2026 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing
4-8 May 2026, Barcelona, Spain
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Student & Young Professionals Program

Background

NextGen Signal Processing: Student & Young Professionals Program

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:

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 (including Researchers, Recruiters, Prospective Employers and the Public)

Monday, 4 May 2026, 11:45am – 12:45pm

Abstract: A skill fundamental to professional and academic success is the ability to communicate the value you, and your research, can bring to multiple contexts. This skill, however, is not often taught, nor does it come naturally. In fact, there are very specific rhetorical structures and strategies you can use to deliver convincing messaging about yourself as a potential colleague, contributor, or employee.

In this interactive workshop, led by Prof. Lydia Wilkinson (University of Toronto), participants will refine how they present themselves and their research to a variety of audiences, from academic peers to potential employers and the general public. Through hands-on activities, you will:

    1. Practice concise research pitches that highlight the problem, how your research addresses that problem, and the significance of that work
    2. Craft compelling experience descriptors tailored for LinkedIn profiles, CVs, and job applications to effectively showcase your skills and impact
    3. Explore strategies for using social media productively to share your research more widely, build your professional identity, and engage diverse audiences

By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical tools to communicate their value and research impact with clarity and confidence.

Biography: Lydia Wilkinson is an Assistant Professor, Teaching, with the Engineering Communication program at the University of Toronto, where she teaches engineering communication and professional skills at the undergraduate level in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and at the graduate level, supporting Masters and Doctoral students in jump starting their research, completing their dissertation writing, and reaching their career goals. She also works to develops bespoke communication instruction for industry partners of the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice (ISTEP), as well as a range of other connected competencies, including teamwork, leadership and socio-technical thinking. Her current research is focused on models for engineering communication instruction, and she is actively working on a landscape analysis of the field across Canada. She is a former board member of the IEEE Professional Communication Society and part of the ProComm Expert Network.

Improve Your Public Speaking: Level Up your Public Speaking Skills, Starting with your ICASSP ‘26 Presentation: Framing, Visualizing, and Delivering your Research with Confidence

Monday, 4 May 2026, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Abstract: Do conference presentations, and public speaking in general, make you nervous? Do you want the foundational skills and confidence to deliver effective presentations that get you noticed?

Effective public speaking is a critical skill for engineers and researchers, yet many struggle with communicating complex ideas to diverse audiences; academic conferences are particularly challenging environments to learn how to give presentations. This conference workshop is designed to help you feel more confident about presentations, by applying key communication principles to its design and delivery. In this workshop, Prof. Alan Chong (University of Toronto and the Immediate Past President of the IEEE Professional Communication Society), will lead you through several key strategies for making your ICASSP ‘26 presentation (and all future oral presentations) more clear, memorable, and engaging.

We will:

    • Introduce elements that will help effectively frame your content, starting by developing an understanding of the audience’s needs, creating and reinforcing a simple core message, and adding intentional structural cues throughout the talk to help your listeners focus throughout the talk.
    • Apply several simple but powerful concepts for refining your visuals to help them reinforce your talk’s key messages.
    • Work on your vocal and physical delivery, building an awareness of the key metrics for success and identifying important strategies to help build your confidence in your presentation content, and public speaking in general.
    • Bring your slides, your notes, and your willingness to participate in an active workshop that will allow you to immediately apply simple yet important communication principles to any upcoming presentations and develop skills key to your professional development.

Biography: Alan Chong is an Associate Professor, Teaching, the Associate Director, Undergraduate, in the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education and Practice (ISTEP), and the Director of the Engineering Communication Program at the University of Toronto (UofT).  He has over 25 years of teaching experience at UofT, where he focuses on integrating communication instruction into engineering and design courses. Viewing communication as a discipline-specific and lifelong learning process rather than an isolated skill, he fosters students’ abilities across multiple modes of discourse, including writing, reading, speaking, and visual communication. He is also the Immediate Past President of the IEEE Professional Communication Society (ProComm), where he has worked on creating opportunities for members of other IEEE societies to receive discipline specific communication training.

SP Cup Final Presentations

Monday, 4 May 2026, 3:30pm – 4:45pm

Program Page Link: 2026.ieeeicassp.org/sp-cup/

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

Program Page Link: 2026.ieeeicassp.org/micro-mentoring-experience-program-mime/

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

Program Page Link: 2026.ieeeicassp.org/young-professionals-networking-event/

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

Program Page Link: 2026.ieeeicassp.org/discussion-on-benefits-of-joining-sps/

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

Program Page Link: 2026.ieeeicassp.org/author-ethics-new-ieee-author-tools/

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

Program Page Link: 2026.ieeeicassp.org/student-job-fair-and-luncheon/

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].