prices.