We are delighted to announce that the submission for the CHI 2026 Student Mentoring Program (SMP) is now live! Whether you’re just starting your research journey or you’re several years into your PhD, the Student Mentoring Program offers an exciting new format for mentorship, networking, and community building in HCI. As co-chairs of the program, we look forward to welcoming a diverse cohort of students and helping energise your CHI experience.
What’s new & why this matters
At CHI 2026, we have re-imagined the traditional Doctoral Consortium into a broader Student Mentoring Program. The goal is to make mentorship and peer networking more accessible, inclusive, and impactful. Key enhancements include:
- Opening to students at different stages of their career (from early PhD through mid-stage), so you don’t need to wait to engage.
- Introducing three targeted activities (see below) so you can participate in the way that best matches your needs and stage.
- Emphasizing cohort-building: beyond mentoring one-to-one, you’ll meet peers, form connections, and build your network within the CHI community.
In summary: if you are keen to make the most of CHI 2026 (i.e., to navigate the conference, plug into the network, get feedback on your work, and/or meet others in similar positions), this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!
The Student Mentoring Program in detail
The SMP will include three different activities. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from each of them:
Activity #1: CHI 101. This activity is a perfect entry point if you’re new to CHI or want to get oriented for maximum benefit from attending. The session will take place on the first day of the conference (afternoon block) and will be open to all students on a first-come, first-served basis. We will start with a ~15-minute presentation by the SMP chairs on what CHI is and how to navigate it effectively. Then, we will have a ~45-minute panel of a few HCI researchers at different career stages and from different sub-communities, who will share their own journeys. We will conclude with a ~30-minute Q&A where students will be invited to ask questions via a digital Q&A platform. The session will be recorded so that students who cannot attend in person still have access.
Activity #2: Building a Research Cohort. This activity is by invitation only (application required through PCS). The session will take the form of a networking session for up to ~100 students, in a large space, with room to move around. When you apply, you will be asked to provide a set of keywords signaling your interests, both research-related and personal. Based on those, we will curate “stations” or tables in the room, anchored in recurring keywords (and some left blank for in-situ creation). In several cycles of ~10-15 minutes, you will move between stations/topics and talk to peers who share your affinities. This is a dynamic and fun way to meet many peers, build a cohort, exchange ideas, and find research-affinity clusters. If you’ve ever done academic “speed-dating” or thematic breakout sessions, this is similar in spirit.
Activity #3: Dissertation Research Roundtable. This activity is by invitation only (application required through PCS), and specifically targets mid-stage PhD students working on their dissertations. The session will unfold as a roundtable gathering where thematically-clustered groups of 5 students and 1 mentor (aiming at 40–50 students overall) will come together to discuss the students’ dissertation progress. At the roundtable, mentors will facilitate a conversation across students’ projects, as well as a discussion of throughline issues, methodology, ethics, theory, and peer feedback. We will ensure that all participating students get meaningful time to discuss their work. Importantly, before the roundtable takes place, all accepted students will be asked to present a poster at one of the general poster sessions; and the expert mentors will attend to engage with students’ posters before the roundtable. Applying to this activity requires submitting an Extended Abstract research description, which will be published in the ACM Digital Library for accepted students.
How to apply & key deadlines
Submission deadline: Thursday, 22 January 2026 (AoE)
Notification of invitation: Thursday, 19 February 2026
Publication-ready deadline (for Activity #3): Thursday, 12 March 2026
We warmly invite all students attending CHI to consider participating in the Student Mentoring Program. It’s been carefully designed so all types of students at all stages of their training can get something out of the program. If you are a student, we encourage you to try and participate in one or more of the proposed activities – they are not mutually exclusive! Just decide which activity/es you’d like to participate in, read the submission instructions carefully, and prepare early. To summarize:
- Activity #1: CHI 101 is open to all students attending CHI; including, but not limited to, PhD students. It will be open on a first-come-first-served basis, no PCS submission or formal invitation required.
- Activity #2: Building a Research Cohort is also meant for students at all stages. However, as opposed to Activity #1, it is by invitation only (application required through PCS).
- Activity #3: Dissertation Research Roundtable is by invitation as well (application required through PCS). As opposed to the previous two, this activity is meant for mid-stage PhD students who are already working on their dissertation, but not advanced to a point that changes can no longer be made.
Please note that Activities #2 and #3 require application via separate forms on the PCS submission system. Submissions are not anonymous: you must be the only author, and your advisor(s) or collaborator(s) cannot be listed as co-authors. Also, please note that upon acceptance, participants are responsible for their CHI registration and travel, and in-person attendance is a must.
Final word
Whether you’re just getting started in HCI, grappling with your dissertation, or looking to connect with peers and mentors (and want to make the most of CHI 2026) the Student Mentoring Program is your chance. We encourage you to apply, show up, engage, and build your cohort. We’re excited to see your work, your ideas, and your contributions to the HCI community. If you have any questions about the SMP or the submission process, don’t hesitate to reach out to the chairs at studentmentoring@chi2026.acm.org. We’re here to support you.
To the more senior members of our community: we will also need you! If you have experience with mentoring the new generation of HCI researchers and/or you’ve benefitted from past doctoral consortia, and would like to give back, we’d love your support. Please know that very soon we will release another blog post describing the role of mentors in the Student Mentoring Program, as well as a form for submitting expressions of interest. If in the meantime you want to make your candidacy known to us already, or have any questions about it all, please contact studentmentoring@chi2026.acm.org.
Whether you’re a student or a mentor, we look forward to welcoming you to Barcelona – and to seeing how you’ll make CHI 2026 a stepping-stone in your and other people’s research journey!
Ferran Altarriba Bertran, Elizabeth Churchill & Yvette Wohn
Co-Chairs of the CHI 2026 Student Mentoring Program (SMP)