🎓 What is EDS?
The ELLIS Doctoral Symposium is the highlight of the year for the ELLIS PhD Program, gathering ELLIS PhD students alongside others in the field for an enriching exchange of knowledge in machine learning. The theme for EDS 202 is “Trustworthy AI.”
👥 What to Expect?
The symposium provides a platform for young researchers to present their work, exchange ideas, and engage in discussions on the future of AI, particularly in creating future AI systems that are reliable, safe, and adaptable. Through a series of talks, panels, poster sessions, and networking opportunities, EDS 2026 will promote collaboration and innovation in the field of AI, helping to shape the next generation of AI researchers.
First registration round is currently open and accepting submissions until April 26th, 2026.
| 27 July (Day 1) | ||
| Time | Duration | Session Name |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30–13:30 | 1 hour | Registration |
| 13:30–14:00 | 30 mins | Welcome remarks Mario Figueiredo, ELLIS Unit Lisbon Director & ELLIS Fellow |
| 14:00–15:00 | 1 hour | Keynote André Martins, ELLIS Fellow and Co-Director of the ELLIS NLP Program |
| 15:00–16:00 | 1 hour | Opening Keynote Asja Fischer, ELLIS Scholar and member of the Theory, Algorithms and Computations ELLIS Program |
| 16:00–18:00 | 2 hours | Opening Poster Session |
| 17:00–19:00 | 2 hours | Welcome Reception |
| 28 July (Day 2) | ||
| Time | Duration | Session Name |
| 09:00–10:00 | 1 hour | Early Career Talks Marcos Treviso, ELLIS Unit Lisbon Faculty Catarina Barata, ELLIS Scholar |
| 10:00–11:00 | 1 hour | Keynote Desmond Elliott, ELLIS Unit Copenhagen |
| 11:00–11:30 | 30 mins | Coffee Break |
| 11:30–12:30 | 1 hour | Keynote Pedro Bizarro, Chief Scientific Officer, Feedzai |
| 12:30–14:00 | 1.5 hours | Lunch |
| 14:00–14:30 | 30 mins | Industry Pitch Talks |
| 14:30–15:15 | 45 mins | Career Development Panel: Academia & Industry Various speakers |
| 15:15–16:00 | 45 mins | PhD Lightning Talks |
| 16:00–18:00 | 2 hours | Posters Drinks & Nibbles will be served |
| 19:00–20:00 | 1 hour | Optional social event |
| 29 July (Day 3) | ||
| Time | Duration | Session Name |
| 09:00–10:00 | 1 hour | Early Career Talks Emanuel Gonçalves, ELLIS Scholar Zita Marinho, ELLIS Unit Lisbon Faculty |
| 10:00–11:00 | 1 hour | Keynote Gustau Camps-Valls, ELLIS Fellow and Co-Director of ELLIS Earth and Climate Sciences Program |
| 11:00–11:30 | 30 mins | Coffee Break |
| 11:30–14:30 | 3 hours | Industry Fair |
| 12:30–14:00 | 1.5 hours | Lunch |
| 14:30–15:00 | 30 mins | PhD Lightning Talks |
| 15:00–16:00 | 1 hour | Local Keynote Ana Paiva, ELLIS Fellow |
| 16:00–18:00 | 2 hours | Posters Drinks & Nibbles will be served |
| 19:00–22:00 | 3 hours | Gala Dinner Casa do Alentejo |
| 30 July (Day 4) | ||
| Time | Duration | Session Name |
| 09:15–11:00 | 1 hour 45 mins | PhD lightning talks |
| 11:00–11:30 | 30 mins | Coffee Break |
| 11:30–12:30 | 1 hour | Keynote João Santinha, Champalimaud Foundation |
| 12:30–14:00 | 1.5 hours | Lunch |
| 14:00–15:00 | 1 hour | Closing Keynote Isabel Valera, ELLIS Fellow and member of the Robust ML Program |
| 15:00–15:30 | 30 mins | Group photo |
| 15:30–16:00 | 30 mins | Closing remarks, announcement of poster winners, announcement of next EDS location Isabel Trancoso, ELLIS Fellow and ELLIS Unit Lisbon member |
General Information
EDS is open to all ELLIS PhDs and postdocs, as well as PhD students of ELLIS Fellows/Scholars/Members who are not part of the ELLIS PhD program. Students who are not from the ELLIS network may only apply during the second round, pending space availability.
Capacity is limited to 200 participants. The organisers will prioritise students from the ELLIS network, and those who are early in their PhDs.
The participation fee for the ELLIS Doctoral Symposium 2026 is 150 EUR per person. The fee covers access to all conference sessions, coffee breaks, lunches, and social events.
Poster Instructions
All participants are encouraged to submit a poster – this is the best way to promote your research and get feedback from your peers.
Posters must represent original research (published or unpublished) conducted by the author(s) and can be printed in A0 or A1, portrait only. At registration, you will be asked to submit a preliminary title which will be used in the poster booklet.
You must print your poster yourself. If you want to print your poster in Lisbon you can use one of the following shops close to the venue:
http://www.zoomcopia.com/ – Address: Rua Dona Filipa de Vilhena 34A, Lisbon
Copitec – Centro de Cópias – Address: Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques 43B, Lisbon
V. Important Dates
- Registration opens for ELLIS PhD students: 2nd March 2026
- First registration round deadline: 26th April 2026
- First acceptance notification: 5th May 2026
- Registration opens for all students: 5th May 2026
- Registration closes for all: 31st May 2026
- Final acceptance notifications: 5th June 2026
- Final payment deadline for all accepted students: 15th June 2026
Registration Form
To apply, please complete the following registration form by the indicated deadline above.
EDS Mobility Grants
Students may be eligible for travel funding through the following option:
ELIAS Mobility Program: ELLIS PhDs/postdocs whose applications to EDS2026 have been successfully accepted can apply to this funding. The funding is distributed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until the allocated mobility funds for this event run out.
- EDS26 Mobility grant (guidelines)
- EDS26 Mobility Grant (ELIAS) Application
- EDS26 Reimbursement Report (ELIAS Beneficiary)
- EDS26 Reimbursement Report (Externals)
For any questions regarding the ELIAS mobility grant, please contact: phd@ellis.eu
ELIZA Mobility Program: ELLIS PhD students are eligible for this mobility grant only if they are based in one of the following ELIZA sites: Berlin, Darmstadt, Freiburg, Heidelberg, München, Saarbrücken, Tübingen.
To apply, please go here.