A group of people are standing and talking in a modern, well-lit room with wooden walls. Some hold cups and wear rucksacks. Several tables and chairs are scattered around, and a presentation screen is visible in the background.

Successful 3rd Digital Futures Young Scientist Conference brings community together in Stockholm

On March 12, 2026, researchers, PhD students, and postdoctoral scholars gathered at the Digital Futures Hub, for the 3rd Digital Futures Young Scientist Conference. The one-day event provided a vibrant platform for early-career researchers working with Digital Futures–affiliated faculty to present their work, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections across disciplines.

The conference featured an engaging program combining keynote talks, poster sessions, and a panel discussion focused on innovation and impact. Participants had the opportunity to showcase their research during three poster sessions while networking with peers and senior researchers throughout the day.

The event opened with a keynote by Jasper van Kuijk (Karlstad University and Delft University of Technology), who addressed the timely topic “Digitalization: solution or problem?”. His talk explored the opportunities and societal challenges that accompany increasingly digital systems, highlighting the balance between technological benefits and potential social consequences.

Later in the day, Johannes Heiny (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) delivered a keynote on “The Curse and Blessing of Dimensionality: A Random Matrix Perspective.” He discussed how modern statistical tools and random matrix theory help researchers interpret complex, high-dimensional datasets and advance the theoretical foundations of artificial intelligence.

A lively panel discussion titled “Driving Impact Through Innovation” was hosted by Urban Forssell (KTH and Digital Futures). Panelists Frank Jiang (KTH and FleetMQ), Joanna Hård (Amun AI), and Ian Hoffecker (KTH and SciLifeLab) shared insights on translating academic research into real-world applications, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The conference concluded with a keynote by Noémie Jaquier (KTH Royal Institute of Technology), whose talk “Traveling the Robot Learning Manifold: A Tale of Geometries and Inductive Biases” highlighted how geometric principles can significantly improve robot learning and adaptation.

Several people stand around a wooden table with food and drink items in a modern indoor space. Large round paper lamps hang above, and sunlight streams through windows in the background.
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A group of eight people, some wearing teal digital futures shirts, pose indoors in front of a wooden wall and a screen. The group is smiling, standing casually around a small round black table.
A group of eight people, some wearing teal digital futures t-shirts, pose and smile together in an office with wooden walls and a large screen. The words digital futures are visible on the wall behind them.
A group of people are socialising and talking in a modern indoor space with wooden walls. Some hold drinks, and a presentation screen is visible in the background. Tables and chairs are scattered around the room.
A group of people stand in a modern room, discussing research posters displayed on grey boards. Some read the posters closely whilst others converse, with tables and chairs nearby.
People stand in a corridor, some viewing and discussing posters displayed on boards. Others are queued up, and the setting appears to be an indoor academic or professional event.
People are gathered in a well-lit room, reading and discussing research posters displayed on boards. Some individuals are engaged in conversation, whilst others view the posters. The setting appears to be an academic or conference event.
Several people stand in a brightly lit room, looking at and discussing scientific posters displayed on boards. One person in a dark hoodie explains a poster, whilst others listen and observe.
People at a poster session in a well-lit room, engaging with scientific posters and discussing research. Some are taking notes or pointing at the displays, and the atmosphere appears collaborative and focussed.
Two men are having an animated conversation in a modern indoor setting, possibly at a conference or networking event. One gestures with his hand whilst the other listens. People and posters are visible in the background.
People are gathered in a modern room with wooden walls, chatting in small groups. Empty black chairs are arranged around tables, and large screens display speakers. The atmosphere appears casual and sociable.
People are gathered in a modern indoor space, engaging in conversation. In the foreground, two men are talking, one with long hair holding food. Others in the background are standing near posters and wearing teal shirts.
A group of people, some wearing blue T-shirts, stand and watch something off-camera in a room with wooden and concrete walls. A table with bottles and folders is in the foreground.
A woman gives a presentation titled Digitalisation – solution or problem? to a small audience seated in chairs; a large screen shows the title and an image of an emergency stop button.
A restaurant table set with white crockery, glass bottles of water, flowers in a vase, and serviettes; natural light streams in through large windows, with two people visible in the background.
Three people stand near poster boards, discussing research presentations at an indoor event. A large screen with scientific imagery is displayed in the background. One person gestures whilst holding a cup.
A woman stands in front of an audience giving a presentation titled Digitalisation – solution or problem? with a large red emergency stop button shown on the projector screen.
A group of people stand and talk in a corridor with wooden walls. Some are looking at a poster on the wall, while others are engaged in conversation. Rucksacks and personal items are on the floor nearby.
People are gathered in an indoor space, engaging in discussions around scientific posters displayed on boards. Some individuals are presenting their work, whilst others listen or read. The environment appears busy and collaborative.
A group of people seated at tables watch a presenter standing near a screen displaying diagrams and text in a modern, wood-panelled room with “digital futures” on a banner.
Several people stand in a room with wooden walls, discussing research posters displayed on grey boards. Some are engaged in conversation, whilst empty chairs and tables are visible in the foreground.
A panel of four people sits at the front of a room speaking to an audience. Behind them, a screen displays photos and names of three panellists: Joanna Hani, Ian Hoffacker, and Frank Jiang.
Four panellists sit at a table in a modern room, speaking to an audience. Behind them, a screen displays headshots and names: Joanna Haid, Ivan Hoffman, and Fran Jung. Rows of chairs and tables fill the space.
A group of people sits attentively in a wood-panelled room, facing forward. Some wear teal T-shirts, while others are in casual or business attire. Tables with papers, cups, and supplies are in the foreground.

The event was organized by Digital Futures postdoctoral researchers Satarupa Chakrabarti, Malintha Chakravarthige, Yueqi Cao, Wouter Jongeneel, Romeo Lanzino, Andrea Martin, Belén García Pascual, and Ruiting Wang, with guidance from the steering committee consisting of David Broman, Urban Forssell, Pawel Andrzej Herman, and Sandra Pauletto.

– The Young Scientist Conference is an inspiring showcase of the creativity and dedication of our early-career researchers. It is wonderful to see PhD students and postdocs sharing ideas, building collaborations, and contributing to the future of digital research within the Digital Futures community. I would also like to extend a warm thank you to the organizing postdocs and the entire team whose enthusiasm and hard work made this event possible, said Sandra Pauletto, Associate Director Mobility and Inclusion at Digital Futures.

A group of eight people, some wearing teal digital futures t-shirts, pose and smile together in an office with wooden walls and a large screen. The words digital futures are visible on the wall behind them.
Organizing team of the 3rd Digital Futures Young Scientist Conference

The 3rd Digital Futures Young Scientist Conference concluded with closing remarks followed by drinks and informal networking, allowing participants to continue conversations sparked throughout the day.

A warm thank you to all speakers, poster presenters, organizers, and participants who joined and contributed to making the conference a stimulating and successful gathering for the Digital Futures community.

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