How should we train chemists in the age of AI?
October 31, 2026
Northwestern Chemistry Professor Franz Geiger explores how artificial intelligence is changing scientific training and the development of critical thinking skills.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into scientific research, how can the next generation of chemists develop the independent judgment needed to make meaningful discoveries?
In a recent opinion piece for Chemical & Engineering News, Franz M. Geiger examines the challenges AI presents for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and their mentors. While AI can accelerate scientific discovery, Geiger argues that the experiences of trial and error, problem-solving and navigating uncertainty remain essential to developing scientific reasoning and critical thinking.