The Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI) at the University of Waterloo is hosting their 2nd CPI Graduate Student Conference, a platform dedicated to showcasing innovative research and ideas from graduate students conducting interdisciplinary research that intersect cybersecurity and privacy topics. This conference aims to foster a vibrant academic environment where students can share their findings, gain valuable feedback, and connect with peers, faculty, and industry professionals.
The CPI Graduate Student Conference 2026 will be an in-person event and online registration for attendees will open soon.
Important Dates:
- Poster abstract submission deadline: February 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST
- Notification of decision to include poster: March 3, 2026
- Event registration deadline: March 10, 2026
- CPI's 2nd Graduate Student Conference: March 30, 2026
Who is eligible to apply?
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Graduate students across Canada
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If your poster has been accepted, you are required to register as a "Poster Participant" in advance and attend the conference for the majority of the day. You must also be available to set up between 7 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. the day of the event.
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Unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to register and attend the conference as well.
Topics of Interest
We welcome submissions related to cybersecurity and privacy topics, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary research that bridges these fields with other domains. Below are some examples of topics which we consider relevant to the conference. This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage authors to interpret the list broadly and welcome submissions on related topics not explicitly mentioned here:
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Security and Privacy in Data Science
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Human & Societal Aspects of Security and Privacy
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Cryptography and Quantum-Safe Communication
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Network Security
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Software, Hardware, and Systems Security
Submission Process:
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In order to submit your work for consideration, please submit a .pdf version of your poster and a written abstract (up to 200 words) to ccpi@uwaterloo.ca. Please also include your poster title, supervisor (if applicable), and your faculty affiliation.
- The CPI Graduate Student Conference is intended to highlight posters that feature:
- Proposals for future research
- Preliminary research results of projects related to cybersecurity and privacy
- Posters will be screened upon submission to ensure compliance with the Call for Posters
- A maximum of 30 posters will be accepted
Poster Format:
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48" x 36" (or 4ft x 3ft)
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Portrait or landscape orientation is welcomed
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Poster paper preferred (not foam board)
University of Waterloo’s Library provides some guidelines that may be helpful for creating your poster.
Spotlight Presentations & Awards
A small selection of posters will be invited to deliver a full-blown talk at the conference. Authors of posters selected as spotlight talks are expected to prepare a presentation and must deliver it during the event.
Also, on the day of the event, poster prizes will be awarded to the top students.
CPI looks forward to your submissions! If you have further questions, please direct them to ccpi@uwaterloo.ca