Course
101: AI-Powered Scientific Research Skills Course
A hands-on, 5-day live workshop that teaches you to search, read, evaluate, and present scientific papers using AI and Waffoo Search — the core research skills you need for MS and PhD programs in the life sciences.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
Formulate a research question and build a search strategy to search scientific databases effectively
- 1.1Turn a vague topic into a focused, searchable research question or hypothesis using proven frameworks like PICO.
- 1.2Identify the right databases for your question — PubMed, Google Scholar, and more — and build precise, reproducible searches using keywords, filters, and Boolean/MeSH terms.
Find and manage evidence (papers, books, recorded lectures, and reports)
- 2.1Run an AI-assisted literature search with Waffoo Search — with zero hallucinations — finding and screening the right papers faster while verifying every source.
- 2.2Save, organize, and cite papers using reference managers like Zotero and Mendeley, so you never lose a source and can cite effortlessly while you write.
Critically appraise and interpret research — figures, tables, and results
- 3.1Judge whether a study is strong, weak, or misleading — and explain why — using critical-appraisal and evidence-based methods.
- 3.2Read graphs, tables, and statistics and extract their meaning, spotting common mistakes, without reading every line.
Deliver a scientific presentation — journal club and rounds ready
- 4.1Present a paper clearly and structure your talk for a scientific audience (journal club and clinical rounds presentations).
- 4.2Handle questions and discussion with confidence — preparing you for your first journal club or clinical rounds presentation, a core skill for MS and PhD study.
How it works
- Sunday, July 26 – Thursday, July 30, 2026
- 5-day live intensive
Days 1–4
Each day: 1-hour lecture, 1 hour hands-on with the instructor, and a 1-hour Q&A.
Day 5 — Presentations
Group presentations and certificates — full details in the day-by-day roadmap below.
Time
- Main slot — Evening: 7:00–10:00 PM Saudi time (12:00–3:00 PM US Eastern)
- Optional slot — Afternoon: 1:00–4:00 PM Saudi time (6:00–9:00 AM US Eastern)
The afternoon slot opens once enough students register interest — you can mark your interest on the registration page. US times shown for daylight saving.
- Small cohort — limited to 10 students per session slot
- Duration: 3 hours per day (15 hours total)
- Online: Zoom / Google Meet
Day-by-day roadmap
Sunday, July 26 – Thursday, July 30, 2026 · 3 hours a day
Day 1 · Sunday, July 26 – Foundations & Your Research Question (Instructor-Led)
- Framing a clear research question or theory
- Doing it with AI
- How the research workflow fits together
- Choosing a paper to present on Day 5
Day 2 · Monday, July 27 – Finding the Evidence
- Searching for papers the right way
- Finding evidence faster with AI
- Saving and organizing what you find
Live hands-on with Waffoo Search
Day 3 · Tuesday, July 28 – Reading & Appraising Papers
- How to read efficiently — what to focus on, what to ignore
- Telling strong, weak, and misleading papers apart
- Judging whether the methods make sense
Day 4 · Wednesday, July 29 – Building Your Presentation
- Reading figures, tables, and results
- What to include and what to leave out
- Building clear slides with AI assistance
Day 5 · Thursday, July 30 – Presentations & Certificate
- Group presentations — small teams of 3–4 students
- 15 min presentation + 5 min discussion each
- Closing remarks and certificates
Present as a team, then receive your certificate
Assessment & certificate of completion
You're actively assessed, not just marked present — and successful completion earns you an official Certificate of Completion issued by Waffoo AI LLC.
How you're assessed
- Research question & relevance — is the paper's question clear and well-framed?
- Critical appraisal — the study's strengths, weaknesses, and limitations
- Results & figures — accurate interpretation of the data
- Delivery & clarity — structure, timing, and clarity of the presentation
- Discussion — handling questions and engaging in scientific discussion
What your certificate states
- Participant's full name
- Total instructional hours (15 hours)
- Program dates
- Instructor name and credentials
- Waffoo branding and signature
Completion requires attending at least 4 of the 5 live sessions and delivering your group presentation on Day 5. The certificate is designed to support scholarship, employer, or SACM reimbursement — a sample is available on request.
Your instructor
Wafaa Aldhafiri, PhD
The course is taught personally by Wafaa Aldhafiri, founder of Waffoo AI. Her background spans academic research and the pharmaceutical industry:
- PhD and founder of Waffoo AI
- Two-time ASCPT Presidential Trainee Award recipient
- Research experience at AstraZeneca and Gilead
Pricing
Program Fee
$1,400 USD
(≈ 5,250 SAR)
One-time fee for the full 5-day workshop
Includes:
- 15 hours of live instruction over 5 days
- Hands-on training with AI and Waffoo Search
- 6 months of Waffoo Search Premium, free
- Guided group presentation with feedback
- Certificate of completion
- Shareable LinkedIn badge on your Waffoo account and LinkedIn
- Access to learning materials
Discount & payment coverage options
🎉 Waffoo Waitlist discount — up to 50%
Joined the Waffoo Search waitlist? You get 30% off — $980 (≈ 3,675 SAR) instead of $1,400 (≈ 5,250 SAR). Referred 3 or more friends? Your discount is 50% — $700 (≈ 2,625 SAR). Applied automatically when you register with the same email.
Not on the waitlist? Join here first, then register.
You can also pay in two installments — half today, half due on Day 1 (July 26). Choose it during registration.
If you're unable to pay out of pocket, you may ask your scholarship, employer, or academic mentor to cover the cost as academic or professional development training.
We can provide:
- Official invoice and receipt
- Program syllabus
- Certificate of completion
These documents can be used for approval or reimbursement.
Why choose this course?
The main research-skills training alternatives in the region — and what you get here for your fee.
| Waffoo 101 | Certified-researcher course | Recorded AI-in-research course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $1,400 (≈ 5,250 SAR) | ≈ $2,160 (≈ 8,100 SAR) | ≈ $320 (≈ 1,200 SAR) for just 6 hours |
| Who is this for | Beginners — hands-on, step by step with the instructor | Researchers & professionals | Self-paced learners |
| Format | 5 days live — lecture, hands-on practice, and Q&A daily | 10 days of live lectures | Pre-recorded videos, self-paced |
| Live time with your instructor | 15 hours in a small cohort (max 10 students) | Lectures in large cohorts | None |
| Hands-on AI training | Yes — includes 6 months of Waffoo Search Premium | AI covered as a lecture module | Tool overview, no live practice |
| Presentation practice (journal club) | Yes — you present on Day 5 and get feedback | No | No |
| Certificate | Certificate of completion + LinkedIn badge | Certificate of completion | Not stated |
| Language | In Arabic, with English for scientific terms — prepares you for graduate-program journal clubs | Arabic | Arabic |
Comparison based on publicly advertised programs in the region as of July 2026. Prices are approximate, set by their providers, and may change.
Policies & practical details
Refund policy
- Full refund until 7 days before Day 1.
- 50% refund within the final 7 days before Day 1.
- No refund once the course has started.
- To request a refund, contact us from your registration email.
Attendance & sessions
- You register for the evening slot and attend it for all 5 days (or the optional afternoon slot if it opens).
- Need to switch slots? Email us up to 48 hours before Day 1 — subject to seat availability.
- Certificates require attending at least 4 of the 5 live sessions.
What you'll need
- Laptop or desktop — a phone isn't enough for the hands-on work.
- Stable internet connection.
- Zoom (a free account is fine).
- Webcam and microphone — needed for presentation day.
If a slot is full, you can join the waitlist on the registration page — we'll email you if a seat opens.
Frequently asked questions
About Waffoo AI
Waffoo AI LLC is a biomedical AI company incorporated in Washington, DC. We build research tools — including Waffoo Search, an AI-powered discovery engine across scientific, clinical, and government data sources — to help researchers find and evaluate evidence faster. Certificates for this course are issued by Waffoo AI LLC.
Join 101: AI-Powered Scientific Research Skills Course
Build the research skills you need and walk into graduate programs with confidence. Secure your seat now — seats are limited to 10 students per session slot.
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