Undergraduate research enhances learning, engagement, and identity development—especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds—but many face challenges with academic writing and research, leading to anxiety and disengagement. This chapter examines how generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT and Gemini supported first-year students in a research methods course at a small liberal arts college. Drawing on action research, we analyzed how students used GenAI to brainstorm ideas, revise drafts, interpret scholarly texts, and stay organized. Data sources included exit tickets, Group Level Assessment sessions, interviews, and teaching reflections. Students engaged with GenAI in three primary roles: as a course guide, writing coach, and research partner. While many students found these tools helpful in building confidence and improving their work, they also raised concerns about accuracy, overreliance, authorship, and ethical use. These findings suggest that GenAI, when thoughtfully integrated, can promote student success while prompting critical conversations about responsible use.