As we explained in a previous blog post, CHI 2026 will witness an exciting evolution in student support. For the upcoming conference in Barcelona, Spain (April 13-17, 2026), the conference General and Technical Program Chairs have reimagined the traditional Doctoral Consortium as a broader Student Mentoring Program. The aim is to make mentorship and peer networking more accessible, inclusive, and genuinely impactful for students navigating their careers in Human-Computer Interaction and related fields.
This new program is designed to provide guidance and foster strong connections for the next generation of HCI researchers and practitioners. You can read more about it here. Importantly, the program needs the support of the more senior members of our community as much as it needs students to participate. And this is where YOU can contribute!
This call is specifically related to a concrete activity of the Student Mentoring Program: Activity #3: Dissertation Research Roundtable. In this activity, invited mid-stage Ph.D. students will present their dissertation research-in-progress (via a poster during a general poster session) and engage in a small themed roundtable discussion with peers, facilitated by experienced mentors with matching expertise. To support that, we will need the help of jurors, who will assess student submissions and determine acceptances, and mentors, who will facilitate the in-person roundtable discussions. We unpack both roles below and provide clear instructions for submitting an expression of interest. More details about this and other Student Mentoring Program activities can be found on this blog post: https://chi2026.acm.org/2025/11/19/announcing-the-chi-2026-student-mentoring-program-submission-forms-are-live/
Shape the Future of HCI: Become a Mentor for CHI 2026!
To make the Student Mentoring Program a success, we are seeking dedicated and experienced HCI scholars and practitioners to serve as jurors, as well as mentors. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the HCI community, share your expertise, and inspire emerging talent. Jurors and mentors each play a distinct role:
- Jurors will help review and evaluate student submissions to Activity #3, and will therefore play a role in determining which applications are accepted.
- Mentors will participate in the in-person roundtable during CHI 2026, and will therefore offer direct guidance and support to selected students whose research matches their areas of expertise.
Juror work will take place prior to the conference, in the weeks after the submission deadline (January 22), as it involves reviewing submissions. Mentor work will occur during CHI 2026 in Barcelona, in person, within the roundtable sessions and related events. More specifically, mentors for the CHI 2026 Student Mentoring Program will:
- Facilitate connections and conversations between students and between students and more experienced HCI leaders.
- Lead and guide student groups through collaborative activities.
- Provide feedback and career advice to students.
- Participate in several in-person events during CHI 2026 in Barcelona, fostering deep connections.
Applicants may apply to be juror only, or juror and mentor (i.e., mentor-only applications will not be accepted). If you are passionate about nurturing new talent and shaping the future of HCI, we invite you to apply – your insights and experience will be crucial to the success of this redesigned program. Specifically, are looking for members of our community who meet the following qualifications:
- Experienced post-doctoral researchers or faculty members, or professionals with a proven track record in industry internship management.
- Demonstrated publication history at CHI and/or other top-tier HCI conferences.
- A proven track record of community service within HCI (e.g., serving as a reviewer for top-tier HCI conferences/journals, contributing in leadership positions on conference committees, etc.).
Interested in participating? Please complete the application form here: https://forms.gle/jwD8kxBcjrg6fkMD8
Join us in making CHI 2026 an unparalleled experience for student growth and mentorship! We look forward to your applications.
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