08:00–08:30 UTC 10:00 CEST · 15:00 JST
Introduction to DODA Day — Morning Opening
Karl H. Johansson & Silvia Mastellone (VP DODA)
Welcome and overview of DODA objectives, schedule, and community goals for participants in Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
08:30–10:00 UTC 10:30 CEST · 16:30 JST · 17:30 AEDT
Leadership Training for a Successful Academic Career — Asia-Pacific Edition
Angela Fontan & Silvia Mastellone
This interactive training event is aimed at students, young researchers, and professionals in Automatic Control Systems Science and Technology who aspire to build successful academic careers and become effective research leaders. Through expert coaching, practical exercises, and case-study discussions, participants will gain valuable insights into the leadership, communication, and networking skills needed to thrive in academia.
Participants will learn:
- How to understand and navigate group dynamics in academic settings.
- How to recruit, motivate, and lead high-performing research teams.
- How to strengthen key career-development skills, including interviewing, negotiation, networking, and academic leadership.
- How to foster collaborative and innovative research environments that support scientific excellence.
Upon successful completion of the training, participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance recognizing their participation and professional development.
Programme Structure
- Introduction
- Leadership training sessions in small groups with dedicated coaches
- Short break
- Case-study presentations and plenary discussion
- Concluding remarks and key takeaways
10:00–12:00 UTC — Break
12:00–14:00 UTC 14:00 CEST · 08:00 EDT
Leadership Training for a Successful Academic Career — CEST Edition
Angela Fontan & Silvia Mastellone
This interactive training event is aimed at students, young researchers, and professionals in Automatic Control Systems Science and Technology who aspire to build successful academic careers and become effective research leaders. Through expert coaching, practical exercises, and case-study discussions, participants will gain valuable insights into the leadership, communication, and networking skills needed to thrive in academia.
Participants will learn:
- How to understand and navigate group dynamics in academic settings.
- How to recruit, motivate, and lead high-performing research teams.
- How to strengthen key career-development skills, including interviewing, negotiation, networking, and academic leadership.
- How to foster collaborative and innovative research environments that support scientific excellence.
Upon successful completion of the training, participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance recognizing their participation and professional development.
Programme Structure
- Introduction
- Leadership training sessions in small groups with dedicated coaches
- Short break
- Case-study presentations and plenary discussion
- Concluding remarks and key takeaways
15:00–15:30 UTC 11:00 EDT · 08:00 PDT · 17:00 CEST
Introduction to DODA Day — Americas Opening
Karl H. Johansson & Silvia Mastellone (VP DODA)
Repeat opening for the US/Americas audience: DODA objectives and schedule recap.
15:30–16:30 UTC 11:30 EDT · 08:30 PDT · 17:30 CEST
Women in Control (WiC) Leadership Strategy
Elisa Franco and Patricia Pena (WiC Co-Chairs)
The panel will present the new structure of the Women in Control Committee, describe upcoming events and initiatives, and new strategies for engagement of the CSS community.
Panelis:
Dennice Gayme (Johns Hopkins University)
Steffi Knorn (Technische Universität Berlin)
Damiano Varagnolo (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Patricia Pena (WiC Co-Chair)
16:30–17:30 UTC 12:30 EDT · 09:30 PDT · 18:30 CEST
Coffee and Control Podcast with Best Student Paper Award Winners
César A. Uribe (Student Activities) and Lucy Hodgins (University of Southampton)
17:30–18:30 UTC 13:30 EDT · 12:30 CDT · 10:30 PDT · 19:30 CEST
CSS Outreach: Funds, Applications & Project Showcase (Session 1 — European Prime Time)
Philip E. Paré (Outreach Task Force Chair)
CSS outreach programmes, funding opportunities, and project showcase — session 1 of 2.
- 2026 ACC Self-Driving Car Student Competition - Matt Hale (Georgia Institute of Technology)
- IEEE CSS Outreach Event - PhD Summer School: Sliding Mode Towards a Changing World - Exeter, UK - Gianmario Rinaldi (University of Exeter)
- Bridging the Gap: A Gateway to Control Systems Engineering for Lebanese High School Students - Naseem A. Daher (American University of Beirut)
- Professional Development and Career Advice for Young Professionals - Fahmida (Former NSF Program Manager)
18:30–20:00 UTC 14:30 EDT · 11:30 PDT · 20:30 CEST
NextCom: Navigating Early Career Transition to Independence: Perspectives from Industry and Academia
Anastasia Bizyaeva (NextCom Steering Committee Chair)
This panel discussion brings together professionals from academia and industry to share their experiences finding their footing after the PhD in control systems and related fields. Panelists will reflect on navigating career decisions, growing into new roles, and lessons learned along the way, offering perspectives and practical advice for the next generation of control professionals. This event is organized by NextCom, a committee dedicated to supporting students, early career researchers, and young professionals in the Control Systems Society along their way to becoming the next generation of established control systems engineers and researchers.
- Gioele Zardini (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Gioele Zardini is an Assistant Professor at MIT, where he leads research on the design and control of complex interconnected systems. He obtained his PhD from ETH Zurich and was a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford prior to joining MIT.
- Thinh Doan (University of Texas at Austin)
Thinh T. Doan is an Assistant Professor at UT Austin and Director of the Control, Optimization, and Online Learning for Autonomy Lab. Prior to that, he was an assistant professor at Virginia Tech.
- Licio Romao (Technical University of Denmark)
Licio Romao is an Assistant Professor in DTU’s Department of Wind and Energy Systems, working on control, optimization, and mathematical methods for modern power systems and electricity markets. He joined DTU in 2024 following postdoctoral appointments at Oxford and Stanford.
- Desmond Zhong (OpenAI)
Yaofeng “Desmond” Zhong is a Member of Technical Staff working in robotics at OpenAI, with a PhD from Princeton. Prior to joining OpenAI, he had research roles at Siemens and the AI start-up Breakpoint AI.
- Joakim Børlum Deleuran (Grundfos)
Joakim Børlum Deleuran is a Senior Control Specialist at Grundfos with a PhD in Control and Automation from Aalborg University. His work combines control research, software engineering, and industrial implementation, including applications in water-distribution systems.
20:00–23:00 UTC — Break
23:00–00:00 UTC 19:00 EDT · 16:00 PDT
CSS Outreach: Funds, Applications & Project Showcase (Session 2 — American Prime Time)
Philip E. Paré (Outreach Task Force Chair)
CSS outreach programmes, funding opportunities, and project showcase — session 2 of 2.
- Inaugural African Control Systems Symposium (AFCONS) - Mamadou Diagne (University of California, San Diego)
- CDC 2026 Hawai’i Outreach: Control, Robotics, and Workforce Pathways - Monique Chyba (University of Hawaii)
- 4th Annual ICON Student Research Conference - Younggil Chang and Vittal Srinivasan (Purdue University)
- Expanding Horizons in Systems and Control for Indonesia’s Young Scientists - Augie Widyotriatmo (Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia)
