“The schedule was packed in the best way possible” – Silan Karadag on her ELLIIT Focus Period experience

For three weeks during the second half of the 2026 ELLIIT Focus Period in Linköping, visiting scholar Silan Karadag joined researchers and students from around the world to discuss the future of wireless communication and sensing technologies.

As an Industrial PhD student affiliated with Chalmers University of Technology and Volvo Cars, Silan Karadags research combines wireless communications, signal processing, and automotive safety applications. During the focus period on Wireless Sensing Technologies for Emerging Applications, she contributed with an industrial perspective on future 6G systems and real-world sensing challenges.

A packed program of research and collaboration

“Three weeks is a short time, but the schedule was packed in the best way possible,” says Silan Karadag.

“We attended symposium by world-leading researchers, gave our own presentations, and collaborated on a group challenge using real measurement data.”

In addition to the scientific program, the social activities and interaction with local organizers played an important role in creating a welcoming environment.

“Having the local buddies around and joining the social activities really helped break the ice from day one,” she says.

Research on communication-based sensing

During the focus period, participants presented their own research in seminar sessions. Silan Karadag’s presentation focused on how communication signals can be used for radar-like sensing and positioning.

“In short, it is about using communication signals for radar-like sensing to estimate an object’s position from its motion, which is especially useful in bandwidth-limited scenarios,” she explains.

Her work also includes developing methods for accurate target localization, an important component in future 6G networks and automotive safety systems. By participating in the focus period, she wanted to contribute with insights from industrial testbeds and practical use cases.

“I tried to bring that industrial perspective to the table by sharing the real-world challenges we face every day on the roads, practical use cases, and my experience with testbed development,” she says.

New insights and a wider network

One of her main takeaways from the stay in Linköping was discovering how closely connected many of the discussions during the focus period were to her own research.

“My main takeaway was seeing so many parallel threads between the symposium presentations and my own research. It confirmed that we are tackling some of the most relevant questions in the field right now,” says Silan Karadag.

She also highlights the value of the professional network and inspiration gained during the visit.

“I am leaving Linköping not just with new technical insights, but also with a refreshed sense of motivation and a wider network of colleagues.”

Asked whether she would participate in another focus period in the future, her answer is clear.

“Absolutely. It has been a great opportunity to step out of my daily routine, get some fresh technical perspectives, and connect with other people in the field. I have enjoyed the discussions we have had here, and I am sure this will lead to some exciting future work down the road. It has been a valuable experience.”