The IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) is deeply committed to supporting Students and Young Professionals (SYP) through impactful programming, mentorship, and career development opportunities. SPS actively champions initiatives that empower emerging leaders in signal processing, ensuring they are equipped with the skills, networks, and resources to thrive.
The Student & Young Professionals Track at ICASSP 2026 is an experience designed to foster networking, mentoring, professional development, and skills training. This track brings together students, early-career professionals, and industry newcomers for a curated series of events that support career growth and community engagement. This program is aimed for students, early-career professionals, and industry newcomers, offering networking, mentoring, professional development, and skills training for career growth and community engagement.

Program Highlights Include:

• Entrepreneurship Forum
• Developing Your Professional Value Proposition: Learning to pitch your research to multiple audiences—researchers, recruiters, and the public
• Improve Your Public Speaking: Starting with your ICASSP ‘26 presentation—building your presentation frame, refining your visuals, and developing confidence in your delivery
• SP Cup Final Presentations
• Micro-Mentoring Experience (MiME)
• Young Professionals Networking Reception
• Panel Discussion: Benefits of Joining SPS
• Get Published! Author Workshop
• Student Job Fair and Luncheon

Join us at ICASSP 2026 for a transformative program of learning, connection, and inspiration. Whether you’re launching your career or looking to grow your professional network, the Student & Young Professionals Program is your gateway to the future of signal processing.

Session Detail

Entrepreneurship Forum

Monday,  4 May 2026, 8:30am – 6:00pm 

Join for a day of inspiration and education, ending with a pitch competition. A detailed program will be announced soon. 

Developing Your Professional Value Proposition: Learning to pitch your research to multiple audiences—researchers, recruiters, and the public 

Monday,  4 May 2026, 11:45am – 12:45pm

The workshop addresses the challenge that most research training focuses solely on communicating with others in the same field. Participants learn the importance of identifying and articulating the value proposition of their research in a compelling way for different audiences, including funders, industry partners, community members, recruiters, and fellow academics.  

Improve Your Public Speaking: Starting with your ICASSP ‘26 presentation—building your presentation frame, refining your visuals, and developing confidence in your delivery

Monday,  4 May 2026, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Effective public speaking is vital for engineers and researchers, but communicating complex ideas can be difficult, especially at academic conferences. This free workshop with Prof. Alan Chong (University of Toronto and Immediate Past President of the IEEE Professional Communication Society) will boost your presentation confidence by focusing on key communication principles for design and delivery, making your talks clearer, more memorable, and more engaging.

We will cover:

1. Content Framing: Understanding audience needs, reinforcing a simple core message, and using structural cues for listener focus.
2. Visuals Refinement: Applying concepts to ensure visuals reinforce key messages.
3. Delivery: Building awareness of vocal and physical delivery metrics and strategies to increase overall confidence.

Bring your slides, notes, and willingness to participate to immediately apply these essential communication principles to your upcoming presentation and professional development.

SP Cup Final Presentations

Monday, 4 May 2026, 3:30pm – 4:45pm

The Signal Processing Cup (SP Cup) student competition, presented by the IEEE Signal Processing Society and sponsored by MathWorks, gives students the opportunity to work together to solve real-life problems using signal processing methods. Join us at the presentation of the finalist teams and find out which team will win the Grand Prize of 5,000 USD! Learn more about the SP Cup:  https://2026.ieeeicassp.org/sp-cup/

Micro-Mentoring Experience (MiME)

Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 7:00am – 9:30am

The micro mentoring experience (MiME) program is a program sponsored by SPS, and aims to enhance the conference experience for first-time conference attendees and other society members that believe they can benefit from a short-time mentoring experience during ICASSP. MiME aims to help first-time conference attendees navigate and find the events and technical sessions that could greatly benefit their conference experience. The program will also provide an opportunity for mid-career researchers to connect with more experienced ones and gain helpful insights about career development and assist with their research topics. For experienced researchers, this could be an interesting venue to find prospective students and new candidates for open positions.

Program Events
To improve the program’s effectiveness, Mentors and Mentees are invited to participate in two meetings:

• Online call between mentors and mentees, that should take place up to two weeks before the start of the conference. In this online meeting, the mentees should describe what they expect to benefit from participating in the program. Mentors will advise the mentees of any actions they should take or material they should prepare prior to the conference start, including possibly registering for additional tutorials and/or social events.
• At the beginning of the conference, before the start of the technical sessions mentors and mentees will be invited to join a breakfast event (free of charge) at the conference where they will have the opportunity to meet in person, learn more about the conference program, and plan their attendance to the conference. This event offers great opportunities for networking between different mentors and mentees.

Visit the SPS website to learn more about the application process and the MiME Program.

Young Professionals Networking Reception

Tuesday, 5 May 2026,  6:00pm – 8:00pm 

Join the IEEE Signal Processing Society Young Professionals after the conference sessions for a networking reception to unwind with your colleagues to discuss careers, entrepreneurship, and opportunities in a fun and casual setting. More details will be announced soon.

Panel Discussion: Benefits of Joining SPS 

Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 12:00pm – 2:00pm

Join us for a discussion featuring students, academics, and industry professionals from diverse backgrounds, career stages, and regions. The panel will explore the benefits of joining the IEEE SPS Community. Audience members will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a conversation about strengthening and improving the community to meet the needs of current and potential members.

Get Published! Author Workshop

Thursday, 7 May 2026, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Get Published! is an author workshop developed for young authors covering ethical practices via case studies, how to prepare your work with research integrity, a review of best practices, and finally, IEEE-designed author tools to help you get published!

Student Job Fair and Luncheon

Thursday, 7 May 2026, 12:00pm – 1:30pm

Are you a student or new graduate ready to take the leap to building your career? Join us at the Student Job Fair and Luncheon at ICASSP! Hosted by the IEEE Signal Processing Society, the Student Job Fair and Luncheon connects eligible students and graduates with industry representatives to explore job opportunities within their companies. Attendees have the chance to meet with representatives and learn about job openings, while recruiters can meet potential talent and conduct on-site interviews. Registration is free for SPS student members and US$10 for non-SPS members. CV and student proof is required for registration.

Is your company attending ICASSP and hoping to recruit new talent? Consider sponsoring the Student Job Fair and Luncheon for the opportunity to meet the bright, emerging minds launching their signal processing careers. Interested in learning more? Contact [email protected].