The NESTOR Doctoral Network marked a key milestone with its first conference contribution presented at the OFC Conference 2025 in San Francisco — one of the leading global events in optical fibre communication.

José Ignacio Núñez Kasaneva, a Doctoral Candidate from Eindhoven University of Technology, represented the network with an oral presentation of the paper “Blind Equalization in Dynamic PMD Channels Using Variational Autoencoders with LSTM”. Developed in collaboration with the Information and Communication Theory Lab (ICT Lab), the paper introduces an advanced machine learning approach to address challenges in dynamic polarisation mode dispersion, a critical area in high-speed optical systems.

In addition to his scientific presentation, José took part in the ‘Hack Your Research!’ session, where he shared insights into the use of Obsidian, a knowledge management tool that helps early-stage researchers organise their work more effectively. His talk, “Obsidian: a Good Friend for the Beginning of your Doctorate”, resonated with fellow PhD students and highlighted the importance of digital tools in academic life.

As the first NESTOR researcher to attend OFC, José made a strong impression, connecting with leading experts and gaining valuable inspiration for the road ahead. His participation reflects the growing presence and impact of the NESTOR network in the international research community.