The academic path is full of technical and personal challenges. It is exciting but it can also be overwhelming. We need to come up with novel research ideas, learn how to deal with paper or proposal rejections, and build networks that can help our communities and personal careers.
This year, EWSN will hold a PhD School & Community Event particularly aimed at PhD students and junior Faculty to discuss technical and personal challenges in an open and supportive way. The program will include senior researchers who will share their experiences and participants who will present their current challenges (technical and non-technical) to get feedback and advice.
A special focus will be on non-technical challenges encountered by many early-stage researchers, such as dealing with paper/proposal rejections, handling stress induced by high expectations and deadlines, overcoming motivation crises when things don’t go as planned, or how to master cooperation in a team with different cultural/disciplinary backgrounds.
The venue also represents a unique opportunity for the community to network, receive constructive feedback, guidance, tips, and learn about innovative research problems being tackled by the community.
Participants will receive a certificate worth 1 ECTS credit, which they may get recognized at their home university for the education programs they are enrolled in. Several travel grants are foreseen for participants of the PhD School & Community event, for which a separate application is required, see here.
Applications for participation to the PhD school & community event are *independent* of other calls at EWSN 2024. All (prospective) authors of an EWSN'24 contribution (full paper in winter/summer round, workshop paper, or poster/demo/competition abstract) are welcome to also apply for participation at the PhD school.
The application can be *in addition to* and on the same topic of other EWSN'24 contributions. Authors wishing to publish a PhD school abstract in the EWSN'24 proceedings should ensure that such abstract is not identical to (or a slightly modified copy of) other own contributions appearing in the same proceedings.
Call for Participation
The final call for the PhD School & Community Event is available here. PhD students have the opportunity to submit an abstract that will be published as part of the conference proceedings.
Tentative Program
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Registration |
| 09:00 | Welcome & Keynote 1 (plenary) |
| 10:00 | Interactive session (plenary) |
| 10:30 | Coffee break |
| 11:00 | Technical Session 1 |
| 12:00 | Technical Session 2 |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Technical Session 3 |
| 15:30 | Coffee break |
| 16:00 | Keynote 2 (plenary) |
| 17:00 | Community discussion (plenary) |
| 17:30 | Closure |
| 18:00 | Traditional Emirati reception |
Interactive session. There will be an interactive poll where attendees describe the challenges faced in their respective roles: PhDs, young faculty members, and the community.
Community discussion. The community discussion will be divided into two parts. First, all attendees will jointly discuss the results of the morning poll and define four main topics to cover in round tables. Second, each topic will be discussed with an expert panel.
Technical sessions. During the technical sessions, PhD students present their work and receive feedback from the audience and panel.
PhD School & Community Event Keynotes
Dr. Simone Silvestri
(Associate Professor | University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA)
Keynote Title: Climbing the Doctoral Mountain: Essential Strategies for a Successful PhD
Abstract: The PhD journey is a pivotal experience, marked by significant decisions and challenges that shape both academic and professional futures. In this keynote talk, we delve into the critical aspects of a successful PhD journey, beginning with the foundational decision of selecting the right advisor. This choice can be daunting, with long-lasting implications on your education, research, and overall success. We will offer practical tips to evaluate potential advisors, helping you choose one who will positively influence your academic path. The talk will then shift to goal-setting, where we will discuss how to align your PhD objectives with your long-term career aspirations, and strategies to ensure these goals are met. Next, we will address common pitfalls that many PhD students encounter, offering insights on how to avoid them. Among these challenges, the impostor syndrome stands out as a prevalent issue in academia, often undermining confidence and mental health. We will explore strategies to understand how success is achieved in the world of academia and help overcome the feelings of insecurity at the basis of this syndrome. Finally, the talk will conclude with practical tips to ensure success in both your PhD and your future career.
Dr. Andra Lutu
(Senior Researcher | Telefonica Research, Madrid, Spain)
Keynote Title:From PhD to Industry: on navigating the dynamics of scientific research within the (global) cellular ecosystem
Abstract: One common question that PhD candidates face at some point in their careers is what a research path in industry might look like. In this talk, I’ll offer insights based on my own experience over the last 10 years, working in both research institutes and industrial environments. I will share strategies for aligning research objectives with industrial innovation goals, and how to navigate the delicate balance between long-term academic research and practical, industry-driven innovation. Additionally, I’ll address the challenges of developing a research agenda in the rapidly evolving cellular ecosystem. Specifically, I’ll discuss our work in uncovering the opaque dynamics of global interconnections that keep mobile operators functioning. In particular, we've been exploring the IP eXchange (IPX) Network and its role in connecting over 800 Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) globally, a key step in enabling the rise of Mobile Network Aggregators (MNAs) like Google Fi, Airalo, and Twilio/KORE. Our findings represent a crucial first step toward fully understanding the global mobile Internet, a vital component in connecting IoT devices and the growing population of digital nomads around the world.