March 4, 2026

NCURA's Fourth AI Symposium

Moving Beyond the AI Hype to Real-World Research Modernization

We are hitting a major turning point that is going to permanently change how federal research works. Between new national security rules and the massive amount of energy needed to run AI, the way the government hands out money is being rewritten right now.

At the upcoming 4th AI Symposium, Atom Grants is leading a session to talk about what this actually looks like on the ground. We are skipping the future talk and focusing on the tools that are already helping research offices keep up.

AI: The New Research Partner

The daily grind for researchers and administrators finding grants, picking teams, and checking proposals is changing. Join Tomer du Sautoy (Co-Founder, Atom Grants), Raphael Bernier (Head of Partnership & Growth, Atom Grants), and Kym Fash (Associate Director of the Sponsored Programs and Research Office (SPARO), DHHA) to see how AI is acting as a co-pilot in the office.

What we are covering:

• Beyond Keyword Search: Why typical search tools fail and how AI actually understands what your research is about to find better matches.
• The Co-Pilot Setup: How AI can handle the boring administrative tasks so you can focus on the actual science.
• Following the Rules: Staying on the right side of NIH and NSF guidelines so your use of AI is safe and transparent.
• Where AI Fails: An honest look at hallucinations (when AI makes things up) and how to catch those mistakes before they cause problems.

Modernizing Your Research Office

As agencies like the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense take the lead in AI funding, universities have to change how they play the game. You cannot rely on manual spreadsheets and old databases anymore if you want to win.

Whether you are starting an AI committee or running a busy research office, the goal is simple: get your time back for science.

See You There

Come find us in the Discovery track to see how these tools are being used by real universities today.

Can't wait for the symposium? See how Atom Grants is already turning research offices into automated discovery engines.