Doctoral Student Track

Doctoral Student Track:

Emerging Research in AI, IT, and Intelligent Systems

 1. Summary

The Doctoral Student Track is designed to give PhD candidates a space where they can share what they are currently working on—whether that is an early research idea, preliminary findings, or the foundations of their thesis. Many doctoral students often struggle to find the right moment or the right audience to present work that is still evolving. This track offers exactly that opportunity, within the themes of ISSATK 2026 such as AI, data science, automation, and intelligent systems.

The main idea is to create an environment where young researchers feel comfortable presenting their progress and receiving constructive feedback. By participating, students will not only gain insight into how their research is perceived but will also have the chance to connect with peers and experienced researchers who can help them refine their directions.

Ultimately, the goal of this track is to support the next generation of scientists, help them build confidence in communicating their work, and encourage meaningful academic exchanges.

2. Detailed Description and Motivation

 A PhD is often described as a journey, and like any journey, it involves different phases—uncertainty, experimentation, and continuous improvement. However, many doctoral students do not have many opportunities to discuss their ideas while they are still taking shape. The Doctoral Track aims to fill this gap.

 By including this track in ISSATK 2026, the conference would strengthen its commitment to supporting young researchers. Students working on innovative or interdisciplinary topics—AI combined with embedded systems, or data science applied to knowledge engineering, for example—would have a space to present ideas that may be too fresh or unfinished for a traditional conference submission.

 The track encourages:

 Innovation : Students often explore unconventional paths; this track gives them a platform to express these perspectives.

• Constructive feedback : Instead of evaluating only polished results, the focus here is on helping students refine and structure their research.
• Community building : Doctoral students from different universities and countries will meet, exchange experiences, and potentially build collaborations.
• Better visibility : Integrating doctoral work into the conference program shows the scientific community that emerging research is valued and essential.

In short, this track is not only about presentations—it is about mentorship, exchange, and growth.

3. Proposed Format

To keep the track flexible and accessible, submissions would take the form of  extended abstracts (2–4 pages) . These can describe early work, a thesis plan, an idea under development, or even a methodological challenge the student wants to discuss.

 The proposed formats include:

• Short oral presentations (10–15 minutes)
• Posters or demos for more exploratory or technical work
• A final discussion or mentorship segment to help students reflect on the feedback they receive

Each session would be guided by Track Chairs who ensure a supportive and engaging atmosphere.

Session chairs:

• Mohamed Ali Ayachi, University of Kairouan, Tunisia
• Hajer Gahbiche, University of Kairouan, Tunisia