Research with ChatGPT and NotebookLM

Prompt Academy Learning Series

AI-Assisted Research
with ChatGPT and NotebookLM

A guided AI-assisted research journey that connects purposeful conversation, deeper reading and critical understanding. The current participant module focuses on reviewing a research paper with ChatGPT and NotebookLM.

AI-Assisted Research with ChatGPT and NotebookLM
Conversation. Reading. Critical thinking. AI supports the research process while knowledge, verification and human judgement remain at the centre.
Welcome to the Series

Research begins with understanding

This Learning Series is designed as an active guided experience rather than a collection of ready-made prompts.

AI can help researchers explore ideas, understand complex papers and refine academic thinking. However meaningful research cannot begin by asking AI to produce an immediate answer.

It begins with a clear destination, subject knowledge and a conversation that allows understanding to develop. Researchers need time to explain their context, question assumptions and clarify what they genuinely want to learn.

In this Learning Series, ChatGPT and NotebookLM are connected within one learning workflow. ChatGPT supports conversation and the development of context. NotebookLM supports source-grounded reading and analysis. The researcher remains responsible for interpretation, verification and final judgement.

Conversation first. Request later.

General prompts often produce general responses. A richer response develops when AI has sufficient context and when the researcher has already clarified the purpose of the conversation.

The Story Behind This Learning Series

Developed through a real postgraduate research workshop

This Learning Series was originally developed for a postgraduate research workshop organised by the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The workshop formed part of a guidance programme for postgraduate students under the supervision of Prof. Madya Ir. Ts. Dr. Zuratul Ain Abdul Hamid. The programme focused on academic publishing, publication strategies and challenges faced by postgraduate researchers.

Ts. Dr. Suhailah Mohamed Noor was invited as a speaker and facilitator to share a practical approach to using ChatGPT and NotebookLM within the research process.

The current focus was refined in response to the needs of the session. Participants would be guided through a practical demonstration of reviewing a research paper with AI support.

Programme Bengkel Bimbingan Penulisan Berimpak bagi Pelajar Pasca Siswazah
Organiser School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Coordinator Prof. Madya Ir. Ts. Dr. Zuratul Ain Abdul Hamid
Date 16 July 2026
Platform Online Webinar via Webex
Facilitator Ts. Dr. Suhailah Mohamed Noor
Invitation letter from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Official invitation dated 14 July 2026 from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
01

Workshop Invitation

A focused session was requested to support postgraduate research and academic publication.

02

Learning Design

The content was designed around the connected use of ChatGPT and NotebookLM.

03

Paper Review Focus

The session was refined to demonstrate how researchers can understand and critically review a paper.

04

Learning Module

The session was developed as a reusable Prompt Academy participant learning module.

Purpose of the Series

Learning how to review a paper, not merely summarise it

The current Learning Module helps postgraduate researchers use ChatGPT and NotebookLM as connected thinking and reading tools while keeping interpretation, verification and academic judgement in human hands.

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Build the Research Context

Begin with a meaningful conversation in ChatGPT. Explain the research area, existing understanding and the reason a selected paper matters before requesting any analysis.

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Understand the Paper Deeply

Use NotebookLM to examine the research problem, objective, methodology, findings and contribution through a source-grounded reading process.

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Evaluate and Build Meaning

Identify strengths, limitations and unanswered questions before returning to ChatGPT to connect the paper with the wider research journey.

The Current Learning Workflow

One paper, five connected stages

Participants move from research context to deeper reading, critical evaluation and reflection through a connected ChatGPT and NotebookLM workflow.

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Build Context

Explain the research area, existing knowledge and reading purpose.

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Position the Paper

Clarify why the selected paper is relevant to the research.

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Understand Deeply

Examine the problem, methodology, findings and contribution.

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Analyse Critically

Evaluate evidence, assumptions, strengths and limitations.

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Connect and Reflect

Relate the paper to the study and identify the next direction.

This is more than an AI-generated summary. The researcher reads, questions, verifies and decides what the paper means within a wider research context.
Current Participant Module

AI-Assisted Research Paper Review

The first active module in this Learning Series focuses on helping postgraduate researchers understand and critically review one research paper using ChatGPT and NotebookLM.

Prompt Academy Learning Module

AI-Assisted Research Paper Review

Read deeper. Think critically. Build understanding.

๐Ÿ” Password-Protected Participant Area

Research paper review with ChatGPT and NotebookLM

This guided module takes participants through five connected stages. The journey begins by developing the research context in ChatGPT before moving to source-grounded reading and critical analysis in NotebookLM. Participants then return to ChatGPT to connect the new understanding with their wider research direction.

  • Build the research context through meaningful conversation
  • Explain why the selected paper matters to the research
  • Understand the paper beyond a general summary
  • Evaluate its methodology, evidence, strengths and limitations
  • Connect the paper with the participantโ€™s own research journey
  • Develop a structured foundation for a meaningful paper review
Participant access required

Registered participants will be asked to enter the workshop password before the complete learning module is displayed.

Enter the Paper Review Module
Expected Outcomes

What should participants achieve?

The goal is not to complete an entire literature review within one session. The goal is to establish a reliable paper review process that can be repeated with other scholarly sources.

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A clearly understood research paper Participants can explain the study without depending only on an AI-generated summary.
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A structured set of paper notes Purpose, methodology, findings, contribution, strengths and limitations.
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A critical review foundation Evidence-based observations that can later support academic writing.
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A connection to the participantโ€™s research A clearer explanation of why the selected paper matters to the wider study.
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A direction for the next reading Questions, concepts and gaps that guide the selection of the next paper.
Knowledge comes before prompting.

This Learning Series does not begin with a list of general prompts. General prompts often produce general responses because the AI has not yet developed sufficient context.

Participants first build understanding through conversation. They share what they know, clarify what they want and refine the destination before asking AI to organise or produce an output.

AI supports the journey. The researcher thinks, evaluates, verifies and decides.

Participant learning access

This introduction page remains publicly available as part of the Prompt Academy Learning Series.

Detailed instructions, guided activities and participant resources are provided through the protected paper review module.

Registered participants may use the workshop password provided by the facilitator to access the complete guided module.

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Enter the Protected Learning Area

Click the button below then enter the participant password provided during the workshop.

Enter Protected Paper Review Module
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Ts. Dr. Suhailah Mohamed Noor

Founder, Prompt Academy

Ts. Dr. Suhailah Mohamed Noor is a lecturer, author and AI trainer who focuses on responsible AI use, critical thinking and knowledge-based prompting. Her approach places human understanding and judgement at the centre of every AI-assisted learning process.

Read deeper.
Think critically.
Build understanding.

A meaningful paper review develops through reading, conversation, verification and human judgement.

Begin the Paper Review Journey
Prompt Academy Learning Series
AI-Assisted Research with ChatGPT and NotebookLM
First delivered on 16 July 2026
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