3 minute thesis competition 2022

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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.

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2022 3-Minute Thesis Competition

Yale 2022 3-Minute Thesis Competition Winners Announced!

The 3-Minute Thesis Competition challenges Ph.D. students to describe their thesis work clearly and engagingly in just 3 minutes! On April 14th we invited the Yale community to cheer on this year’s 11 finalists in this live-streamed celebration of Ph.D. research. At the Loria Hall event, finalists delivered their presentations live to both an in-person and virtual audience of more than 200.

During the event, Julia Istomina (Associate Director of the Graduate Writing Lab) announced recipients of the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning’s Public Communications Certificate, including 9 of our 2022 finalists! In addition, members of the audience were invited to cast their votes to select winners for two People’s Choice awards.

This year’s esteemed panel of judges included:

Lynn Cooley , Dean of the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Jenny Rooke ’98 Ph.D., Managing Director, Genoa Ventures and Advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  Max Golts, ‘99 Ph.D., Chief Investment Officer, 4X4invest  Andrea Levitt , ‘78 Ph.D., Professor Emerita of French and Linguistics, Wellesley College

During the event, audience members cast their votes for the People’s Choice awards.

Meet the 2022 3MT Winners

*TIE* First Place – Diondra Dilworth (Chemistry): The Ribosome: Modifiable Machine – A Chemist’s Approach

*TIE* First Place  – Kimmy Cushman (Physics): Dark Matter: The Mysteries of Mass

Third Place – Carson Koepke (Medieval Studies): Centering Saints’ Lives in Medieval Studies

People’s Choice Award: Best in Humanities & Social Sciences – Demar Lewis (Sociology & African American Studies): “Walk it Like We Talk It”: Reimagining Community Safety in the United States

People’s Choice Award: Best in STEM – Aritra Ghosh (Astronomy): Black Holes: Ruthless Destroyers or Formative Gravitational Beasts?

You can view all of our finalists’ videos via the Office of Career Strategy YouTube channel .

Yale’s 3-Minute Thesis Competition is sponsored by the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Yale Graduate School Alumni Association.  It is a collaboration between the offices of the McDougal Graduate Student Center:  The Poorvu Center for Teaching & Learning, the Graduate Writing Lab, Graduate Student Life, the Office for Graduate Student Development & Diversity, and the Office of Career Strategy.

Yale’s event is modeled on the 3-Minute Thesis Competition founded by the University of Queensland.  3MT competitions are now held at over 600 universities and institutions across 65 countries around the world.

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Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®) 2022

Thursday, March 10, 2022 6pm to 8pm

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About this Event

Please click the Register button above to attend the event. 

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students around the world. Developed by the  University of Queensland  in 2008, this interdisciplinary competition is now in more than 200 higher education institutions around the globe. The competition cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills, contributing to students' professional development. Presenting in a 3MT® Competition increases students’ capacity to succinctly summarize their research in three minutes using language comprehensible to a non-specialist audience.

Competitors have a maximum of three minutes to present their research and are allowed one PowerPoint slide with no movement or sounds. No other resources or props may be used. Monetary prizes are awarded to first-place, runner-up, and the people's choice award. 

The Graduate School hosts this annual competition during the spring semester in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association. The inaugural University of Miami 3MT® Competition was held in April 2017. 

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Cornell University --> Graduate School

Careers beyond academia, 2022 three minute thesis (3mt) competition, march 22, 2022 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm.

• This event has passed.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a competition for doctoral students to develop and showcase their research communication skills.

The 2022 final round competition will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 . Register to attend and vote for the people’s choice award .

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. In addition to the first place and second place winners from among the finalists, audience members on March 22 will be asked to select a People’s Choice Award Winner.  

The 2022 final round competitors are:

• Sebastian Diaz Angel – Ph.D. Candidate in History
• Fernanda Fontenele – Ph.D. Candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Juliana González-Tobón – Ph.D. Candidate in Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
• Shagun Gupta – Ph.D. Candidate in Computational Biology
• Andrew Legan – Ph.D. Candidate in Neurobiology and Behavior
• Yanle Lu – Ph.D. Candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Vaibhav Sharma – Ph.D. Candidate in Physics
• Bruno Shirley – Ph.D. Candidate in Asian Literature, Religion and Culture
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https://www.vitae.ac.uk/events/three-minute-thesis-competition/three-minute-thesis-competition

This page has been reproduced from the Vitae website (www.vitae.ac.uk). Vitae is dedicated to realising the potential of researchers through transforming their professional and career development.

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Vitae Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition

Watched globally by an audience of thousands, the Vitae Three Minute Thesis® challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.

The Vitae 3MT® 2024 competition sponsored by Universal Impact will be broadcast online on  Wednesday 2 October 2024 12:30-13:15 (GMT+1)

To re-live the excitement of the 3MT® 2023 competition final, you can watch the recording of the   live broadcast.

Congratulations to the Judge’s Choice Winner Sarah Warbis  (below image on the left) University of Bath and to  Ridzuan A-Rasid  (below image on the right) from Loughborough University for winning the People’s Choice Award.

Three Minute Thesis challenges doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken presentation on their research topic and its significance in just three minutes.

®3MT is an academic competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia. Its success has led to the establishment of local and national competitions in several countries.

Since 2014 Vitae have proudly hosted the UK ®3MT competition which is the culmination of finalists from Vitae member Higher Education Institutions throughout the UK.

Competition rules and branding requirements

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Vitae 3MT FAQ's

Benefits of running a 3MT competition

Top tips for communicating research in this useful guide to presenting your research effectively and with confidence Taylor & Francis

Vitae 3MT® 2024

Get inspired from the Vitae 3MT broadcast of the 2023 final

If your institution is new to the Vitae 3MT competition, please ensure you also register with the University of Queensland

How to hold your competition virtually . Find out more here

Important dates for the competition:

• Deadline to send in your institutional winning video for the Vitae 3MT competition is Friday 28 June 2024
• The Vitae 3MT® 2024 competition will be broadcast online on Wednesday 2 October 2024

Vitae 3MT® competition archives

Vitae 3MT 2023

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Thoughts from a past winner: How much impact can the competition have?

Inspirational tips and advice from previous finalists and as a researcher developer organising the competition

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Canadian Graduate Student Atia Amin of McGill University Wins 2022 North American 3MT Competition

by cags | Dec 13, 2022 | 3MT® , CAGS News , FEATURE POST SLIDER

  The first place prize at the 2022 North American 3MT Competition has been won by Canadian...

A Master’s student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Concordia University has been named Canada’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) champion.

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12 Canadian 3MT® Finalists. The winner of the People’s Choice Award is up to You!

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2018 National 3-Minute Thesis Competition

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3 minute thesis competition final 2022

Imagine condensing hours, days and even years of complex research into a short presentation while being judged by an expert panel and lecture theatre full of your peers and strangers. An 80,000-word thesis would take 9 hours to read, they have 3 minutes.

Join us for an evening of smart entertainment suitable for the whole family and catch a glimpse of the amazing research projects that are being conducted by ANU PhD students.

On the night, the finalists will wow you and the judges for the #ANU3MT 2022 crown, $4,000 in prize money and a place in the 3MT Asia-Pacific grand final. We will ask you to cast your vote for the People's Choice award, the audience favourite will take home a $1,000 cash prize.

The 3MT is an international competition for research students to showcase their research. Students share what their research is and why it is important in plain language for three minutes, with only a single PowerPoint slide.

This event is free and open to the public, bring your friends and family to an unforgettable night of smart entertainment. Proudly sponsored by the  Dean, Higher Degree Research and  Researcher Development .

If you cannot make it, log in to ANU TV   to watch the live stream starting at 6pm! Enquiries to [email protected] .

While the ACT has relaxed mandatory mask restrictions, ANU will continue to require that masks be worn indoors for the foreseeable future. Masks will be required in Llewellyn Hall. 

Date and Times

• Fri 09 Sep 2022, 6:00 pm

Room: Llewellyn Hall

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2022 U-Wide Three Minute Thesis Competition

Support Paulina Eberts from the Chemical Engineering Ph.D. program in the College of Science & Engineering at the 7th Annual 3-Minute Thesis Competition

Time:  Presentations: 10 a.m. | Winner Selected & Announced: 11-11:30 a.m.

Register now for the event!

An 80,000 word Ph.D. thesis would take nine hours to present. Their time limit... 3 minutes. The Graduate School at the University of Minnesota is proud to host a virtual 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition this year. Originally established by the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008, the competition challenges research students to communicate the significance of their projects to a general audience in just three minutes, with the aid of a single, static slide. This year’s competition will feature the 3MT preliminary-round winners from eight colleges, including Paulina Eberts from the Chemical Engineering Ph.D. program in the College of Science & Engineering. Spread the word and come cheer on all of our participants.

The student selected as the winner will represent the University of Minnesota at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 3-Minute Thesis competition. In addition, participants will be invited to present their research at an upcoming Board of Regents meeting.

If you have any questions, please visit the  Graduate School website  or contact  Noro Andriamanalina .

Coffman Memorial Union Theater (room 110)

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3 Minute Thesis Competition

Sample Slide Images Below:

Submit your Accepted Abstract for the 3-Minute Thesis Competition! 

University of South Florida

Office of Graduate Studies

Main navigation, three minute thesis (3mt®) at usf.

The Office of Graduate Studies and the Graduate and Professional Student Council are proud to present USF's 3 Minute Thesis Competition (3MT®)!

The Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT®, is an annual competition held at over 200 universities world wide, open to graduate students who present their research in less than 3 minutes, with only one static slide.

Winning presentations are engaging stories that are understood by the broader audience, requiring little expertise in the research area. The competition cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The idea is for students to orally present the significance of their dissertation or thesis using a single static slide in just three minutes.

WORKSHOP: Preparing a Winning 3MT® Presentation

Date: October 4, 2023 (Most recent)  Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Description

Presented by Ruth Bahr, PhD, Dean, Office of Graduate Studies and Tracy Costello, PhD, Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

The Three Minute Thesis , or 3MT® , is an annual competition held at over 200 universities worldwide, open to graduate students who present their research in less than 3 minutes, with only one static slide.  Winning presentations are engaging stories that are understood by the broader audience, requiring little expertise in the research area. 

This lecture is designed to help you understand and develop your best 3MT® presentation so that you're prepared to enter the USF competition in October 2023.  We'll share tips for success including how to frame your research for any audience and considerations for your slide's design. 

The winner and runner-up of the USF competition receive travel awards and are additionally supported to travel and present in the Council of Graduate Schools 3MT® competitions at the 2024 Council of Florida Graduate Schools Conference and the 2024 Council of Southern Graduate Schools Conference, schedule and funding permitting.  

Pictured from left to right: Asim Waqas, Anna Gonzalez, Reham Abuemira (People's choice) , Indira Goldman, Darrail Abercrombie, Alex Seigel, William Cromwell (Runner-up) , Martha McAlister, Alexandra Zamitalo (First Place), Dean Ruth Bahr. 2023 3MT® Competition.

Pictured: 2023 Participants compete with 3MT® presentations during the USF Finals Heat held on the Tampa campus. 

Judges will rate the student's ability to effectively present their research to a multidisciplinary audience in accessible and engaging non-technical language. Developed by The University of Queensland in 2008, enthusiasm for the concept and its adoption in numerous universities has also led to the development of an international competition.

Now, 3MT® is held in over 900 universities across more than 80 countries worldwide.

Why Participate?

Skills Development

Participating in 3MT® develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing research candidates’ ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

Culture of Research

3MT® provides a valuable opportunity for researchers to come together (live or virtually), get to know one another and talk about their research. It also provides a supportive environment in which schools, institutes and universities can provide presentation skills training.

Networking Opportunities

3MT® winners may go on to represent their university at national and international 3MT® competitions which provides an excellent networking and professional development opportunity. Previous 3MT® finalists have benefited from invitations to a variety of other networking events following their participation in the competition.

A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, 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 (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 movement or speech.

The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Comprehension & Content

Presentation provided clear background and significance to the research question.

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.

Engagement & 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.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

An important aspect of the competition is the People’s Choice prize. Following all presentations, the audience is asked to vote on who they thought gave the most convincing 3MT® presentation (based on their understanding of the criteria outline above). A finalist can be the winner or runner-up and still receive the People’s Choice award.

ELIGIBILITY

Active Ph.D. and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT® competitions at all levels. Graduates are not eligible.

• 3MT® Competitor Guide
• FAQs for Competitors

USF holds a series of heats during the fall semester. Winners of the heats go on to compete in the USF 3MT® Finals, which typically take place in early November. 

• First Place: $300
• Runner-up (Second Place): $200
• People's Choice: $100

The First Place Winner moves forward to represent USF at the regional 3MT® competition the following spring.

VIEW: USF 3MT® Winners

First Place: Alexandra Zamitalo Title: Intraocular Marvels: Revolutionizing Techniques for Studying the Eye College: College of Engineering Program: Medical Engineering

Runner-up: William Cromwell Title: The ABOs of Cerebral Malaria College: College of Medicine Program: Medical Sciences

People's Choice: Reham Abuemira Title: Telecollaboration as an Approach to Facilitating Intercultural Communicative Competence and Exposure to Arabic Varieties in Arabic as Foreign Language Classrooms in the US: Exploring Teachers' Perspectives and Practices College: College of Education Program: Technology in Education and Second Language Acquisition

First Place: Kanchana Karunarathne Title: Coloring In Memory: Fluorescent Dyes as a Candidate for Oligomer Detection in Alzheimer’s Disease College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Physics

Runner-up: Efrain Gonzalez Title: Know the Unknown College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Mathematics and Statistics

People's Choice: Shelby Kell Title: One-size-fits-all: Pharmaceuticals For Human Health Care College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Chemistry

First Place: Aditya Chakraborty Title:  A Data-Driven Analytical Process to Monitor Pancreatic Cancer Survival Time College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Mathematics and Statistics

Runner-up: Jing Chen Title:  Membrane Proteins: Starting From a Binary Switch College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology

People's Choice: Minglu Sun Title:  The Effect of the Drug Abuse Prevention Programs on Domestic Violence College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Economics

First Place: Tiffany Miller Title:   Sniffing out COVID-19 with a Gas Sensor Array College: College of Engineering Program: Electrical Engineering

Runner-up: Celine Atkinson Title:  Climate Change, Gut Microbes, and You College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology

People's Choice: Poonan Lathiya Title:   Biotelemetry College: College of Engineering Program: Electrical Engineering

First Place: Aya Elmarsafawi Title:   Long Live Memory Cells College: Morsani College of Medicine Program: Molecular Medicine (Immunology)

Runner-up: Zeinab Motawe Title:   Having a Stroke? Take a Chill Pill! College: Morsani College of Medicine Program: Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology

People's Choice: Sandra Hornung Title:   Respiratory Syncytial Virus Accessorizes Human Proteins College: Morsani College of Medicine Program: Integrated Biomedical Sciences

First Place: Christian Brown Title:   Salamanders in the Sky and How They Try to Fly College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Integrative Biology

Runner-up: Abhijeet Iyer Title:   Air Pollution – Think Inside the Box College: College of Engineering Program: Chemical Engineering

People's Choice: Wainella Isaacs Title:   The Social and Technical Life of Drinking Water Tanks College: College of Engineering Program: Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Place: Karena Nguyen Title:   Parasites, People and the Changing Climate College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Integrative Biology

Second Place: Earnest Hansley Title:   Identification of Individuals from Ears College: College of Engineering Program: Computer Science and Engineering

People's Choice: Saurav Chakraborty Title:   El Niño Neutral Condition and its Influence on the Development of Hurricanes College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Geography

First Place: Kevin Orner Title:   Nutrient Removal and Energy Recovery from Digester Effluent College: College of Engineering Program: Environmental Engineering

Second Place: Karena Nguyen Title:   A Mechanistic Framework for Temperature-Dependent Disease Dynamics: A Novel Approach with Dynamic Energy Budget Theory College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: Integrative Biology

People's Choice: Dagmara Monfort Title:   Self-Assembling Nanoparticles for Treatment of Genetic Diseases College: College of Engineering Program: Chemical and Biomedical Engineering

First Place: Simon Bello Title:   Development of an Implantable Pressure Regulating Pump for Glaucoma Studies College: College of Engineering Program: Electrical Engineering

Second Place: Elan Pavlinich Title:   Counterfeit Feminism in Disney's Maleficent College: College of Arts and Sciences Program: English

People's Choice: Parveen Bazard Title:   Plasmonic Stimulation of Electrically Excitable Biological Cells College: College of Engineering Program: Chemical Engineering

• Admissions & Aid
• Graduate School

3 Minute Thesis Competition

Watch our spring 2024 3mt premiere event.

Faculty Judging Panel: Dr. Candy Noltensmeyer, Dr. Robert Crow, Dr. Charmion Rush, Dr. Dustin Evatt       

Voting for People's Choice closed on Wednesday, February 28 at Noon ET.

What is a 3MT?

Created at the University of Queensland (Australia), THE 3MT® competition provides graduate students the opportunity to develop their professional presentation and research communication skills. Students do not have to be completing a thesis in order to participate.

This is an opportunity to showcase your graduate thesis, disquisition, project or business plan in a three-minute presentation geared to a general audience using only one slide. Even projects in a preliminary stage can be presented in a three-minute format.

Deadline to register and submit a slide for the Spring 2024 competition was February 14.

If you have any questions about the 3 Minute Thesis Competition, please contact the Graduate School: [email protected] .

Frequently Asked Questions

All WCU graduate students can participate, whether in a residential or distance program.

Yes! All types of professional projects are appropriate topics for a 3MT® presentation—business plans, meta-analyses (watch an example ), literature reviews, and original research.

Yes! Preliminary data can be presented in a 3MT® competition. After all, you are presenting for only three minutes. You can provide limited data in that amount of time; just be sure to inform your audience how this data highlights future research. (Watch an example of a 3MT® winner presenting preliminary research.)

3MT® will help you hone an important skill needed as a graduate student and professional. The ability to distill complex information into a short speech with high impact for a lay audience is a valuable skill for all aspects of one’s life.

If that is not reason enough, how about this? The top winner in WCU’s competition will receive a $500 tuition award to be credited to their student account. Second-place and People's Choice winners will each receive a $250 tuition award. The first-place winner will represent WCU at the Council of Southern Graduate Schools regional competition on March 5-7, 2020 in Birmingham, AL (expenses paid).

YouTube has examples of good 3MT® presentations. An effective presentation tells the audience why the research is important, and it hooks the audience early. A metaphor or comparison is also useful for the audience. Be sure to tell the audience what your research reveals, but do not bog them down in the minutia. The Graduate School will provide coaching for students. You can learn more about 3MT® here:  http://threeminutethesis.org .

Here are some example presentations related to subject/discipline that might inspire you to participate.

• Communication Sciences and Disorders
• ENGLISH/HISTORY
• Engineering
• EDUCATION (PRELIMINARY RESEARCH)
• Health Sciences/Nutrition
• Physical Therapy
• Public Administration
• Social Work
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. Slide must be a normal 4:3 size. 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.
• No notes, cards, or written sheets are allowed.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 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 adjudicating panel is final.

Comprehension & Content

• 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?

Engagement & Communication

• 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?

Previous Winners: Academic Year 22-23

Patterns of pair boldness and mate recognition for an urban population of song sparrows, m.s. biology.

Modulating Autophagy with Keratin Biomaterials

Welcome to the Vesta Fiesta! Systematic Review of the Firefly Genus Vesta (Laporte 1833)

1st Place: Emily Deem 

Extraction Efficiency Testing of Degraded Bone Samples: Comparing Four Extraction Methods for Use in Downstream Massively Parallel Sequencing Applications  

2nd Place: Stephanie Cook 

Specialist in school psychology s.s.p..

H.D.’s Waves: A Modernist Confluence of Literature, Science, and Spirituality

People's Choice: Nicholas Fasanello

Communication Sciences and Disorders M.S.

Reviewing a Framework for Concealable Stigma in Communication Disorders: Addressing Adverse Outcomes and Promoting Inclusion

Watch the 2022 3MT

3MT Competition

3mt resources.

• 3MT Official Rules & Instructions 
• Superimposing Yourself Within a Video

• Find Workshops
• Responsible Conduct of Research
• Travel Award
• Mentoring Awards
• For Grad Students
• For Faculty
• Workshops and Events
• Competitions Overview

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

• Past Winners
• Newsletters
• Competitions
• Three Minute Thesis®

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland. The competition develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of students' capacities to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience.

During each competition, graduate students will have three minutes to present a compelling discussion on their research topic, including its significance and relevance, to the general public. 3MT® is not an exercise in trivializing or "dumbing down" research, instead, it forces competitors to consolidate their ideas and crystallize their research discoveries. This is a fast-paced competition where the top 10 finalists compete by summarizing their two to three-plus years of research in only three minutes with only one slide.  Cash awards are given to the winner, runner-up, and People's Choice Award winner.

3MT® at Purdue

Enrolled graduate students in all disciplines at Purdue University are eligible to participate in 3MT®. Research presented must have been conducted at Purdue University, not from a previous degree, and should be in the final stages so students have some sound conclusions and impacts to present. Purdue Alumni are not eligible to participate.

Purdue holds its annual 3MT® competition early each spring. It is a celebration of the discoveries made by graduate students and will allow the broader community to learn about ongoing research at Purdue. It is free and open to the public. Cash awards are given to the winner, runner-up, and People's Choice Award winner.

2024 Competition Timeline

• Friday, February 9, 11:59 PM -  Faculty Nominations Due
• Monday, March 3, 11:59 PM - Student Submissions Due
• Monday, April 14  - Rehearsal, Fowler Hall 5:00 p.m. EST - mandatory
• Tuesday, April 15 -  Competition, Fowler Hall, 7:00 p.m. EST

 Cash Awards

• 1st place $5,000 
• 2nd place $3,000 
• People's Choice $2,000 

A panel of judges will select the first and second-place winners, while the People's Choice Award will be selected by the audience.

2024 Winners

First place: kevin alessandro bautista, engineering.

Second Place: Thomas Clarke, Science

People’s Choice: Jeanine Arana, Agriculture

Graduate Student Submissions

The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars welcomes submissions from all Purdue University disciplines. 

Please read the 3MT® competition rules in the drop-down button below.

Video Competitor Guide

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or "movement" of any description).
• No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments or laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum, and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• The decision of the judging panel is final, and People's Choice voting results will not be released.
• All presentations will be videotaped and will appear on the graduate school 3MT® website.
• Students who are over the cost of attendance allowance may not be eligible for prizes.

Each 3MT® presentation will be judged based on communication style, comprehension, and engagement. Please view our archive of video presentations made by past winners .

Please email the program administrators at  [email protected]  if you have any questions!

3 Minute Thesis Competition

Electronic thesis and dissertations.

Fall 2024 3MT® Competition Registration NOW OPEN!

Frequently Asked Questions

All ETSU graduate students can participate, whether in a residential or distance program.

Yes! All types of professional projects are appropriate topics for a 3MT® presentation—business plans, meta-analyses, literature reviews, and original research

Yes! Preliminary data can be presented in a 3MT® competition. After all, you are presenting for only three minutes. You can provide limited data in that amount of time; just be sure to inform your audience how this data highlights future research.

3MT® will help you hone an important skill needed as a graduate student and professional. The ability to distill complex information into a short speech with high impact for a lay audience is a valuable skill for all aspects of one’s life.

If that is not reason enough, how about this? The top winner in ETSU’s competition will receive a $1,100 scholarship to be credited to their student account. The 2nd Place and 3rd Place winners will each receive a $750 scholarship. A People's Choice winner will also be voted on and announced. 

An effective presentation tells the audience why the project or research is important, and it hooks the audience early. A metaphor or comparison is also useful for the audience. Be sure to tell the audience what your research reveals, but do not bog them down in the minutia. You can learn more about 3MT® here: http://threeminutethesis.org .

Scroll to the bottom of this page for examples of past winners.

View our workshops under the "Need Help? tab. 

YouTube has examples of good 3MT® presentations so check for others in your discipline for inspiration.

• 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 (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 adjudicating panel is final.

Comprehension & Content

• 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?

Engagement & Communication

• 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?

Click here for upcoming workshops

2023 3MT® Competition

First Place

Jessa aldridge, biomedical sciences.

"Deficits in Cardiac Mitochondria in Models of Dravet Syndrome"

3MT presentation with slide

3MT presentation without slide

Second Place

Megan gibson, speech-language pathology.

"The Gut-Brain Axis: Let's Talk About it"

Watch All Finalists

2023 3mt® judges.

SPEAKER VIEW

Madison Henry (Speech Language Pathology), Mubarak Osman (Chemistry), Bright Kwaku Manu (Mathematical Sciences), Kajol Dahal (Public Health), Megan Gibson (Speech Language Pathology), Jay George (Sport Management), Jessa L. Aldridge (Biomedical Sciences), Kailee Havrda (Public Health)

Left, Mr. Jeff Dugan, Co-Founder of Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc., Right, Ms. Catie Karczmarczyk, Associate Attorney, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.

WATCH 

1st Place, Winner: Rudy Chapman, Biomedical Sciences 2nd Place: Rebecca Steele, Biology People's Choice: Porcha McCurdy, Geosciences

JUDGES: Thomas Eorgan (Senior VP and Director at Regions Investment Solutions and former Mayor of Johnson City, TN), Jeannette Smith Tysinger (Tennessee licensed attorney with Hunter, Smith & Davis, LLP), David Tomita (Financial Advisor at Regions Investment Solutions and former Mayor of Johnson City, TN)

Three Minute Thesis Competition

About the Competition

Three Minute Thesis  (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland. The exercise challenges current graduate students to present a compelling oration on their thesis or dissertation topic and its significance in just three minutes. 3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

2024 3MT competition

Register as a student competitor by Sept. 30 Register to be a judge by Sept. 30 3MT Preliminaries : Oct. 22 & 23 MSC 2222-2223 3MT Finals : Nov. 13, 3:00-4:30 p.m. MSC Ballroom

For more information, contact Dr. Sheena Stewart , (334) 844-2130

3MT at Auburn

Auburn University’s 3MT competition is held once per year. To determine who competes in the 3MT, a preliminary competition is held and the top 10 competitors advance to the university-wide final and compete for cash prizes. Auburn’s winner will also have the opportunity to represent the university in regional 3MT competitions.

Competition rules:

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or “movement” of any description)
• 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 (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 movement or speech
• The decision of the judging panel is final

Once a student begins their presentation, the clock begins to run. With 30 seconds to go, the timekeeper holds up a sign. A bell chimes at the end of the 3-minute period. If a competitor breaks any of the competition rules, they are disqualified.

Judging criteria:

At every level of the competition, each competitor will be judged by a panel of five judges on the three judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

• 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?
• Were 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 have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace; and have a confident stance?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation — or did they elaborate too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation — was it clear, legible and concise?

Each judge assigns competitors a score of 1 through 10 for each of the three criteria. Once presentations are over, the judges’ scores are combined and the student with the highest points tally is declared the winner. Additionally, the audience casts their own ballots to select a winner for the People’s Choice Award (which is not awarded during the preliminary).

Prize money awarded at the 3MT final:

The winner and runner-up are both eligible to receive the People’s Choice award. Prize money is deposited into each competitor’s student account.

3MT resources for students:

• Making the Most of Your Three Minutes
• How to present your thesis in 3 minutes
• Videos of presentations from around the world

The first 3MT was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 RHD (research higher degree) students competing. Enthusiasm for the 3MT concept grew and its adoption by numerous universities led to the development of an international competition. The inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT was held at UQ in 2010 with 33 universities participating.

In 2011, 43 universities were represented in the Trans-Tasman 3MT which was hosted by The University of Western Australia, and for the first time students from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong took part in their own regional events.

Auburn University held its first 3MT in the summer of 2013.

3MT Competition

2023 Winners 2022 Winners 2021 Winners 2020 Winners 2019 Winners

2018 Winners

2017 Winners

2016 Winners

Previous Winners

Office of the Provost

3MT® Competition Application 2024

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland, Australia.

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• Enroll & Pay
• 2022 3MT® In-Person Competition
• 2021 3MT® Virtual Competition
• 2020 3MT® Virtual Competition

Fall 2023 3MT® Competition @ KU

Save the date, final round of the competition, meet the judges.

Judges are educated professionals in a variety of positions in academia, corporate, government, and non-profit industries. We are excited to share that our judges this year include KU alumni, faculty, and members of the greater Lawrence community.

• Judges for Preliminary Heats
• Judges for Finals
• Rules & Judging Criteria

Meet the competitors!

The graduate students that rose up to the challenge of sharing the story of their research in 3 minutes or less are listed below. They competed in the preliminary heats for the top 6 spots to advance to the final round of the competition.

Join the conversation!

• #3MTatKU on Instagram
• #3MTatKU on Facebook

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

Miyuru De Silva, Doctoral Student in Chemistry

From video games to cancer diagnosis.

Samantha Ghali, Doctoral Student in Child Language

Strategies bilingual parents use to help their children learn to read.

Riddhi Golwankar, Doctoral Student in Chemistry

Unlocking uranium's potential.

Margaret Lazarovits, Doctoral Student in Physics

Searching for science fiction through space and time.

Saeideh Nasiri, Doctoral Student in Biochemistry and Biophysics

Good bacteria protects humans from bad bacteria.

Prabhavie Opallage, Doctoral Student in Chemistry

Low-cost amino acids testing in newborns in developing countries, school of education and human sciences.

Abhishek Juneja, Doctoral Student in Educational Psychology and Research

Missing pieces of belonging, school of engineering.

Jasmine Deng, Doctoral Student in Bioengineering

Making new connections: improving traumatic brain injury outcomes.

Grant Downes, Doctoral Student in Bioengineering

Altering your memory: a game of telephone to combat type 1 diabetes.

Clement Feyijimi, Master's Student in Mechanical Engineering

Predictive modelling of nox emissions in internal combustion engines.

Vahidreza Gharehbaghi, Doctoral Student in Civil Engineering

Innovative dam inspection.

Kara Hageman, Doctoral Student in Bioengineering

The material team to beat orthopedic infection.

Mahmudul Hasan, Doctoral Student in Computer Science

Trojan resilient computing in cots processors under zero trust.

Quentin Jarrell, Master's Student in Bioengineering

Unravelling our genetic puzzle.

Sean Kang, Master's Student in Mechanical Engineering

Streamlined battery safety: nonlinear double capacitor model for internal short circuit driven thermal runaway detection and isolation.

Payal Makhasana, Doctoral Student in Civil Engineering

Predicting drought from space.

Mashfiq Rizvee, Doctoral Student in Computer Science

A persistent hierarchical bloom filter-based framework for scalable authentication and tracking of ics.

Fairuz Shadmani Shishir, Doctoral Student in Computer Science

Metallm: residue-wise metal ion prediction using deep transformer model.

Steven Stennett, Master's Student in Construction Management

Designing and constructing for safety, school of music.

Matt Anderson, Doctoral Student in Music

Understanding ourselves: national identity through music.

Emily Riding, Master's Student in Music

Gender gap in the brass section, school of pharmacy.

Srija Ramisetty, Doctoral Student in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Forecasting drug distribution in human organs: the power of mathematical computer models.

Mikayla Smith, Doctoral Student in Pharmaceutical Chemistry

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