Doctoral Day 2026
On 12 November 2026
The Doctoral Day event is yearly organized by the Faculty of Design Sciences. We invite PhD students, as well as their research supervisors and interested PhD researchers.
This scientific gathering offers PhD students a platform to present their doctoral work and receive comments from a discussant. The Doctoral Day is also meant to offer opportunities to 'meet and greet' and exchange ideas with fellow PhD students, faculty, and professors. Finally, the annual Doctoral Day wants to contribute to the visibility of the growing research environment of the Faculty of Design Sciences.
As of this year, among the submitted papers or extended abstracts, the Best Paper Award Committee selects three papers/abstracts to be presented during the Doctoral Day in an extra session, after which the Committee decides who receives the Best Paper Award.
Register to join us on 12 November 2026 for the FOW Doctoral Day. We look forward to welcoming you at the Cloister of the Grauwzusters. For more information, please contact phdfow@uantwerpen.be
Deadlines
| 12 October | Registration deadline for active participation (discussant and/or presenter) - open for PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of Design Sciences. Presenters need to submit a short abstract in the registration form. |
| 28 October | Discussants and presenters receive the session schedule. |
| 30 October | Presenters submit their extended abstract (2000 words) or full paper (sent directly to the discussant). |
| 1 November | Registration deadline for participation only & workshop. |
Program 2026 (tbc)
| 9:15 – 9:40 | Registration |
| 09:40 – 10:00 | Word of Welcome (Vice Dean of Research) |
| 10:00 – 12:00 | Parallel sessions |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Parallel sessions |
| 14:30 – 15:15 | Presentations Short list Best Paper Award |
| 15:15 – 16:15 | Workshops – Participants choose 1 workshop |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Best Paper Award Ceremony |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Reception |
Workshops
Participants can follow one out of two parallel workshops:
1. SOS Statistics with Annelies Agten (StatUA) and Marta Cremonesi (FOW)
This workshop introduces doctoral researchers to StatUa 2.0, the university’s statistical consulting core facility. StatUa operates through a fee-for-service model. Importantly, the first hour of statistical consultation for doctoral researchers is covered by ADS and is therefore free of charge. As researchers from the Faculty of Design Sciences have so far made relatively limited use of this service, the workshop aims to raise awareness of the statistical support available to them.
The scientific content will combine a recent research success story with an accessible introduction to essential statistical concepts. The workshop will start with a short presentation of a recent paper published by doctoral researcher Marta Cremonesi in collaboration with StatUa. Using this study as a practical example, Annelies Agten will then introduce fundamental concepts such as the mean, variance, and standard deviation in an intuitive way. Particular attention will be given to the idea that many statistical relationships and hypothesis tests can be understood as partitioning variability into explained and unexplained components.
By connecting statistical concepts directly to a real research project, the workshop aims to make statistics more tangible and to show doctoral researchers when and how StatUa can support them in their own research.
2. Use and Protection of Visual Material in Times of AI with Prof. Dr. Esther van Zimmeren
This workshop will focus on the responsible use, sharing, and protection of visual materials in research. Topics may include copyright, ownership, permissions, licensing, and the appropriate reuse of images and other visual content.
The workshop will also address the growing role of AI-generated and AI-modified images, including questions around authorship, transparency, intellectual property, and the risks associated with using generative AI tools.
Rather than a traditional lecture, this will be an interactive session with room for discussion and practical examples.
Best Paper Award
At the end of the doctoral day one of the presented papers/extended abstracts is awarded with the Best Paper Award.
A first selection is made by the session chairs, each of whom can select one paper or extended abstract from their session for the longlist. The Best Paper Award Committee will then decide on a shortlist of three papers/extended abstracts, which are presented during the Doctoral Day. Afterwards, the winner is announced in a plenary session.
Credits
Presenting a paper earns 1 point per doctoral day, up to a maximum of 2 points over the full doctoral training program. Acting as a discussant also earns 1 point per doctoral day, up to a maximum of 2 points. Combined, presenting and discussing can be credited up to a joint maximum of 4 points over the entire duration of the doctoral training.
This change takes effect from the 2026-2027 academic year. PhD candidates who started their doctoral training before 2026-2027 may choose to apply this new point system to their participation in the FOW doctoral day, but are not obliged to. For them, the previously applicable system (0.5 points per doctoral day, maximum 1 point) also remains valid.
Venue
We will welcome you at the Cloister of the Grauwzusters.
University of Antwerp - Stadscampus
Klooster van de Grauwzusters
Building S
Lange Sint-Annastraat 7
2000 Antwerp