EMNLP workshop any good? Or any other NLP venue good for VLM eval work? [D]

Reddit r/MachineLearning / 4/23/2026

💬 OpinionIndustry & Market Moves

Key Points

  • The author’s paper was rejected by a top imaging venue for lacking clinical validation and was perceived as more “NLP suited,” despite strong methods and venue-aligned findings.
  • They are considering EMNLP next but worry it may be too centered on NLP and that their work could be overlooked, even though an EMNLP workshop seems like a better thematic fit.
  • The author asks whether EMNLP workshops (and similar NLP venues) are worthwhile for PhD students and for getting publication after a career/industry transition.
  • They are weighing the option of submitting to a more specialized NLP workshop versus waiting and targeting other imaging venues, potentially at lower tiers.
  • The discussion reflects broader concerns about venue selection, audience fit, and how evaluation-oriented VLM/NLP work is received across domains.

My paper got rejected from an imaging venue (A*) because it lacked clinical validation and was more "NLP suited". I'm very disappointed by the decision as the paper had strong methods and key findings suited to the specific venue.

I'm thinking of EMNLP next, but I feel it is too NLP and my paper for sure will be lost. But I see an EMNLP workshop very suited to the paper. Are such workshops especially at such conferences any good for PhD students? Or should I just wait and try it for any other imaging venue (maybe lower tiered?).

I only want publication for my industry switch after my PhD and really wanted a few A* under my profile. Being honest.

submitted by /u/ade17_in
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