On October 23, 2026, Dr. h. c., Prof. Mgr. Slávka Tomaščíková, PhD., Vice Rector for International Relations, welcomed American scientist and biologist Richard Luke Daniels, Ph.D., from The College of Idaho (USA) at the Rectorate of UPJŠ. The meeting was attended by RNDr. Andrej Miroššay, PhD., Director of the UPJŠ Technology and Innovation Park (TIP-UPJŠ), and RNDr. Mária Tomková, PhD., from the Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences (CIB) at TIP-UPJŠ.
The American expert visited Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice and its Center for Interdisciplinary Biosciences (CIB) at TIP-UPJŠ as part of the prestigious Fulbright Specialist Program. The main purpose of his visit was to conduct specialized two-day workshops. The first workshop focused on the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence in scientific writing, research, and education for researchers, academic staff, and doctoral students. During the second workshop, Professor Daniels introduced students to methods for using AI in searching for scholarly literature, scientific writing, and preparing research projects. The program also included verifying AI outputs, transparently disclosing its use, and discussing ethical boundaries. The goal of both workshops was to demonstrate how AI can support learning and research while preserving authors’ original contributions and independent judgment.
On this occasion, Vice Rector Slávka Tomaščíková highlighted the importance of international cooperation and discussion of current topics in the academic community: “We are very pleased to welcome a renowned expert to our university as part of the Fulbright Specialist Program. The collaboration between our research centers and leading American institutions provides our researchers and students with valuable experience and key insights into future topics, such as the ethical use of artificial intelligence and the preservation of academic integrity in scientific work,” said Prof. Tomaščíková.
Richard Luke Daniels has served as a professor at The College of Idaho since 2009, where he teaches biology, genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, and bioinformatics. He received his education at Seattle Pacific University, where he successfully completed his bachelor’s degree in biology. He earned his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Southern California. His scientific research focuses on cellular signaling in brain tumors. He has extensive experience in international academic work, including prestigious awards through the Fulbright Program. Students in Professor Daniels’ laboratory use a wide range of techniques in their research, including cell cultures, molecular biology, fluorescence microscopy, calcium imaging in living cells, and computer analysis of biological data.
