Spotlighting the next generation of medical imaging and computer-assisted intervention researchers on the world stage.
Strasbourg Convention Center · France
An initiative by the MICCAI Student Board
Building on the success of its inaugural edition at MICCAI 2025 in South Korea, the MICCAI 2026 Doctoral Symposium continues its mission to offer PhD students and recent graduates a dedicated platform to present and discuss their doctoral research with the MICCAI community.
This initiative is led by the MICCAI Student Board (MSB) and offers a unique platform to present research, engage in scholarly dialogue, and expand professional networks within the medical imaging and computer-assisted intervention community.
A multi-format experience supporting academic exchange and career development
Accepted participants present a poster on their doctoral research during a dedicated slot at the main conference, with time for discussion with senior researchers, peers, and industry attendees. The 8-page reports are published in the MICCAI 2026 Doctoral Symposium Proceedings, indexed in Springer LNCS.
Now in its fourth edition - a live competition where selected participants present their thesis in three minutes to a large audience on Day 2 of the main conference. A Best Thesis Award recognizes the strongest combination of scientific contribution and communication, announced at the closing ceremony.
A curated digital booklet hosted on the MSB website and MICCAI Society platform, featuring a one-page profile of each accepted participant: research summary, key figure, and links to publications, code, or thesis - designed to be browsable by hiring committees and collaborators.
A single submission automatically enters you for all three components: a poster presentation for all accepted participants, an oral slot at PhD Thesis Madness for the top tier, and inclusion in the Emerging Scholars Collection.
All times are AOE (Anywhere on Earth)
July 30, 2026
July 31, 2026
August 10, 2026
August 12, 2026
August 24, 2026
One submission - three outputs: poster, PhD Thesis Madness, and the Emerging Scholars Collection
All times are local conference time
During main conference - exact date TBA
Strasbourg Convention Center, France
Day 2 of main conference - dedicated 60-minute slot
Strasbourg Convention Center, France
At the MICCAI 2026 Closing Ceremony
Strasbourg Convention Center, France
No. The main track is open to PhD students in their final year of study (expected to graduate in 2026) and PhD graduates who completed their degree in 2025 or 2026. However, there is a limited exception track (up to 5 slots) for early-stage PhD students or pre-doctoral applicants whose submitted work meets a doctoral-level bar, with explicit advisor nomination. Ask your recommender if they would be willing to provide a support letter before starting a submission.
Generally, the Symposium is intended for final-year PhD students (expected to graduate in 2026) or recent graduates (2025 or 2026). However, there is a limited exception track for early-stage PhD students, or pre-doctoral students, fellows, research assistants, and research engineers active in research in 2025 or 2026, whose submitted work is of doctoral-level depth and significance. This requires explicit advisor nomination with specific evidence in the support letter. Ask your recommender if they would be willing to do it before starting a submission. Exception-track participants are eligible for poster presentations only.
Yes. The Doctoral Symposium showcases the core ideas and overall contributions of your doctoral research, not just a single paper. Please indicate any prior publications in your application.
Yes. The Doctoral Symposium is an in-person event at MICCAI 2026 in Strasbourg, France. Selected participants must attend the conference to present their work.
Currently, we do not provide travel or registration funding. However, we encourage students to apply for travel grants through their institutions or other MICCAI initiatives.
Yes, but submissions must be distinct. You cannot submit the same work to both venues.
The support letter is submitted confidentially through OpenReview and is structured around four prompts: (1) Status verification - confirming your role, PhD dates, and supervisory relationship; (2) Your contribution - what you specifically drove in the submitted work; (3) Significance of the work - the core contribution in 2–4 sentences; (4) Context (optional) - any circumstances that reviewers should be aware of when evaluating the work. Letters are never shared with the applicant.
There are no restrictions on the number of students a supervisor can recommend. An advisor is welcome to submit multiple recommendation letters, one for each of their students. For every individual application, the advisor will receive a personalized link to submit their recommendation.
Preferably from your academic supervisor. However, if you are currently based in industry and your work is research-oriented, a letter from your industry supervisor is also acceptable.
No problem. You can upload a new version of your file using the same submission system. The latest version will automatically overwrite the previous one.
Get in touch with the organizing committee
miccai-student-board@csail.mit.edu
Nourhan Bayasi
Shahad Hardan
Cosmin Bercea
Naren Akash
Anees Kazi
Camila Gonzalez
MICCAI 2026
Strasbourg Convention Center, France
Sept. 27 – Oct. 1, 2026