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3MT™ Winners From Past Years

2023 winners, first place: elina dawoodani, health and human sciences.

Second Place: Vamsi Krishna Bandaru, Engineering

People's Choice: Isaiah Mensah, Agriculture

See all 2017 entries on the 2017 3MT YouTube playlist .

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• 2022 3MT® In-Person Competition
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2021 3MT® Competition Winners

1st Place Winner | Jacob R. Immel

Learn more about Jacob's research

2nd Place & People's Choice Award Winner | Ayotunde Paul Ikujuni

Learn more about Paul's research

Samantha O'Sullivan (Physics / African American Studies)

Gullah Physics: Challenging English Language Hegemony in Science

Second prize expand_more

Sahar Mariam Mohammadzadeh (Government)

The Impact of Twitter on the Supreme Court

Third prize expand_more

Stephanie Alderete (Psychology)

Preschoolers' Ability to Think about Alternative Possibilities

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Alex Grayson (Molecular & Cellular Biology)

Comparing Fox and Human Brain Connectivity Patterns

Javin Pombra (Computer Science)

Unraveling the Black Box: Explainability for Artificial Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century

Zelin Liu (Classics / History)

Using the Past to Define Group Identity

Jerrica Li (Comparative Literature)

Diaspora: A Genre for This New Planetary Reality

Jahnavi Rao (Government)

The Spillover Potential of a Nudge

Daiana Lilo (Government / Data Science)

A Great Personality: How Different Characteristics Can Predict Supreme Court Decisions

• Graduate School

2021 Three-Minute Thesis winners announced

Ten graduate students took the virtual stage this Wednesday in a competition to find out who could best summarize and present years of research in only three minutes. In an event with record-breaking attendance, we learned from finalists about graduate work that spanned Faculties and research fields—from the discovery of novel antimicrobial fabrics that could help reduce the r ate of infections in hospitals to the exploration of new modes of active travel in Vancouver.

The high calibre of presentations meant the task of selecting three winners was very difficult. After long and thoughtful deliberation, our panel of guest judges declared the winners:

First place: Tebogo T. Leepile , PhD in Integrated Studies in Land & Food Systems, MyData_MyVoice: Prevalence of Anemia among San Women and Young Children in Rural Botswana,  Dr Eduardo Jovel & Dr Crystal Karakochuk

"Hard work pays! Diversity and representation are important and possible in UBC! I am humbled and honored; I never imagined that I could win the 3MT, especially at a reputable institution like UBC, in a sea of extremely talented individuals! May this win inspire others particularly, the Black, the African, and the wider international student community, to consider the 3MT in the future. The experience will definitely change your life! May this achievement also motivate women and young girls to pursue their dreams with full zest; all things are possible!"

First place also advances to the Western Regional 3MT. This year’s event will be hosted by Athabasca University.  Watch Tebogo present live online Thursday, May 13th, 2021, at 12PM PDT.

Runner-up: Jennifer Ferris , PhD in Rehabilitation Science,  Peering into the aging brain , Dr. Lara Boyd

“The 3MT competition was a great opportunity to learn about effective communication of my research. I loved learning about the amazing variety of research being done at UBC by my fellow presenters!” 

Third place and People’s Choice: Sarah Morris , PhD in Physics, Using advanced MRI to track myelin loss after spinal cord injury,  Dr. Cornelia Laule 

"I found the process of motivating my thesis research and condensing it into 3 minutes really thought-provoking and it reminded me again why I like the research I do. Thinking about how to remove jargon and make my story as compelling as possible taught me a lot about science communication."

Our other finalists in order of appearance:  

• Ben Dantzer , PhD in Human Development, Learning, and Culture, Closing the Mentorship Gap through Youth-Initiated Mentoring, Dr. Nancy Perry 
• Taylor Wright , PhD in Chemistry, Discovery of Novel Antimicrobial Fabrics, Dr. Michael Wolf 
• Nejat Hassen , MSc in Population and Public Health, Health-Related Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Dr. Diane Lacaille 
• Justin Wyss , PhD in Biomedical Engineering, A Soft Flexible and Stretchable Pressure Sensor Array Designed for the Prevention of Pressure Ulcer Formation, Dr. John Madden & Dr. Babak Shadgan 
• Amir Hassanpour , PhD in Civil Engineering, New Modes of Active Travel in Metro Vancouver, Dr. Alex Bigazzi 
• Andy An , MD/PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, Identifying Mechanisms of Persistent Immune Dysfunction in Sepsis Survivors, Dr. Bob Hancock 
• Meaghan Efford , PhD in Oceans and Fisheries, Archaeological investigations and Tsleil-Waututh Science: reconstructing pre-colonial ecosystems, Dr. Villy Christensen 

Thank you to our participants, judges, hosts, and organizers 

3MT depends on organizers, hosts, judges, presenters, and volunteers from many UBC faculties, departments and units. This year, over 110 students took part in preliminary virtual 3MT heats organized by various faculties and departments. Twenty-six graduate students progressed to the virtual semi-final competitions, and 10 moved on to the final. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to present, judge, organize or support a 3MT event. 3MT would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of so many. The 2021 judging panel at the final had the hardest job of all: 

• Saranaz Barforoush, PhD, Assistant Professor of Teaching, School of Journalism, Writing, and Media 
• Ainsley Carry, MEd, MBA, EdD, Vice-President Students 
• Peter Simpson, PhD, Dean, College of Graduate Studies, UBC Okanagan; Professor, Physics 
• Karine Souffez, MSc, Associate Director, Knowledge Exchange, Office of the VP Research & Innovation 

Our final was hosted by Dr. Matthew Evenden, Professor, Department of Geography, and Associate Vice-President, Research and Innovation. 

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Big research, little time: Medical neuroscience student wins 3 Minute Thesis finals

Mia Samardzic - March 28, 2024

Last week, 10 graduate students took to the stage to compete in Dal’s annual 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, with medical neuroscience PhD student Reynaldo Popoli earning this year’s winning title with his presentation on improving the quality of life for patients living with the neurological disorder ALS.

The 3MT finals, held Tuesday, March 19 in the Dalhousie Student Union Building, challenged competitors to present their research to a non-specialist audience in three engaging minutes or less, using only one static PowerPoint slide as a visual aid.

Five master’s and five PhD students shared their research, representing the Faculties of Medicine, Science and Health. 

Making strides in medicine

Along with taking home the title of Dal’s newest 3MT champion after winning over the judging panel, Popoli won a cash prize of $1,000 and the opportunity to represent Dalhousie at the Eastern 3MT regionals at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique in Quebec this June.

“I feel incredibly grateful, especially to my colleagues that allowed me to practice my presentation and provided invaluable feedback,” he says.

Popoli’s presentation called attention to the devastating impacts of ALS — a disease that affects the cells in our bodies that control our muscles. These cells originate in the brain and spinal cord and travel to the muscles, forming connections called neuromuscular junctions. In ALS, the cells withdraw from the muscles, and these connections are left non-functional.

“The goal of my research is to understand some of the changes that occur in ALS. More precisely, in the connections between the cells that control our movements and their respective muscles. By understanding these changes, we hope we can use different therapeutic approaches to slow down disease progression and improve symptoms,” he says. 

Popoli’s research looks at drugs that help regulate and maintain the integrity of the neuromuscular junction. He has shown that the use of these drugs in ALS make symptoms progress much slower and maintain neuromuscular junctions for longer, allowing for a 10 per cent increase in life expectancy and better quality of life for patients.

“My work is far from over, but I’m hopeful that with this novel research, we’ll be able to find new treatments for this devastating disease.” 

Prize-worthy presentations

Pooyan Moradi, another PhD student in medical neuroscience, and Kaela Trumble, a master’s student in rehabilitation research, were also selected as top finalists by the judging panel. 

Moradi earned second place and a $500 prize, presenting on the use of artificial intelligence to detect seizures in animals and how this model can be applied to better predict epilepsy in humans who have suffered head injuries.

Trumble placed third in the competition and won $250 with a presentation covering the differences in how people develop health problems as they age in relation to heart disease.

The remaining eight finalists each earned $100 prizes for their inspiring presentations.

Also receiving the most votes for the People’s Choice Award, biochemistry and molecular biology master’s student Dina Rogers captivated the crowd when describing a biological recycling process by which PET plastic can be repurposed into new materials by protein engineering to combat climate change. The award, valued at $500, was generously sponsored by Estelle Joubert, assistant dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and entrepreneur Paul Doerwald.

Recommended reading:   Where experience meets impact: Introducing Dalhousie’s 2023 Top Co‑op Students of the Year

Distilling big ideas

This year's 3MT finals opened with a traditional Mi'kma'ki welcome with Elder Ann LaBillois. The event was enthusiastically hosted by CBC reporter and video journalist Brett Ruskin for a sixth time. 

Judges for the competition were Dr. Frank Harvey, Dal's provost and vice-president academic, Grace Jefferies-Aldridge, Dal’s vice-president, people and culture, and Kristan Hines, senior vice-president of corporate and public affairs at NATIONAL Public Relations.

Organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, the event served as an opportunity for members of the Dal community and beyond to learn about the impactful work the university’s graduate students are engaged in.

“For many of us, the 3 Minute Thesis competition is the highlight of the year at Dalhousie,” says Dr. Marty Leonard, dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “It challenges students to take what could be very technologically or theoretically complex research — or better yet, both — and make it accessible and interesting to anyone.”

Dalhousie President Dr. Kim Brooks invited the crowd to relish the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary research happening on campus.

“If you have the privilege of spending time in a university, one of the things you get to do often in your academic life is trace an idea back to its origins,” she says. “And almost every time you find a new idea, a unique contribution, and you trace it back to its origins, you find a graduate student.”

See below for a complete list of this year’s 3MT finalists and their presentations:

Dina Rogers , MSc, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Proteins vs. Pollution: A Biochemical Solution to a Brighter Future 

Kateryna Rudenko , MES, Environmental Studies

Weaving Mi’kma’ki from Stories We Share

Joy Liu , MSc, Statistics

From Approximate to Accurate: Improving Sea Scallop Meat Weight Estimates in the Bay of Fundy through Statistical Modeling

Reynaldo Popoli , PhD, Medical Neuroscience

How a life changes forever in just 12 months

Kaela Trumble, MSc, Rehabilitation Research

How will your heart age?

Eniko Zsoldos , PhD, Chemistry

Improving Battery Sustainability by Limiting Charging

Divya Rathore , PhD, Physics and Atmospheric Science

Many Shades of Green

Sophie Inkpen , MSc, Kinesiology

Taking Action Through Activity: A Program for Patients with Acquired Brain Injury

Pooyan Moradi , PhD, Medical Neuroscience

Cloudy with a Chance of Epilepsy

Fatemeh Mahdizadeh Karizaki , PhD in Health

Promoting Health and Wellbeing: Access and Inclusion to Childcare and Early Learning for Children with Disabilities in Nova Scotia

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The Graduate College » Professional Development » Three Minute Thesis » Winners

2024 Three Minute Thesis Winners

(Left to right) Aaron Mallory, second place winner; Lia Shen, third place winner; Nicole Pek, first place winner; and Tolulope Odunola, people's choice award winner.

First Place

Nicole Pek Molecular and Developmental Biology, PhD

Second Place

Aaron Mallory Criminal Justice, PhD

Third Place

Liang "Lia" Shen Marketing, PhD

People's Choice

Tolulope Odunola Environmental Engineering, PhD

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3-Minute Thesis Competition (2021) First-Place Winner Matthew Ellis

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In Spring 2021, eleven finalists competed in Yale’s fourth 3-Minute Thesis Competition, which challenged PhD students from Yale’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences to clearly and engagingly present their research to a diverse panel of judges – in 3 minutes or less!

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Miami University’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition winners

Ten finalists competed in the Graduate School’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition Feb. 26

Ten finalists competed in the Miami University  Graduate School Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition held Feb. 26.

Finalists were selected from among 13 graduate students who participated earlier this semester in the research communication competition.

The 3MT , held at more than 900 universities worldwide, challenges participants to present their research in just 180 seconds in an engaging form that can be understood by an intelligent audience with no background in the research area. 

First place ($1,200 prize): Kathryn Aldstadt,   second-year doctoral student in Psychology, with advisor Allen McConnell , University Distinguished Professor of Psychology, for “ Effects of Anthropomorphism on Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Interplay of Perceived Warmth and Competence.” Aldstadt received her BA from Butler University in 2022. She will compete in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Three Minute Thesis competition in St. Louis, Missouri, April 5. 

Second place ($950 prize): Jessica Flower ‘23, MS ‘24 , master’s student in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, with advisor J. Andrew Jones , associate professor of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, for “Psychedelics Without the Trip.” Flower, who is completing her combined BS/MS in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, was a 2022-2023 Miami University Provost’s Student Academic Achievement Award recipient . 

Third place ($600 prize):  Autumn Otto , master’s student in Biology with advisor Tereza Jezkova , associate professor of Biology, for “Whose Leg is it Anyway?” Otto studies the phylogenetic relationships of grasshoppers in the subfamily Oedipodinae. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Cincinnati in 2021. 

People's Choice ($500 prize): Tochukwu Nwoko , Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry with advisor Dominik Konkolewicz , John W. Steube professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for “Evolving Polymer Compositions; Disarming the ‘Monster.’” Nwoko studies polymer and photo-responsive materials. She received her B. Tech in 2016 from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, where she interned at University of Ibadan and was involved in green synthesis of nanoparticles and worked on speciation of heavy metals in dumpsite soil samples. 

Judges for the 3MT Final Round

Janelle Allen , visiting assistant professor of Biological Sciences  

Jim Clark, 1961 Miami alumnus

Claire McLeod , associate professor of Geology and Environmental Earth Science

Penny Mannix, emerita assistant to the dean of the Graduate School and manager of Graduate Student Services

Simran Kaur , Miami University Ph.D. in Student Affairs in Higher Education, 2022

Saruna Ghimire , associate professor of Sociology and Gerontology 

Miami's 3MT competition is sponsored by the Graduate School and in memory of Gerald Sanders, professor emeritus of Communications and chair of the department of Communications, 1981-1992.  

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PhD Student Wins Research Award for Work on Aging in 3-Minute Thesis Competition

Can you explain your thesis in just three minutes, in a way that anyone can grasp?

Christi Lero, a doctoral student in social work at the Brown School, did just that, delivering the winning presentation at the  Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition , earning the 2024 Mark S. Wrighton Award on Aging. 

Organized by the Harvey A. Friedman Center for Aging, the 3MT competition challenges PhD students to present their research in a concise and accessible way for a diverse audience. The Mark S. Wrighton Research Award recognizes doctoral students who show outstanding promise as researchers on topics relevant to older adults and aging society.

On March 6, in a captivating display of succinct scholarship, Lero presented her dissertation, titled “Using Self-Compassion to Enhance Wellbeing of Caregivers of People with Neurodegenerative Disease,” impressing a panel of judges from various fields.

“Winning this competition and award is an honor and certainly motivates me to continue doing research in a meaningful and accessible way,” Lero said. “Competitions like 3MT and awards like the Mark S. Wrighton Research Award on Aging are platforms for budding researchers to share their work but also practice talking about complicated things in an accessible way.”

Lero’s success was no happenstance; it was a product of thorough preparation. When asked about her approach, she attributed her triumph to rehearsing, refining, and even reaching out to a stranger.

“Practice, practice, practice!” she remarked of her readiness plan. “I am very fortunate to have the most supportive spouse, friends, and mentors who listened to my speech and helped me revise. There is even a kind student worker in the Brown School library that volunteered three minutes of their time and gave some feedback.” 

Lero’s dissertation research focuses on using self-compassion as a mechanism to help caregivers maintain well-being during and after caregiving.

She explained: “Caregivers of people with diseases like ALS, Huntington’s, and dementia dedicate years of their lives to making sure their loved ones receive care that is respectful and dignified, but that means sacrificing quite a lot of their time, energy, resources, and selves.”

Recognizing the collaborative nature of her scientific work, Lero expressed gratitude to the caregivers who shared their experiences with her.

“Science is a team sport and great work isn’t done alone,” she said. “I am so grateful for all the support I have received, and especially for all the caregivers who have let me walk beside them in their most difficult times. Any recognition I receive reflects the dedication and care I have witnessed from them.” 

Lero’s thesis advisor is Nancy Morrow-Howell, the Betty Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Social Policy. Lero, an NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellow, will be honored at the  Annual Friedman Lecture and Awards  on April 5, where she will discuss her research in more detail.

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Announcing the 2024 Three Minute Thesis Winners

Ten students participated in this year’s final competition for a chance at prize money and a chance to represent CU Boulder at the regional competition.

Environmental advertising, the mental health toll of being a drone pilot, and accessible robot building were a few of the topics presented during the seventh annual Three Minute Thesis Competition  on Feb. 7, 2024.

This event challenges graduate students to craft a three-minute elevator pitch for their complex—and sometimes difficult to make sense of—research in a way that even an everyday person could understand.

This year, the ten competitors did just that to a packed Glenn Miller Ballroom and a panel of judges, which included Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell. The judges then evaluated the competitors on comprehension, content, engagement and communication.

“The Three Minute Thesis competition is one of my favorite Graduate School events for many reasons, and this year was no exception,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School. “It is of vital importance that the public understand the valuable work that graduate students are doing every day, and how it can impact them in lasting and positive ways, and this event does just that. Every year I am amazed and inspired by the incredible research that our students are doing, it makes me very proud to be dean of the Graduate School.”

The 2024 winners are:

First Place

Zach Schiffman, chemistry, The Urea Molecule: From Fertilizer… to Climate Change?

Second Place

Spencer Zeigler, geological sciences, The Missing Pages of Earth History

People’s Choice

Aaquib Tabrez, computer science, Building Trust & Reliance in Human-Machine Teams via Transparent Algorithms

Schiffman will receive $1500 in prize money and will represent CU Boulder at the Western Association of Graduate Schools competition. Zeigler and Tabrez will receive $750 and $500 in research funds, respectively.

Judges for this year’s event were College of Arts and Sciences Dean Glen Krutz, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Associate Dean Charles Musgraves, Professor of Sociology Lori Hunter, and Nobel Laureate Eric Cornell. Bud Coleman, Roe Green endowed chair in theatre, was the event’s emcee.

More information about the 2025 Three Minute Thesis Competition will be available on the Three Minute Thesis competition web page this fall.

At the top of the page: First place winner Zach Schiffman giving his presentation. Photo by Patrick Campbell/University of Colorado Boulder.

• Spring 2024
• Three Minute Thesis

Physics Ph.D. candidate wins 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition

3/22/2024 By | Katya Hrichak , Cornell University Graduate School

“I want you to remember a time when you were in a setting where you felt like you didn’t belong. I want you to remember how you felt in that setting, maybe isolated or out of place, and how much you felt like you wanted to continue going back to that setting—probably not much. These feelings are all too familiar for undergraduate women pursuing their studies in science, and in physics specifically,” began Meagan Sundstrom, a doctoral candidate in physics at the ninth annual Cornell University Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Alongside seven other finalists, Sundstrom presented her dissertation research in just three minutes on March 20 to a panel of judges and an audience from across campus while additional friends, family, advisors, and lab mates watched online. In the first in-person Cornell 3MT since 2019, presentations were judged by how clearly and compellingly students summarized their research to a general audience, using only one static slide.

Sundstrom’s presentation, “Recognizing and Removing Barriers for Women in Physics,” earned her first place and $1,500. Second place and $1,000 was awarded to information science doctoral student Sterling Williams-Ceci for her presentation, “AI Helps us Write – but at What Cost?”

After nearly 60 in-person and 70 virtual audience members cast their ballots, votes were tallied and the People’s Choice Award and $250 were presented to biomedical and biological sciences doctoral candidate Sharada Gopal for her presentation, “Worming Our Way to a Longer Life.”

This year’s judges included Jane Bunker, director of Cornell University Press; Joe Ellis, director of online degree program development at eCornell; David Lodge, the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability; and Bob Riter, patient advocate for the Cornell Community Cancer Partnership. Organization of the competition and coaching of presenters was provided by the Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development.

“As grad students, there are a lot of opportunities to give your elevator pitch at conferences and more professional settings to more senior people in your field, and I thought this would be a really cool opportunity for me to try to tailor that pitch to a more general audience—how would I describe my research to my family and friends?—so that was fun,” said Sundstrom.

Being able to “zoom out” and view her topic from a different perspective was also helpful for Sundstrom, who is currently writing her dissertation and appreciates having both formulated a storyline and thought about the broader impacts of her work.

Williams-Ceci similarly enjoyed the chance to speak to a different type of audience than she is used to addressing.

“I hadn’t really had an opportunity in grad school to try communicating to a broad audience, it’s always just to my lab, so I wanted to practice having a chance to really tell a story and not just go through the slides,” she said. “It really helped me know for a fact that I can tell a convincing story about a project that I’ve done.”

Gopal shared that the 3MT was a fun way to combine her longtime artistic interests with her science.

“It seemed like such a fun event. I did a lot of theatre in college so I thought, ‘What can I do artistically here?’ and this seemed like a good mix of my scientific interest and my artistic theatre interests,” she said, adding that she also benefitted from looking at the bigger picture of her work and its impacts.

The 3MT competition was first held in 2008 at the University of Queensland and has since been adopted by over 900 universities in over 85 countries. 3MT challenges research degree students to present a compelling story on their dissertation or thesis and its significance in just three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Cornell’s Graduate School first hosted a 3MT competition in 2015 and the event has grown steadily since that time. As the winner of Cornell’s competition, Sundstrom will now go on to compete in northeast regional competitions.

“Our Three Minute Thesis final round is a highlight of the year for those of us in the Graduate School—literally we talk about it all year long,” said Kathryn J. Boor, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education. “We look forward to it because it’s just plain fun, and it’s an opportunity for us to watch and learn from our accomplished and creative graduate researchers.”

“I could not possibly be more proud of the work we saw,” she said.

Read the story on the Cornell University Graduate School website.

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Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

An annual competition for University of Rochester doctoral students

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Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that challenges doctoral students to describe their research to a global audience—within three minutes.

Fall 2023 competition

The final round of the competition was held during Meliora Weekend . Congratulations to all the competitors for such fantastic presentations!

Fall 2023 3mT WInners:

FIRST PLACE: Quinny Campbell , a PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering

RUNNER UP: Gloria Asantewaa , a PhD Candidate in Biochemistry

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Kala Hardy , a PhD Candidate in Microbiology and Immunology

SUB-HEAT WINNERS: Azmeer Sharipol , a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering and Shannon Cooney ,  a PhD Candidate in Chemistry

Competitors:

• Gloria Asantewaa, a PhD Candidate in Biochemistry
• Andrew Blake, a PhD Candidate in Music Theory
• Quinny Campbell, a PhD Candidate in Chemical Engineering
• Michael Chavrimootoo, a PhD Candidate in Computer Science
• Shannon Cooney,  a PhD Candidate in Chemistry
• Kala Hardy, a PhD Candidate in Microbiology and Immunology
• Sarah Morgan, a PhD Candidate in Toxicology
• Brandon Ruszala, a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering
• Azmeer Sharipol, a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering

Explore this page to learn more about the contest parameters, eligibility, and past winners.

Contest overview

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Visit the 3MT organization’s website for more details.

Eligible doctoral students at the University of Rochester can participate, and winners will receive travel funding prizes . The competition is brought to you by the University’s Graduate Education Office and  University Libraries.

Upcoming schedule

Details on the next round of the Three Minute Thesis competition will be shared on this website when available. Stay tuned!

Eligibility

The competition is open to current Ph.D. and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have passed their qualifying exam or are in their third year of study or greater.

Rules and judging criteria

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word.
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging criteria

Judges are drawn from diverse disciplines within the university and the broader Rochester community. Review the judging rubric for full details on the judging criteria. Judging is broken up into two major categories:

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?
• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?

Participants have multiple chances to win.

• Top Two Finalists Per Sub-Heat: $100
• Winner: $750
• Runner-up: $500
• People’s Choice: $250

Registration not currently open

Stay tuned for more details on the next round of the Three Minute Thesis competition. A registration form will be made available on this website for you to sign up.

a great legacy

Past winners

Explore a list of past University of Rochester winners, including contest video recordings and image galleries where available.

Check out the list

Three Minute Thesis

3MT ® is an international research communication competition in which graduate students explain their research to a general audience. Students in research-based master’s and PhD programs from all disciplines are eligible to compete, and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

2023-2024 Competition

Eleven students competed in the 2023-24 Three Minute Thesis ® final competition on February 16, 2024. To watch the winner’s recorded presentations, click on the title of their talks below.

First Place and People’s Choice Award: Rudy Dieudonne

Lighting, Noise & Behaviors

Second Place: Katie Ryan

Microbes vs Worms: Searching Nature for New Antiparasitic Compounds

Third Place: Kristen Kehl-Floberg

Getting the Signal: Brain fog and disability in Long COVID

What to expect when you compete in the 3MT:

Preparation (4 to 7 hours)

• Read the rules, requirements, and judging criteria
• Browse the resources in the Canvas site, which you’ll receive access to after registering
• View example presentations
• Attend or watch the video of the the Writing Center workshop “You’re Researching What? Crafting a 3-Minute Research Talk that Appeals to the Public” – available in Canvas (optional but encouraged)
• Meet with a DesignLab consultant (optional but encouraged)
• Create your slide, develop your presentation, and practice
• Divisional semi-finals

Additionally, the winner of the finals will travel to St. Louis to represent UW–Madison at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) regional 3MT ® competition in spring 2024.

For Competitors

• Requirements & rules
• Judging criteria
• Prize levels
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) is permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
• The decision of the judging panel is final.

At every level of the competition, each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question
• Presentation provided clear positionality* of the presenter to the research and research approach
• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research

*Positionality is the social and political context that creates your identity in terms of race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability status. Positionality also describes how your identity influences, and potentially biases, your understanding of and outlook on the world.

Engagement and communication

• The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
• The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention

Semi-Final Winners: $100 each

• First place: $1,000
• Second place: $750
• Third place: $500
• People’s choice: $500

3MT Communication Badge

Graduate students participating in the 2023-24 3MT ® competition will be the first students eligible to earn the UW-Madison Graduate School’s 3MT Communication Badge .

Why earn a digital badge?

A badge demonstrates that you have gone above and beyond academic requirements to acquire specialized knowledge or expertise in a particular area. Badges serve as a visual representation of accomplishments, can enhance your resume or curriculum vitae, and showcase your achievements to prospective employers. Digital badges are easily shareable on social media, personal websites, and professional profiles.

How do I earn the 3MT ® Communication Badge?

All semi-finals participants will be evaluated by competition judges on their ability to adapt messages to meet the needs of diverse audiences, create graphics as a communication tool that enhances the message, and demonstrate competence in presentation skills. If judges determine that all of these learning objectives have been met, you will be eligible to earn the badge at no cost to you. Decisions about earning the badge are separate from the judges’ decisions about which competitors advance to finals. The Graduate School will provide additional information about badges.

The Three Minute Thesis ® Final Competition is presented by The Madison Chapter of Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) and the Graduate School Office of Professional Development.

Sponsorship and judging are provided by BioForward, Elephas, Promega, Stem Pharm, Thermo Fisher, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Science is Fun, and various individuals at UW–Madison.

• Announcements
• In The News

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Office of Graduate Education and Life announces Three-Minute Thesis finalists

Ten doctoral students will compete in the grand finale beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, in the Mountainlair Ballrooms as five faculty and staff members judge for first, second and third place winners. 

The WVU community is also invited to attend and vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The internationally renowned 3MT competition, originally founded by the University of Queensland in Australia, challenges doctoral students to present their research topic and its significance in three minutes using a single PowerPoint slide. 

Competitors develop academic, presentation and research communication skills while gaining experience pitching their research succinctly to a non-specialist audience. 

The 2024 finalists are as follows: 

Haidar Aldaach, Civil Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Syeda Nyma Ferdous, Computer Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources 

Tanner Hoffman, Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design 

Brian Leonard, Chemical Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources 

Kushal Naharki, Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design 

Kinsey Reed, Plant and Soil Sciences, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design 

Denis Ruto, Environmental Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources 

Kayla Steinberger, Immunology, School of Medicine 

Vaishakhi Suresh, Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources 

Paige Zalman, Higher Education, College of Applied Human Services 

Grand finale prizes include $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place and $250 for the People’s Choice Award.

Find more information on the 3MT competition.

For questions, contact Betty Mei at [email protected]. 

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="3 minute thesis winners"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Asian literature, religion, and culture ph.d. candidate wins three minute thesis competition.

“So, this is a coin from 12 th century Sri Lanka. And, like many coins, it’s inscribed with the name of the monarch who commissioned it,” began Bruno Shirley, a doctoral candidate in Asian literature, religion, and culture at the seventh annual Cornell University Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Alongside seven other finalists, Shirley presented his dissertation research in just three minutes to a panel of judges and a virtual audience from across campus and around the world. Presentations were judged by how clearly and compellingly students summarized their research to a general audience, using only one static slide.

His presentation, “Constructing Buddhist kingship in medieval Sri Lanka,” earned him first place and $1,500. Second place and $1,000 was awarded to physics doctoral candidate Vaibhav Sharma for his presentation, “What happens when atoms colder than outer space are spun around?”

After nearly 100 audience members cast their ballots, votes were tallied and the People’s Choice Award and $250 were presented to plant pathology and plant-microbe biology doctoral candidate Juliana González-Tobón for her presentation, “Can bacteria smell their food?”

For Shirley, whose fieldwork plans were disrupted by the pandemic, entering the 3MT enabled him to reengage with his dissertation research.

“These three-minute talks are more than just elevator pitches; the process helped me to really hone-in on what’s most important in my dissertation topic,” he said. “It’s so easy to lose sight of the woods for the trees when we’re deep into dissertation-land, and this was a valuable opportunity to step back and re-orient.”

Sharma, while enthusiastic about his research, struggled to articulate it clearly and compellingly to friends and family in the past. Through the 3MT, he learned valuable skills about concisely summarizing his complex research.

“Before 3MT, I didn’t believe I could talk about my research in just three minutes. The 3MT preparation stage was an eye-opener for me, and I realized the value of each and every sentence. There was no benefit to adding a single ‘filler’ or useless word. I learned how to cut down on verbosity and explain even difficult concepts in brief and easy to understand language. It will help me in the long run if I write shorter and better papers,” he said. “And now if anyone asks me about my research, I can just give them the link to my 3MT video.”

González-Tobón wanted to enter the 3MT since she began her doctoral program and appreciated that this year’s virtual platform allowed for a larger audience.

“It was a great opportunity to invite friends and family from around the world. As an international student, being able to invite everyone felt fantastic and was so heart-warming!” she said. “Also, since the finalists were both international and domestic and from several different research areas, it was amazing to see how diverse this community is and how different our expertise areas are.”

The 3MT competition was first held in 2008 at the University of Queensland and has since been adopted by over 900 universities in over 85 countries. 3MT challenges research degree students to present a compelling story on their dissertation or thesis and its significance in just three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Cornell’s Graduate School first hosted a 3MT competition in 2015 and the event has grown steadily since that time. Cornell’s winner will go on to compete in the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT competition in late April.

“We are so proud of each and every one of our finalists,” said Jan Allen, associate dean for academic and student affairs. “They not only gave excellent presentations, but learned important skills about research communication in the process that will benefit them as they graduate and move into new roles.”

Cornell’s seventh 3MT final round competition was held on March 22, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. on Zoom.

Spring 2022 3MT Finalists

Watch the 2022 three minute thesis competition finale ., first place: bruno shirley , asian literature, religion, and culture doctoral candidate.

Watch Bruno Shirley’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “Constructing Buddhist kingship in medieval Sri Lanka”

Special Committee Chair: Anne M. Blackburn

Area of Research: Buddhist political thought

Biography: Originally from Aotearoa (New Zealand), Bruno is an intellectual historian of medieval South Asian Buddhism, de- and re-constructing ideas about political thought, gender, and devotion. He is interested in theories and methods that challenge our assumption both about “the past” and about possible futures.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: The view out over the lake from up in Olin Library.

Second Place: Vaibhav Sharma , physics doctoral candidate

Watch Vaibhav Sharma’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “What happens when atoms colder than outer space are spun around?”

Special Committee Chair: Erich Mueller

Area of Research: Ultra-cold atoms and quantum information

Biography: Vaibhav Sharma is a Ph.D. student in theoretical physics. His research focuses on studying atoms cooled down to almost absolute zero temperatures. Vaibhav does calculations to understand and explain their quantum mechanical behavior. He grew up in Delhi, India. Outside physics, he enjoys playing tennis, traveling to stunning landscapes, and learning to speak Spanish.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: The open culture of respect and fostering a free flow of ideas.

People’s Choice: Juliana González-Tobón , plant pathology and plant-microbe biology doctoral candidate

Watch Juliana González-Tobón’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “Can bacteria smell their food?”

Special Committee Chair: Melanie Filiatrault

Area of Research: Bacterial plant pathogens, host-pathogen molecular interactions, RNA regulation, chemotaxis

Biography: Juliana, a Ph.D. candidate at PPPMB, studies bacteria that infect potatoes and how they sense the environment. She is originally from Colombia, a writing/presenting tutor at ELSO, and has created a community in social media to communicate science to the general public, mainly in Spanish, and a support network with tips and challenges about academia.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: At Cornell, I feel like I can take on any project I can think of. So many great minds and a supportive community around me every day!

Sebastian Diaz Angel, history doctoral candidate

Watch Sebastian Diaz Angel’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “Nuclear excavations to dam the Amazon, clear the jungles, and prevent Communism (1964-1973)”

Special Committee Chair: Raymond B. Craib

Area of Research: Latin American history, historical geography, environmental history, map studies, history of technology, Cold War

Biography: Sebastian has a B.A. in political science, a B.A. in history, and an M.A. in geography. His dissertation, “Weaponizing the Wilds. Counterinsurgency mappings and the geographical engineering of development in Cold War Latin America,” traces intersecting histories of technology, environment, and politics in the Cold War.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: Its diversity.

Fernanda Fontenele, mechanical engineering doctoral candidate

Watch Fernanda Fontenele’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “The tension of a crush”

Special Committee Chair : Nikolaos Bouklas

Area of Research: Mechanics of composite materials

Biography: Fernanda Fontenele joined the field of mechanical and aerospace engineering as a Ph.D. student in 2018. She is studying how composite materials, such as tendons, fail under conditions of overuse and repetitive loading. The ultimate goal of her research is to develop treatment methods and preventive strategies for diseases such as tendinopathy.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: Adherence to the motto, “any person…any study.”

Shagun Gupta , computational biology doctoral candidate

Watch Shagun Gupta’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “Sparking joy with LAVA!”

Special Committee Chair: Haiyuan Yu

Area of Research: Mass spectrometry-based proteomics

Biography: Shagun Gupta is a Ph.D. candidate in computational biology. She is working on finding the best ways to accurately quantify signal from noisy datasets produced with mass spectrometers and using structure-based approaches to shed light on the role of proteins in our bodies. In her free time, she can be found reading sci-fi and taking hikes in Ithaca.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: The clock tower and its holiday-specific versions!

Watch Andrew Legan’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “Chemical communication in wasps”

Special Committee Chair: Michael Sheehan

Area of Research: Insect molecular ecology and evolution

Biography: Andrew moved from Nashville, TN to Ithaca in 2016. He is curious about animal behavior and evolution and has focused on studying paper wasps during his graduate studies. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and hiking with his dog.

Favorite Thing About Cornell: My favorite thing about Cornell is the people. I am lucky to have met so many different curious and kind people during my time in Ithaca!

Yanle Lu , civil and environmental engineering doctoral candidate

Watch Yanle Lu’s presentation .

Presentation Title: “How long can we trust a model prediction?”

Special Committee Chair: Qi Li

Area of Research: Fluid dynamics, tracer dispersion, and heat transfer in urban environments

Biography: Yanle Lu is a Ph.D. candidate in the City-Climate-People lab in civil and environmental engineering. With a focus on urban climate, her research is about the fluid dynamics, tracer dispersion, and heat transfer in urban environments. Her current research topics are the predictability of dispersion in the surface layer over urban environments and the representation of urban land surface in high resolution numerical models. 

Favorite Thing About Cornell: Beautiful nature!

2022 Final Round 3MT Competition

The Three Minute Thesis final competition for 2022 was held virtually on Tuesday, March 22 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. ET. Eight finalists competed for first and second prize in the judging and people’s choice award winner.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an annual competition for doctoral students to develop and showcase their research communication skills, sponsored by the Cornell Graduate School.

Preliminary Rounds

2022 Preliminary round registration was open to all current doctoral candidates with research results to present. Preliminary round virtual competitions were held live from March 1-3.

Zoom Information sessions were held on the following dates and times.

• Tuesday, February 1 at 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 2 at 12:00 p.m.
• Friday, February 11 at 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 15 at 5:00 p.m.

Email  [email protected] with any questions about the Cornell Three Minute Thesis competition.

Three Minute Thesis Competition: 3MT Details

• 3MT Details
• Past 3MT Competitions

The first 3MT was held at The University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 with 160 graduate students competing. Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew and its adoption by numerous universities led to the development of an international competition in 2010. Today, students at over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide take part in their own regional events.

Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of Libraries Keith Webster, who brought the 3MT challenge to Pittsburgh from Queensland in 2013-14, has every expectation that CMU students will continue to embrace the concept and provide the momentum to join regional and international 3MT competition in the future.

Important Information

• Judging Criteria
• Preliminary Rounds
• 3MT Championship
• Only one static slide is permitted.
• No slide transitions, animations or movement of any kind.
• The slide is to be presented at the beginning of the presentation and stay visible throughout the presentation.
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment, etc.) are permitted.
• No notes of any kind (e.g. written notes, cell phones, or other mobile devices) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum.
• Competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (i.e. no poems, raps, or songs).
• Presentations are to occur at the front of the room or on the stage (as appropriate).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Competitors are judged upon three equally important criteria: 

Comprehension

Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?

Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?

Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?

Did the oration make the audience want to know more?

Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?

Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?

Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?

Communication Style

Was the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?

Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?

Did the speaker effectively convey their research using a well-paced, clear, and consistent communication style?

Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation – or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Did the slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?

All 3MT competitors will be scheduled to compete in a preliminary round. These qualifying competitions will occur in-person in Room #308 within Hunt Library between February 5 and February 22, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Participants will be able to designate their top three choices for Preliminary Round and we will do our best to accommodate these requests. Preliminary Rounds are free and open to the public to attend.

Winners of preliminary rounds go on to compete in-person in the Carnegie Mellon University 3MT Championship on Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm EST.

Preliminary Rounds: 

• Monday, February 5, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, February 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Thursday, February 15, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Tuesday, February 20, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• Thursday, February 22, 5:00 - 7:00 pm

2024 3MT Championship

Thursday, March 14, 2024 | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Simmons Auditorium, Tepper

The 2024 3MT Championship will be held in the Simmons Auditorium on Thursday, March 14 from 6-8 p.m. Winners of the preliminary rounds will face off in this exciting conclusion of the 2024 3MT. Ph.D. students will present their slide one final time to a panel of high-profile judges from campus administration, academic leadership, the Board of Trustees and the CMU Alumni Association. Do you have what it takes to be this year's champion? This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required .

Students who compete in the 3MT Competition have a chance to win cash prizes. The winners of each preliminary round will receive $250.

At the 3MT Championship, students will compete for several prizes.

• 1st Place: $3,000
• 2nd Place: $2,000
• 3rd Place: $1,000

Additionally, there are prizes based upon audience participation.

• People’s Choice Award , live vote by audience: $500
• Alumni Choice Award , live-streamed vote by the CMU Alumni Association: $750

Additional Resources

• Specialized workshops and other resources for preparing a three minute thesis slide and presentation will be scheduled and provided leading up to the preliminary rounds.
• Subject experts are always available to offer advice and assistance in your field.
• Watch videos of winning presentations from around the world.
• How to Win the 3MT
• << Previous: Start
• Next: Past 3MT Competitions >>
• Last Updated: Mar 20, 2024 3:43 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.cmu.edu/3mt