Fatema Siddika, a Computer Science Ph.D. candidate, has been selected to serve as a student volunteer at The International Conference for High-Performance Computing, Networking, Storage, and Analysis (SC26), which will be held in Chicago from November 15-20, 2026.
SC is one of the most prestigious conferences for high-performance computing and the supercomputing community, and only a select group of students are chosen to support the event while engaging with cutting-edge research, technical sessions, and networking with professionals from around the world.
“I have always wished to attend SC, and the student volunteer scholarship is a prestigious and wonderful opportunity,” Siddika explained when asked about her application process. “I applied directly through the SC website. I believe my application was made much stronger by my hands-on experience using advanced computing resources, as I have been interning at Argonne National Laboratory both during the summer of 2025 and this current summer of 2026. Additionally, the recommendation letter provided by my advisor, Dr. Ali Jannesari, and his ongoing support really helped me get selected.”
Student volunteer programs such as this one are excellent opportunities for students to attend international conferences throughout their academic careers. Major conferences' student volunteer programs often cover expenses such as accommodation, airfare, and reduced conference registration fees.
“As a Ph.D. candidate, this opportunity will immensely help me connect with other researchers,” said Siddika. “Beyond the volunteer duties, I am excited to engage with technical sessions that directly relate to my research in federated continual learning for LLMs. The networking opportunities are invaluable, and I am looking forward to building connections with professionals from other national labs, academia, and industry.”
As for advice she may have for students interested in pursuing opportunities at other conferences, she emphasized leveraging practical research experiences and having confidence in your background.
“Highlight your hands-on work with computing resources or research labs when you apply,” advised Siddika. “What they're really looking for is genuine enthusiasm for both contributing to the conference and growing your own understanding of the field. Don't hesitate to put yourself out there, as being part of this global community is a truly transformative experience.”