Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Libraries)

Virginia Tech’s University Libraries and Department of Computer Science will harness the power of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs), integrated with large language models (LLMs), to improve digital library services and tools for advanced information discovery, research trend analysis, and personalized research assistance for graduate students. The research team will explore advanced information retrieval techniques combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to create a symbiotic system wherein ETDs and LLMs enhance each other’s value. The project will then prototype software that leverages these integrated tools and fosters broader understanding and adoption of AI technologies in the library. The project will disseminate knowledge through academic publications, open-source software, and workshops geared toward researchers and library professionals. Ultimately, the project will make LLMs more reliable and useful for academic and scholarly work, enabling them to provide relevant and trustworthy information and insights for academic library users.