three minute thesis u of t

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

Finalists expand_more

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

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• Three-Minute Thesis

What is the 3MT?

An 80,000 word thesis would take 9 hours to present. The 3MT time limit ... 3 minutes.

• The 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition that challenges students to communicate the significance of their projects without the use of props or industry jargon, in just three minutes.
• Originally established by the  University of Queensland (UQ) in 2008 , the competition challenges research students to communicate the significance of their projects in just three minutes, with the aid of a single, static slide.

3MT develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students' capacity to quickly explain their research in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience leaving them wanting to know more. 

Competitions at the University of Minnesota

Collegiate-level 3MT Competitions

• Inquire with your Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) to find out if your college hosts a 3MT competition. 
• Collegiate-level 3MT winners advance to the University-wide competition. 
• All collegiate-level participants receive a Maroon Digital Badge from the Graduate School. 

University-wide 3MT Competition

• The Graduate School hosts a University-wide competition held every November .  
• All active graduate students who have advanced from their collegiate competition are eligible. 
• Previous 3MT winners  (first prize, runner-up, and people's choice) are not eligible to compete a second time.
• The 1st place winner advances to a 3MT competition hosted every March by the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS).
• All finalists may be invited to present to the University's Board of Regents. 
• All University-wide competitors receive a Gold Digital Badge from the Graduate School. 

3MT Competition Rules

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

3MT Preparation Resources

• Prepare with  the Graduate School's 3MT e-course
• 2021  
• 2022  
• 2023 - Watch competition in its entirety

Who can I talk to about 3MT?

Please contact Dr. Noro Andriamanalina, Assistant Vice Provost, Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Initiatives: [email protected]

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2023 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at UTM Registration

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a preliminary heat to the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at UTM, on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023, in IB150, beginning at 3:00 pm.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is open to graduate students enrolled in Canadian universities. Participants have three minutes or less to present their research to a panel of non-specialist judges, and competitions are held at local, provincial, and national levels. The challenge is to present complex research information in an engaging, accessible, and compelling way.

This competition is a unique opportunity for graduate students to showcase their innovative and significant research to a wider audience, across disciplines within the University, and to the broader public. This year’s competition at the University of Toronto will be open to all master’s students and students from both research-stream and professional programs at the masters and Ph.D. level.

Please see below the website provided by the University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies for competition rules, eligibility, and more information:

https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/resources-supports/gpd/three-minute-thesis-3mt-at-u-of-t/

Please see the links below to register:

Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 22nd, by 5:00 pm

Register to Speak

Register to Attend

Follow U of T News

Defending U of T's title in Three Minute Thesis competition

Published: March 25, 2014

You have three minutes and one power point slide to explain your life's work to people with no background in your field. What do you do?

At the University of Toronto, organizers of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition have some advice for doctoral students hoping to represent U of T at the upcoming provincial competition: keep it short but don't dumb it down. Jump straight to the interesting part – don't bore listeners with background information. A dynamic metaphor goes a long way. 

"The 3MT gives our graduate students the unique opportunity to present their innovative  research to  the broader university community as well as the general public,” said Brian Corman , dean of graduate studies and vice-provost of graduate education.

Started in 2008 at the University of Queensland The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition is now held at universities around the world. Participants have three minutes or less to present their doctoral research in an engaging and accessible way.

“Students taking part in the 3MT gain valuable experience in distilling complex ideas, their research discoveries and their impact into a 3 minute talk aimed at a non-specialist audience," Corman said. "This provides them with the opportunity to develop valuable communications and public speaking skill sets.”

The University will be defending its title in the province-wide competition at McMaster University in Hamilton next month. Last year,  Jasdeep Saggar , a UofT PhD student in medical biophysics, claimed the provincial championship trophy and $1000 for her presentation on hypoxia-activated pro-drugs and Abraham Heifets , a PhD student in computer science, claimed second prize with his provocative presentation on how to make better medicines with technology. ( Read about their victories .)

"My participation in the Three Minute Thesis competition was nothing short of exhilarating; representing the University of Toronto at the provincial level is an honour and truly humbling." Saggar said. "Embrace the challenge and this will be your moment to shine.”

The School of Graduate Studies held divisional heats on March 18th, 20th and 21st, with campus finals on March 26th to choose one student to represent the University at the provincial finals. Approximately 60 doctoral students from across all four SGS divisions – humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and life sciences –competed for the honour.

“The 3MT competition allows the University of Toronto the opportunity to showcase the significant research being conducted on a daily basis by our graduate students," said Corman. "We’re looking  forward to defending our title at provincial finals at McMaster University in April.” 

The competition has proved so popular, undergraduate students at the University have organized their own version, with a panel of judges including Professor Mark Kingwell. ( Read The Varsity article about the undergrad version .)

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update

On March 11 th  the University announced that beginning March 16 th  instruction for all students will be moving to a remote delivery format. Graduate students enrolled in resident courses should plan on participating remotely, and not coming to campus specifically for face-to-face instruction. Learn more at gradschool.psu.edu/covid19 .

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Three Minute Thesis

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•  /  Three Minute Thesis

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic research communication competition developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Through the competition, graduate and professional students can hone their academic and research presentation skills and their ability to effectively explain their research to a general audience. Each competitor has three minutes to speak and can use only one presentation slide.

The Graduate School will be hosting the 2024 Three Minute Thesis competition in partnership with the Graduate and Professional Student Association and the Graduate School Alumni Society .

Watch the Final Round

3MT at Penn State in 2024 

Penn State’s first University-wide 3MT Competition will take place over two rounds. To compete, graduate students must upload a video presentation during the submission period (January 8–February 9) and be available for the final, in-person round on Saturday, March 23, on the University Park campus.

Competitor Information

Learn more about eligibility requirements, the upcoming timeline, prize money, and more.

Judge Information

Learn about remote judging for the opening round, who can be a judge, judging criteria, and more.

Prizes 

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $500
• People's Choice: $500

Competition Format

Opening Round — Video Format expand_more

Open call to any Penn State graduate or professional student conducting research to submit three-minute videos. Submissions will be judged by alumni, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, staff, and others. The top 10 students get invited to the final round as well as a free lunch at Penn State’s annual Doctoral Alumni Recognition Luncheon hosted by the Dean of the Graduate School. 

Final Round — In-Person Format expand_more

Saturday, March 23  10:00-11:15 a.m.  Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center 

The final round will be live streamed from the University Park campus and will include a people’s choice prize selected by virtual and in-person audience ballots. Winners will be announced shortly after the competition.

Regional and National Competitions expand_more

The top-scoring Ph.D. student from Penn State’s final round will be invited to the regional 3MT competition hosted by the Northeast Association of Graduate Schools in April 2024 (exact date to be determined). Winners of the regional competition are invited to the national competition hosted by the Council of Graduate Schools. Students in master's and professional degree programs are eligible to participate in Penn State's competition but are not eligible for the regional or national competitions.

Why participate?

Megan Rossi, past 3MT winner at the University of Queensland, discusses how the 3MT competition helped her career.

Contact  

Direct all questions about Three Minute Thesis at Penn State to: [email protected] .  

Three Minute Thesis, Graduate Exhibition, or Both?

In spring 2024, Penn State graduate students can participate in two major research and scholarship communication events, the Three Minute Thesis and the  Graduate Exhibition . Students are welcome to participate in both but should be aware that each event has its own application process and deadlines.

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Preparing your 3MT presentation

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• Eligibility, Rules and Judging Criteria
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NOTE: Familiarise yourself with the 3MT rules and judging criteria  before starting your preparation. This guidance is taken from the University of Queensland's  official 3MT competitor resources .

Even the world’s best public speakers prepare before important presentations. To assist you with your preparations, please find a few suggestions below that will help you in writing your presentation, creating your slide and practising your verbal presentation.

Drafting your 3MT

Write for your audience The judges will look for evidence that you can explain your research to a non-specialist audience. You may like to:

• avoid jargon and academic language
• explain concepts and people important to your research - you may know all about Professor Smith’s theories but your audience may not
• highlight the outcomes of your research, and the desired outcome
• imagine that you are explaining your research to a close friend or fellow student from another field
• convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject

Tell a story

• You may like to present your 3MT as a narrative, with a beginning, middle and end.
• It’s not easy to condense your research into three minutes, so you may find it easier to break your presentation down into smaller sections.
• Try writing an opener to catch the attention of the audience, then highlight your different points, and finally have a summary to restate the importance of your work.

Have a clear outcome in mind

• Know what you want your audience to take away from your presentation.
• Try to leave the audience with an understanding of what you’re doing, why it is important, and what you hope to achieve.
• Proof your 3MT presentation by reading it aloud, firstly to yourself and then to an audience of friends and family.
• Ask for feedback.
• Ask your audience if your presentation clearly highlights what your research is  about and why it is important.

Creating your 3MT slide

Before you start work on your slide, you should take the following rules into account:

• one single static PowerPoint slide is permitted;
• no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are permitted;
• your slide is to be presented from the beginning of your oration; and
• no additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.

Suggestions

You may like to consider some of the following suggestions:

• Less is more : text and complicated graphics can distract your audience – you don’t want them to read your slide instead of listening to your 3MT. 
• Personal touches : personal touches can allow your audience to understand the impact of your research.
• Creativity drives interest : do not rely on your slide to convey your message – it should simply complement your oration.
• Work your message : think about how your slide might be able to assist with the format and delivery of your presentation – is there a metaphor that helps explain your research?
• An engaging visual presentation can make or break any oration, so make sure your slide is  legible, clear and concise .

Practising your 3MT presentation

Practice, practice, practice Feeling nervous before you present is natural, and sometimes a little nervousness can even be beneficial to your overall speech. Nonetheless, it is important to practice so you can present with confidence and clarity. Practicing will also help you gauge the timing of your 3MT so that you keep within the time limit.

Vocal range

• Speak clearly and use variety in your voice (fast/slow, loud/soft).
• Do not rush - find your rhythm.
• Remember to pause at key points as it gives the audience time to think about what you are saying.

Body language

• Stand straight and confidently.
• Hold your head up and make eye contact.
• Never turn your back to the audience.
• Practise how you will use your hands and move around the stage. It is okay to move around energetically if that is your personality, however it is also appropriate for a 3MT presentation to be delivered from a single spot on stage.
• Do not make the common mistakes of rolling back and forth on your heels, pacing for no reason or playing with your hair as these habits are distracting for the audience.

Record yourself

• Record and listen to your presentation to hear where you pause, speak too quickly or get it just right.
• Then work on your weaknesses and exploit your strengths.

Look to the stars!

• Watch your role models such as academics, politicians and journalists, and break down their strengths and weaknesses.
• Analyse how they engage with their audience.
• Visit  the Queensland 3MT website , the Vitae 3MT webpages or search YouTube to view presentations from previous 3MT finalists.
• While there is no dress code, if you are unsure of how to dress you may like to dress for a job interview or an important meeting. It is important that you feel comfortable so you can focus on your presentation.
• If you are presenting on a stage that has a wooden floor, be aware of the noise your footwear might make.
• Do not wear a costume of any kind as this is against the rules (as is the use of props).

Further resources

There are many resources available online for further help. Useful ones might include:

Presenting your research effectively and with confidence - By previous 3MT finalists (Taylor & Francis resource)

How a competition changed my academic life - By Jamie Khoo, 2018 UK People's Choice winner

Is it worth doing the three minute thesis?  - By Mary Woessner, Victoria University

How to win the 3 minute thesis  - By Dr Inger Mewburn (aka @thesiswhisperer)

Making the most of your 3 minutes  - Simon Clews, University of Melbourne

Talk nerdy to me  - Melissa Marshall's TED talk

Vitae's 3MT webpages

These guidance pages are part of the University of Queensland's official 3MT competitor resources

E : [email protected]

Copyright © 2024, University of Sussex

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Three Minute Thesis

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) that challenges graduate students to present a compelling oration on their thesis 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 

We are following the University of Queensland's official rules for holding university competitions . To compete, students will register online and submit their PowerPoint slides  according to the official requirements by the deadline below. All registrants will receive a confirmation email that includes an upload link along with further directions for submitting their slides. 

A competitor guide is available to assist students in developing their video presentations. 

The preliminary rounds of the 3MT® competition take place in late November. 

Following the prelims, finalists will move on to a second round of competitions in January.  Explore the highlights of the 2023-2024 3MT® finals in our latest blog post: " 3MT® Brilliance ". 

How to Enter

The deadline to enter is always in the Fall. Bookmark this page as the date may change.

3MT® Official Requirements

You are required to have a 3 minute presentation, a single static slide, no additional props, and presentations are to be spoken in word.

UL Lafayette Guidelines

Compete in prelims, advance to the second round in January. The winner proceeds to represent the university in the Regional competition.

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Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) is an international research and scholarly communication competition developed by The University of Queensland in Australia. The goal of the competition is to develop students’ academic, presentation, and professional communication skills. Doctoral students have three minutes – and a single PowerPoint slide - to present compelling and engaging talks on their dissertation topic and its significance. 3MT™ empowers students to consolidate their ideas and concisely explain their work to the public and scholars from other fields.

• Information
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Training Opportunities

Eligibility.

• Rules and Judging Criteria

Empower Your Pitch is a doctoral communication competition that develops the research communication skills of participants, enabling them to deliver diverse pitches to diverse people. The competition empowers presenters to communicate the value of their research at any stage of development and across all disciplines – including STEMM, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences – in a maximum time frame of three minutes. Presenters may rely on assorted strategies to capture the audience’s attention, convey the essence of their research, and explain its relevance to their listeners. The competition will take place throughout March and April with training sessions to help develop your communication skills. It is hosted by the JHU PHuters Office and will run instead of the 3MT this year.

Unlock the power of communication to share the full potential of your ideas – click here to learn more and register!

More Information

A selection of videos of award-winning presentations from a variety of universities are available on the 3MT™ website .

For questions about the JHU competition, please contact Kate Bradford at [email protected] .

2021 3MT Competition

2020 3mt competition.

The JHM Professional Development and Career Office is hosted the 2021 Three Minute Thesis Competition on March 25. Ten Hopkins Doctoral students had three minutes – and a single, static PowerPoint slide - to present compelling and engaging talks on their dissertation topic.

2021 Winners

Congratulations to Chad Hicks: 2021 JHU Three Minute Thesis Champion!

• First Place: Chad Hicks , School of Medicine How Bookmarks Help Cells Pass Their Leukemia Test
• Second Place and People's Choice: Brooke Jarrett , Bloomberg School of Public Health In South Africa, What Interventions Can Improve Care For People With HIV?
• Third Place: Benjamin Zaepfel , School of Medicine Sandwiches out of Sand
• Alumni Choice: Yun-Fei Liu , Krieger School of Arts and Sciences The Brain Mechanism for Code Reading is Associated With Both Language and Logic

2021 Finalists

• Rebecca Chisholm , School of Education Early Childhood Educator Instructional Practices for English Learners
• Oscar Reyes Gaido , School of Medicine Illuminating the Future of Heart Failure Therapy
• Suraj Kannan , School of Medicine Growing a Heart in a Dish
• Monica Lee , Bloomberg School of Public Health Hibernating Legionella: Silent but Deadly
• Crystal Perez , Bloomberg School of Public Health Healthier Kids’ Meals and Less Tantrums?
• Utkarsh Sharma , Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Scaling Behavior of Neural Networks: Human Language and Job Displacement at the Dawn of Automation

The full recording of the competition can be viewed at the JHU Alumni Association Facebook Page. Individual videos of each finalist will be available in a few weeks.

Thank you to our 2021 3MT Final Competition Judges:

• Dr. Nancy Kass, Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education and Pheobe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics and Public Health at the JHSPH
• Dr. Denis Wirtz, Vice Provost for Research and Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor of Engineering Science in the WSE
• Dr. Mona Shattell, Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor at the SON
• Dr. Gregg Semenza, 2019 Nobel Laureate and Professor at the SOM
• Dr. Judy Keen, JHU Alumni Association Council Member and Alumnus of KSAS, JHSPH, and SOM
• Eduardo Martinez-Montes, 2019 JHU 3MT Champion and PhD Candidate at the SOM

2019 3MT Competition

The JHM Professional Development and Career Office hosted the fourth annual Three Minute Thesis Competition April 17, 2019 in Mountcastle Auditorium located on the School of Medicine Campus. Thirty-two doctoral students competed in the preliminary heats and twelve finalists were chosen to present their 3MT talks in the final competition.

The 2019 judges had a diverse background of research and communication experience and represented the university’s top leadership, including:

Dr. Nancy Kass Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education and Pheobe R. Berman Professor of Bioethics and Public Health at JHSPH Dr. Denis Wirtz Vice Provost for Research and Theophilus Halley Smoot Professor of Engineering Science in the WSE Dr. Patricia M. Davidson Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. William Egginton Director of the Alexander Grass Humanities Institute and Decker Professor in the Humanities Dr. Allyson Handley President of the JHU Alumni Association Sarah Attreed 2017 JHU and Maryland State 3MT top finalist, PhD Candidate in JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health

Congratulations to all those students participating and the competition winners:

First Place: Eduardo Martinez-Montes, School of Medicine, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology The Lazy Librarian

Second Place: Katie Overbey, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Environmental Health and Engineering Application of Novel Laboratory Methods to Identify Infectious Norovirus in the Environment

Third Place & Alumni Choice: Benjamin Ackerman, Bloomberg School of Public Health Biostatistics Clinical Trials: How Do Their Results Translate to the Real World?

People’s Choice: Jarrett Venezia, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Why Do Good Macrophages Go Bad?

Tyler Ames, School of Education Measuring the Promise of Career Education Sarah Kim, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Biophysics Opening Doors into Cells Binu Koirala, School of Nursing The First Step in Preventing Deaths from Heart Failure in Nepal Claire Konieczny, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, German and Romance Languages and Literatures Emblems and Reading in the Renaissance Celia Litovsky, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Cognitive Science Why Do Some Stroke Patients Recover Better than Others? Pramuditha Perera, Whiting School of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Teaching Machines to Say "I'm not sure" Allen Scheie, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Physics Quasiparticles in Magnetic Crystals Derek VanDyke, Whiting School of Engineering, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Biasing the Immune System

2018 3MT Competition

The JHM Professional Development and Career Office hosted the third annual Three Minute Thesis Competition April 18, 2018 in Mountcastle Auditorium. Twenty-seven PhD Candidates competed in the preliminary heats and ten finalists were chosen to present their 3MT talks in the final competition.

The 2018 Judges had a broad background of research and communication experience and represented the university’s top leadership, including:

•   Ronald J. Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University •   Dr. Nancy Kass, Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education •   Dr. Patricia M. Davidson, Dean, School of Nursing •   Dr. Roy Ziegelstein, Vice Dean for Education, School of Medicine •   Dr. Catherine Hueston, Associate Director of the Wharton Communications Program, UPenn •   Joseph Shin, IGM PhD Candidate and 2017 JHU & Maryland State 3MT Competition Champion

First Place and People’s Choice: Caroline Vissers, Department of Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, School of Medicine Notes on Brain Health

Second Place: Valerie Rennoll, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering Tunable Acoustic Transducers: Harnessing the Power of Sound

Third Place: Sarah Attreed, Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health Building a Better Vaccine

Nikhil Anand, Department of Physics, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences New Methods in Particle Physics Sunjae Bae, Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health The Right Drug for the Right Patient Kenneth Feder, Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health Children in the U.S. Opioid Crisis Talia Henkle, Department of Pathology, Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine Helping Mice Help Cancer Patients Joseph Rehfus, Department of Biology, Cellular, Molecular, and Development Biology and Biophysics Graduate Program, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences Force as a Probe for "Hidden" Enzyme Shapes Tamar Rodney, School of Nursing The Wound We Cannot See! Dominic Scalise, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering Things Besides Number

2018 State Competition

All three winners from the 2018 Hopkins 3MT Competition competed in the Maryland State Competition Wednesday, May 2 at the University of Maryland, Medical Center. Sarah Attreed placed second and Valerie Rennoll won People’s Choice in the Maryland State Competition.

2017 3MT Competition

The JHM Professional Development and Career Office hosted the second annual Three Minute Thesis Competition April 5, 2017 in the Turner Auditorium.

First Place: Joseph Shin, Institute of Genetic Medicine Scleroderma: An Opportunity for New Therapy and New Perspectives in Biology

Second Place: Kelli DePriest, Nursing The Power of Greenspace

Third Place and People’s Choice: Jarrett Smith, Molecular Biology and Genetics Oil and Water: Separating the Cell

Tim Al-Khindi, Neuroscience Finding the Right Partner: The Role of Semaphorins and Neuropilins in the Retina Jonathan C. Grima, Neuroscience Traffic Jams in Neurodegeneration Hyejeong Hong, Nursing Predicting TB Treatment-related Hearing Loss Anand Malpani, Computer Science Automated Virtual Coaching for Surgeons Emily A. Margolis, History of Science and Technology Space Tourism in Cold War America Julian B. Munoz, Physics and Astronomy A New Dark Matter Candidate Digvijay Singh, Biophysics Editing Life: Gene Editing Tools in Real-time Action

2017 State Competition

Winners from the 2017 Hopkins 3MT Competition competed in the Maryland State Competition Tuesday, May 9 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Joseph Shin placed first in the Maryland State Competition. Hyejeong Hong, who was a finalist from the School of Nursing, placed second.

2016 3MT Competition

The JHM Professional Development and Career Office sponsored the inaugural 3MT™ Competition April 20, 2016 ; congratulations to all participating students and competition winners:

First Place and People’s Choice: Alexandra Pucsek, Immunology Cancer Unmasked: How Inhibiting a Small Protein Could Boost Anti-Tumor Immunity (VIDEO)

Second Place: Amanda Edwards, Biomedical Engineering Tricking the Brain into Exceeding Its Abilities (VIDEO)

Third Place: Ken Estrellas, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Stem Cell Treatments to Restore Missing Muscle Protein (VIDEO)

The JHMI winners competed in the Maryland state-wide 3MT Competition May 5 against students from the University of Maryland-College Park, University of Maryland-Baltimore and University of Maryland-Baltimore County. Congratulations to JHMI students for placing in the state competition:

First Place in Maryland Competition: Ken Estrellas, Cellular and Molecular Medicine (Second from the left)

Third Place in Maryland Competition: Alexandra Pucsek, Immunology (Far left)

The PDCO offers multiple in-person training opportunities to teach PhD students how to professionally present their academic work. Participation in these sessions is not required for competition, but it is highly encouraged. In past years, students who participated in 3MT training opportunities were more likely to make it to the finals and place. Doctoral students interested in participating in 3MT can view all information, rules, and presentation tips in the JHU 3MT Student Handbook .

Students will learn all about the 3MT competition, including key dates, preliminary heat logistics, and filming tips. Students will learn how put together a winning 3MT talk. We will cover how to condense your dissertation into three minutes, choosing a visual that enhances your talk, and presentation tips for public speaking. Students will get the chance to work on their talks in small breakout rooms.

• Thursday February 11th, 3 - 4:30pm. Register on Handshake This session will be recorded and available to those who cannot attend live.

Students should come with a draft of their three-minute presentation and ready to present their talk. Past 3MT judges and communication experts will offer immediate feedback to students to help them further improve their talk. The session will be done in an open forum, where you will be able to listen to other students’ presentation and hear feedback from everyone presenting. Practice rounds will not be recorded.

• February 22, 3 - 4:30pm EST. Register on Handshake
• February 25, 10 - 11:30am EST. Register on Handshake

The PDCO also offers one-on-one sessions to practice your presentation for additional feedback. Please email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

All currently enrolled JHU doctoral students are eligible*. We encourage students from all disciplines to participate! Students who have not yet had their degree conferred are eligible to compete**. Past competitors may compete again.

* 2021 3MT Competition: All doctoral students who graduated in 2020 are eligible to compete due to the cancellation of the 2020 3MT Competition. Participants must present talks covering work that was done during their dissertation and cannot include work completed post-graduation.

** Eligibility rules for the Council of Graduate School's Three Minute Thesis competition may differ.

Prize Information

Prizes for the 2021 JHU 3MT Finals Competition are as follows:

• Winner: $1000
• Second Place: $500
• Third Place: $250
• People's Choice: $250
• Alumni Choice Award (Sponsored by the JHU Alumni Association): $250
• Remaining finalists will be awarded $100
• Students must present a talk on their dissertation work.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech (timing commences from when the competitor starts speaking, not the start of the video).
• Filmed on the horizontal;
• Filmed on a plain background;
• Filmed from a static position;
• Filmed from one camera angle;
• A single static 16:9 slide is permitted in the presentation (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description). This can be visible continuously, or ‘cut to’ (as many times as you like) for a maximum of 1 minute. Alternatively, the slide may be submitted via email if not included in the video presentation.
• The 3-minute audio must be continuous – no sound edits or breaks.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment and animated backgrounds) are permitted within the recording.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted within the video recording.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Please note: competitors *will not* be judged on video/recording quality or editing capabilities (optional inclusions). Judging will focus on the presentation, ability to communicate research to a non-specialist audience, and 3MT PowerPoint slide.

Judging Criteria

Presentations will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes? (for early-stage students: predicted impact/results)
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• 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 work?
• 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?

Preparation

The JHM Professional Development and Career Office (PDCO) will organize a number of events and training opportunities to ensure students are adequately prepared to participate in the JHMI competition and state-wide competition. Events are open to all students, regardless of their participation in 3MT in order to ensure broader inclusion in training opportunities that enhance research communication skills. Faculty and training directors are also invited to attend the information sessions.

Upcoming Deadlines and Important Dates

Feb. 1: Registration opens Feb. 15: 3MT Information Session Feb. 18: 3MT Information Session March 1: Communication Workshop March 7: Deadline to register for 3MT March 21: Critique Session March 22: Critique Session

April 5: Preliminary Competition April 6: Preliminary Competition April 12: Communications Workshop April 13: Judges’ Feedback will be collated and distributed to all participants April 15: Deadline for all finalists to submit finished slide for inclusion in Finals slide deck April 20: JHMI Finals (Competition, Reception and Awards Ceremony) April 22: Judges’ Feedback will be collated and distributed to all participants May 4: State-wide 3MT Competition at University of Maryland-Baltimore

Higher Degrees by Research...Start your 3MT journey here

An 80,000 word phd thesis would take 9 hours to present. your time limit... 3 minutes..

• What is 3MT?
• Why Participate?

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy students. Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

The idea for 3MT came about at a time when the state of Queensland was suffering severe drought. To conserve water, residents were encouraged to time their showers, and many people had a three minute egg timer fixed to the wall in their bathroom. The then Dean of the Graduate School, Emeritus Professor Alan Lawson, put two and two together and the idea for the 3MT competition was born.

The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Higher Degree by Research candidates competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multi- national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans- Tasman 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2010. Since 2011 the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. In November 2013, the first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual competition. 2016 bought about an expansion of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition to include universities from South-East and North Asia regions. The competition is now called the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition and is hosted annually by UQ.

In 2020 3MT moved to a temporary virtual format due to COVID-19 and has continued to be held around the word in either a virtual or live format (depending on local COVID-19 restrictions).

2008 - The first 3MT competition was held at UQ  with 160 Higher Degree by Research candidates competing.

2009 - The 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew.

2010 - A multi- national event was developed, and the Inaugural Trans-Tasman 3MT competition was held at UQ.

2013 - The first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT Competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual   competition.

2016 - The Trans-Tasman 3MT competition expanded to include universities from South-East and North Asia regions and was renamed the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition and is hosted annually by UQ.

2020 - 3MT moves to a temporary virtual format due to COVID-19.

2021 - 3MT continues to be held around the world in either a virtual or live format (depending on local COVID-19 restrictions)

Now - 3MT is held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide .

Skills development for research candidates 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. Building research culture in universities 3MT provides a valuable opportunity for HDR candidates 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. Building external relations for the university 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. Winner of the 2014 UQ 3MT Dr Megan Rossi talks about how the 3MT competition helped her career.

The Graduate School

University information technology (uit), main navigation, three minute thesis.

Held in 85 countries  worldwide

Your thesis described in 3 minutes

900 universities participate

2023 3MT registration is CLOSED

What is 3mt.

The 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) program is designed to help students develop the communication skills necessary to make a compelling oral presentation on the value and impact of their research to a non-specialist audience.

As a research communication competition, the goal of 3MT is for students to articulate the significance of their research without using:

• Field-specific terminology
• Other language unfamiliar to those outside their fields of study

3MT training helps students hone their ability to quickly and effectively articulate the value of their research.  This skill-set is critical in many academic settings, whether communicating with collaborators, funding agencies, or trainees. Just as important, the communication skills learned in 3MT training are transferable and valued in many non-academic careers paths.

The Graduate School and the Career and Professional Development Center collaborate to offer training and sponsor a University of Utah 3MT competition.  In addition to prizes at our local event, the winner goes on to represent the U at the Western Association of Graduate Schools competition !

In 2008 the University of Queensland in Australia held the first official 3MT competition with 160 competitors in that first year .  More recently , the 3MT program has spread to over 85 participating countries worldwide.  The University of Utah began holding a 3MT competition in 2013 . 

Participants from across campus competed against each other to determine who could give the most compelling summary of their dissertation or thesis in three minutes or less.  Enjoy these videos as a taste of the excellent graduate work being done at the University of Utah.

2023 Grad School 3MT Showcase

University of Utah 3MT Videos

2022 Regional 3MT Competition Video

Testimonials

" Although I did not win the competition, being selected as one of the finalists was a great experience. I’m glad I got to participate in it." - 2023 Showcase Finalist

"Francine was such a great facilitator and our group was very helpful at making each speech as effective as possible." - 2023 Showcase Finalist

"I liked the opportunity to practice public speaking, i.e. speaking in front of an audience. I also enjoyed meeting peers, getting feedback from them and thinking on how to explain my research in an easy, non too specific way." - 2023 Showcase Finalist

They didn't shake hands and it got worse from there. Key moments in Biden-Trump debate

Presumptive presidential nominees take questions on economy, foreign policy and their age, too.

Key moments from the Biden-Trump debate

Social sharing.

U.S. President Joe Biden and former U.S. president Donald Trump spent an hour and a half Thursday trying to convince American voters that they're the best choice to be president for the next four years, but they also demonstrated that they don't respect one another.

The debate was a chance for voters to see how the presumptive nominees for America's two major political parties — 81-year-old Biden for the Democrats and 78-year-old Trump for the Republicans — would fare when squaring off against each other. And they didn't have to wait long for that. 

A coin toss decided where the two men would stand, and when they emerged on the stage, they went to their respective podiums  without shaking hands , a move that set the tone for the evening.  

Here's a look at some of the other key moments during the audience-free debate, hosted by CNN. 

Biden sounds strained

Biden sounded noticeably hoarse from the start of the debate. That did not change for the remainder of the 90-minute event.

To account for the president's strained voice, the White House said during the debate that Biden had a cold.

• Biden repeatedly stumbles, Trump shares litany of falsehoods during U.S. presidential debate
• Analysis Agony in Atlanta as Biden freezes up in debate against Trump

Frozen moment

Early on, Biden spoke about his administration's actions on the economy and addressed how much tax wealthy people are paying in America — but also appeared to freeze mid-sentence in what could be the defining moment of the debate.

Making reference to America's wealthiest individuals, Biden referred to the country's many "trillionaires," before correcting the reference to "billionaires." 

Biden stumbles on health-care answer as Trump pounces

He then talked about how boosting the amount of taxes the wealthy pay could be put toward various investments — including in health care, finishing his comments with the words "if we finally beat Medicare."

In response, Trump pounced, saying, "Well, he's right, he did beat Medicare — he beat it to death."

'You're the sucker. You're the loser.'

An infamous quote  about America's war dead  resurfaced during the debate, in which Trump reportedly made reference to "suckers" and "losers."

On stage, Trump denied having made the comments — as he has in the past.

But the topic came up after Trump accused Biden of mistreating U.S. veterans and suggested his opponent apologize on this point.

Instead, Biden got personal, evoking his son, Beau, who served in Iraq before dying of brain cancer.

He told Trump, "My son was not a loser, was not a sucker. You're the sucker. You're the loser."

Ukraine, Putin and U.S. support for Kyiv

Trump was asked by CNN's Dana Bash whether he agreed with terms Russian President Vladimir Putin has set  for ending the war in Ukraine — including having Moscow keep control of any land it has captured during the war.

Biden, Trump trade barbs over 'World War 3,' Putin and Ukraine

Instead of answering the question, Trump responded with attacks on Biden and soon turned to the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan .

"I have never heard so much malarkey in my whole life," Biden said in response.

But Bash returned to the question and Trump eventually said Putin's terms were "not acceptable."

• Q&A Even with muted mics, expect 'a lot of noise' at the U.S. presidential debate, says former Clinton aide
• Analysis The presidential debate: A make-or-break moment in U.S. election?

Trump also expressed criticism of the support the U.S. has provided for Kyiv and described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "the greatest salesman ever."

Trump then claimed that if re-elected he would have the Ukraine conflict settled "before I take office."

Biden responded by saying Putin is "a war criminal," and that his aggression won't end at the Ukrainian border.

"Do you think he'll stop if he takes Ukraine?" Biden asked.

Oval Office octogenarians

Biden and Trump are also the two oldest people to seek a second term in the Oval Office and many voters have concerns about their ages.

Biden is already the oldest president in U.S. history. If victorious in November, he would head into a second term that would put him in his mid-80s by the end of those four years. Trump, meanwhile, would be 82 at the end of a potential second term.

Both candidates were asked about their ability to handle the job of president as octogenarians.

"First of all, I spent half my career being criticized being the youngest person in politics … and now I'm the oldest," said Biden.

"This guy's three years younger and a lot less competent," he said before going on to defend his record as president.

• U.S. presidents are older than ever while Canada's PMs are getting younger. Why?
• Trump and Biden are facing off very early in CNN's presidential debate. Here's why

When asked about his own age, Trump mentioned having taken both cognitive and physical exams when serving as president.

"I think I'm in very good shape," said Trump. "I feel that I'm in as good of shape as I was 25, 30 years ago."

Interruptions not a factor

Concerns about interruptions saw CNN set rules that included muting the microphones of the person who wasn't supposed to be speaking.

The two men mostly avoided interruptions Thursday — unlike their previous debate  back in 2020 .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Geoff Nixon is a writer on the national digital desk in Toronto. He has covered a wealth of topics, from real estate to technology to world events.

With files from Reuters

Related Stories

Democrats are talking about replacing Joe Biden. That wouldn't be so easy.

President Joe Biden's performance in the first debate Thursday has sparked a new round of criticism from Democrats , as well as public and private musing about whether he should remain at the top of the ticket.

In the modern era, a national party has never tried to adversarially replace its nominee, in part, because knows it would most likely fail. The issue came before both parties in 2016, but neither took action.

Party rules make it almost impossible to replace nominees without their consent, let alone smoothly replace them with someone else. And doing so would amount to party insiders’ overturning the results of primaries when Democratic voters overwhelmingly to nominate Biden. He won almost 99% of all delegates.

And at the moment, there’s no known, serious effort to push him off the top of the ticket.

Still, the Democratic National Committee's charter does make some provisions in case the party’s nominee is incapacitated or opts to step aside, and an anti-Biden coup at the convention is theoretically possible, if highly unlikely. So how would it work?

What happens if Biden drops out before the convention?

The only plausible scenario for Democrats to get a new nominee would be for Biden to decide to withdraw, which he has sworn off repeatedly during other bumpy stretches of his campaign.  

He could do so while serving out the rest of his term in the White House, as Lyndon Johnson did in 1968. 

If Biden were to drop out before he is scheduled to be formally nominated in August, it would create a free-for-all among Democrats, because there’s no mechanism for him or anyone else to anoint a chosen successor.

It takes a majority of the roughly 4,000 pledged delegates to win the party’s nomination. Biden’s won 3,900 of them. Under recent reforms, the party’s more than 700 superdelegates — Democratic lawmakers and dignitaries — are allowed to vote only if no one wins a majority of pledged delegates on the first ballot, so their votes could be crucial in a contested convention. 

Because Biden's opponents all won effectively no delegates throughout the Democratic nominating process, there'd be a virtual clean slate heading into the convention, and the decision would most likely come down to the convention delegates who were initially pledged to Biden.

Biden would have some influence over his pledged delegates, but ultimately, they can vote as they please, so candidates would most likely campaign aggressively to win over each individual delegate.

However, there's a potentially important wrinkle: Democrats plan to formally nominate Biden virtually ahead of the late-August convention to sidestep any potential concerns about ballo t access in Ohio, where a technical quirk has complicated things

Democrats decided to plan a virtual nomination for Biden after Ohio Republicans balked at passing pro forma legislation that would allow Biden to be on the ballot, even though the convention falls after a state deadline. But while Republicans passed a law to shift the deadline, Democrats decided to move forward with a virtual nomination nonetheless.

Could Democrats replace Biden against his will?

There’s no evidence the party would entertain a change without Biden’s consent. But even if it did, there’s no mechanism for it to replace a candidate before the convention, and certainly no way for it to anoint a chosen successor.

If large swaths of the Democratic Party lost faith in Biden, delegates to the national convention could theoretically defect en masse. Of course, they were chosen to be delegates because of their loyalty to Biden and have pledged to support him at the convention.

But, unlike many Republican delegates, Democratic delegates aren’t technically bound to their candidate. DNC rules allow delegates to “in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them,” providing some wiggle room.

The party’s charter does include provisions to replace the nominee in the event of a vacancy. The measure is intended to be used in case of death, resignation or incapacitation, not to replace someone who has no desire to step down.

That was the measure that Donna Brazile, then the interim DNC chair, considered invoking after Hillary Clinton collapsed two months before the 2016 election, she wrote in her memoir .

In her memoir, released a year later, Brazile wrote that she was worried “not just about Hillary’s health but about her anemic campaign ... so lacking in the spirit of fight.” 

“Perhaps changing the candidate was a chance to win this thing, to change the playing field in a way that would send Donald Trump scrambling and unable to catch up,” she wrote, adding that aides to other would-be candidates contacted her, including then-Vice President Biden’s chief of staff.

But after less than 24 hours of consideration, Brazile realized the idea was untenable without Clinton’s cooperation and likely to only divide her party further. “I could not make good on my threat to replace her," she wrote.

Current DNC Chair Jaime Harrison is a longtime Biden ally who serves, essentially, at the pleasure of the president. And the national party has certainly given no indication it’s anything but fully behind his re-election.  

What happens if Biden withdraws after the convention?

To fill a vacancy on the national ticket, the chair can call a “special meeting” of the full DNC, which includes about 500 members. On paper, at least, all it takes is a majority vote of those present to pick new presidential and vice presidential nominees. But that process would most likely be anything but smooth and be filled with behind-the-scenes jockeying and public pressure campaigns. 

If a vacancy were to occur close to the November election, however, it could raise constitutional, legal and practical concerns. Among other issues, ballots have to be printed well in advance of the election, and it might not be possible to change them in time.

Would Kamala Harris replace Biden?

If Biden were to relinquish the presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris would automatically become president — but not the Democratic Party’s nominee. Nor would she necessarily be the nominee if Biden withdrew from his re-election bid while he remained in the White House.

She might be politically favored, but party rules give the vice president no major mechanical benefit over other candidates. 

Biden’s delegates wouldn’t automatically transfer to Harris, and the convention holds separate votes on nominees for president and vice president. So she would still need to win a majority of delegates at the convention. 

If the top of the ticket were vacated after the convention, she would still need to win a majority of votes at the special meeting of the DNC.

That is all, at least, under current party rules. But a vacancy at the top of the ticket is the kind of dramatic moment that might lead party leaders to revisit them in the name of easing the transition. Harris has some close allies in key places at the DNC, including a co-chair of the party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee. But nothing would be likely to happen without a fight.

Ben Kamisar is a national political reporter for NBC News.

Alex Seitz-Wald is a senior politics reporter for NBC News.

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

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An 80,000 word PhD thesis would take nine hours to present. Our time limit? Three minutes.

Three Minute Thesis

Founded by the University of Queensland in 2008, the  Three Minute Thesis (3MT)  is an academic competition that cultivates students’ presentation and science communication skills by challenging them to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience after a few months of preparation.

The top three winners of the competition, which takes place annually in February, receive research funding, with the first place winner getting $1,500 and a chance to represent the university at the regional competition.

Applications for the 2024-2025 Three Minute Thesis program and competition will open in the fall semester. 

For more information, contact Hailey Herman .

What is 3MT?

• Why Participate?
• How to Register
• Help & Support
• Career Resources
• Get Involved
• Grad+ Programs
• Grad+ Workshops & Training
• What is 3MT®?
• Past Competitions
• Digital Credential Badges
• CTL Graduate Student Teaching Resources
• GradCO Professional Development Series

2024 Competition

Congratulations to the 2024 winners!

The 2024 3MT® Final Competition was held on Feb. 7, 2024

• Winner : Zach Schiffman
• Runner-up : Spencer Zeigler
• People's Choice : Aaquib Tabrez

Explore Past 3MT Competitions

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The Rules for the Biden-Trump Presidential Debate on CNN

Here is an overview of the rules that the two campaigns have agreed to with CNN, the evening’s host.

• Share full article

By Maggie Astor

• June 27, 2024

The first debate of the 2024 general election is almost here: President Biden and former President Donald J. Trump will take the stage Thursday night in Atlanta.

While some of the rules and formatting elements are standard — for instance, the candidates will be allowed to take notes during the debate, but not to bring prepared notes — others will be less typical.

How long will the debate be?

Ninety minutes, starting at 9 p.m. Eastern time, with two commercial breaks. That is a normal length for a presidential debate, but the commercial breaks are noteworthy: General-election debates in past cycles, sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates rather than an individual news organization, did not have them.

The candidates will not be allowed to talk to their aides during the commercial breaks, but they will have time to take a breather and collect themselves in a way they would not have in past years.

Will there be an in-person audience?

No. The candidates will debate in a CNN studio with no live audience.

This was a demand from the Biden campaign, most likely based on a recognition that Mr. Trump tends to play to and feed off supportive crowds.

It is a change from most past election cycles, in which debates had large in-person audiences. But it will be similar to the setup in the last presidential election, albeit for different reasons: In 2020, because of the pandemic, only small groups of people were allowed into the debate venues.

How will the candidates be positioned?

They will stand at lecterns. Mr. Biden won a coin toss to choose his spot, and he will be on the right side of viewers’ TV screens.

Will there be opening and closing statements?

Opening statements, no; closing statements, yes.

The order of the closing statements was determined by a coin toss. Mr. Biden will make his first, and Mr. Trump will have the last word of the debate.

How long will the candidates have to answer questions?

CNN will allow two minutes for each answer and one minute for rebuttals. The moderators, the CNN hosts Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, will be able to grant extra time at their discretion.

How will the moderators prevent interruptions?

The candidates’ microphones will be muted when it isn’t their turn to speak. That was another Biden request, intended to guard against Mr. Trump’s penchant for interrupting and speaking over debate opponents.

It is not unusual for moderators to have the ability, at their discretion, to cut off a candidate’s microphone if the candidate is refusing to abide by their allotted time. But automatic muting is less common. In the last debate in 2020 , opponents’ mics were muted during each candidate’s initial statement in each 15-minute segment, but not at other times.

Maggie Astor covers politics for The New York Times, focusing on breaking news, policies, campaigns and how underrepresented or marginalized groups are affected by political systems. More about Maggie Astor

UMD Three-Minute Thesis Competition

The 3MT competition challenges students to communicate the significance of their research projects to a non-specialist audience in just THREE MINUTES! The University of Maryland Graduate School invites graduate students from all disciplines to compete in the annual Three-Minute Thesis Competition (3MT). 

The first-round college-level competitions occurred in March.  Winners from the first-round competitions win a college-level prize and advance to the final round 3MT competition. This year's final round 3MT competition was livestreamed on Youtube !      View April 17th Program here,

The winners and honorary mentions of the 2024 3MT competition are listed below. Thank you to all of the finalists for participating!

Anirudh Nakra ,  Electrical and Computer Engineering "'Seeing' Invisible Microplastics by Quantum guided Data Science"

Anmol Kajla , Plant Science "Future-Ready Wheat: Defying Climate Challenges"

Robert Morris , Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering "Preventing adhesions: the medical complication you've never heard of"

Nick Schwartz , Materials Science and Engineering   "Fusion Revolution: The Centrifugal Mirror"

Sydney Jaw , Criminology and Criminal Justice "The Effects of Neighborhoods and Summer Jobs on Youth Crime"

Erin Hill , Counseling Psychology "Grief and Growth after an Opioid-Related Death"

Honorable Mentions

Tytrice Faison , Geology "UMD: Unravel Meteoritic Dating"

Emily Cygrymus , Counseling Psychology "Coping with Weight Stigma at Work"

Amanda Brucchieri , Entomology Faraz Burni , Chemical Engineering Li Feng, Nutrition and Food Science, Epidemiology Raquel Gama Lima Costa , Chemical Physics Mazneen Havewala , School Psychology Nicholas Mennona , Physics Het Mevada , Mechanical Engineering Opeyemi Ogedengbe , Nutrition and Food Science Robert Salerno , Entomology Shrey Shah , Bioengineering Diego Silva , Applied Economics Twesh Upadhyaya , Physics

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Participation in the 3MT competition provides students with...

• Experience in presentation skills and public speaking
• Practice talking about their research to a non-specialists audience
• Better perspective about how their research fits into the larger picture
• An opportunity to learn how to showcase their work to prospective employers
• Networking opportunities with students and faculty on campus
• An overall positive experience that promotes academic and professional growth
• Recognition and prizes

2024 3MT Guidelines  

Preparing a 3MT presentation:

Read the 3MT guidelines carefully. Take advantage of some of the 3MT resources available.   Consult with your  college-level 3MT contact  to learn more about your college-level competition. Attend a 3MT Workshop View 3MT presentations from 2023 on this  YouTube Recording .

Important Dates for 3MT Participants

View the  History and Overview of the 3MT Competition  for more information.