Three Minute Thesis (3MT)
Can you explain your research in three minutes?
The UND Three Minute Thesis (3MT) celebrates research being done by students at the University of North Dakota. The competition culminates students' academic, presentation and research communication skills, as each must effectively explain their research in three minutes with only one PowerPoint slide.
Virtual Three Minute Thesis Competition
This year's competition will be held in an online format based on the competition rules and guidelines set forth by the University of Queensland, 3MT's founding institution.
Competition Schedule
- January 17, 2021 | Video Submissions Due
- January 19 - 22, 2021 | Preliminary Round Judged
- January 25 - 29, 2021 | Final Round Judged
- February 3, 2021 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Virtual Awards Ceremony; Winners announced
About the Competition
- Students will compete in a preliminary round with no more than 10 students per heat (the final number of students per heat will depend on the total number of video submissions). The top three from each heat will move on to the Finals.
- The finalists from the preliminary competition will compete again in the final round. Judges will select First, Second, and Third Place winners.
- This year's overall winner (first place) will continue on to the regional virtual competition hosted by the Western Association of Graduate Schools. More details about the regional competition will be posted once they become available.
Nominate a Student
Students must be nominated by their graduate program director to participate. All nominated students must be in the final stages of their degree, with a graduation date set for May, August, or December of 2021. More information will be given to nominees during an informational meeting that will be held on September 25.
2021 Competitors and Competition Videos
Tyler Achatz, Biology - FINALIST
Moones Alamooti, Geology and Geological Engineering
Youness Arjoune, Electrical Engineering
Nidhal Badrouchi, Petroleum Engineering - 1st PLACE
Pavan Challa, Civil Engineering - 2ND PLACE
Amrita Chatterjee, Computer Science
Justin Germann, Space Studies
Regan Lawrence, Biomedical Sciences - 3rd PLACE
Susan Locklin, Linguistics - FINALIST
Demetrius Maxey, Petroleum Engineering
Amanda Moreno, Music Education - FINALIST
Christian Nairy, Atmospheric Science
Smruthi Rudraraju, Biomedical Sciences
Paul Schell, Music
Max Seippel, Communication
Miranda Shanks, Geology - FINALIST
Nicholas Smith, Clinical and Translational Science
Niroop Sugunaraj, Electrical Engineering - FINALIST
Trevor Taylor, Chemical Engineering
Tanya Trotter, Nursing
2021 Winners
- 1st place: Nidhal Badrouchi, Petroleum Engineering
- 2nd place: Pavan Challa, Civil Engineering
- 3rd place: Regan Lawrence, Biomedical Sciences
Three Minute Thesis Rules
Permitted
- Spoken word
- Three minutes or less
- Movement/gestures
- Formal/professional clothing
- Commence from the stage
- A single static PowerPoint
Not Permitted (Will Disqualify)
- Exceeding three minutes
- Poems, raps or songs
- Props (pointers, instruments, lab equipment, costumes)
- Slide transitions, animations, sound, or video
- No additional electronic media are permitted within the recording (e.g. sound and video files)
Presentations commence when the presenter begins through movement or speech. The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.
Three Minute Thesis Judging
The Panel
Each competitor will be assessed by three to five judges balanced by age, gender, academic/professional positions, and discipline. Judges may not participate in scoring for one of the heats when there is a conflict of interest, including 1) knowing one of the competitors, or, 2) having expertise in one of the presented topics
Judging Criteria
Comprehension and Content
Did the presenter:
- Provide an understanding of the background to the research and its significance?
- Clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
- Follow a clear and logical sequence?
- Communicate in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience (for thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes)?
- Avoid jargon, explain terminology, and provide adequate background info to illustrate points?
- Spend adequate time on each presentation element - or was it too long on one aspect or was it rushed?
Engagement and Communication
Did the presenter:
- Make the audience want to know more?
- Take care not to trivialize or generalize their research?
- Convey enthusiasm for their research?
- Capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
- Have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
- Have a slide that enhanced the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?
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.
2020 Competitors
- Loren Been, Music
- Marie Bergelin, Geology/Geological Engineering - 2ND PLACE
- Brittney Christy, English - FINALIST
- Andrew Kohler, Chemical Engineering - FINALIST
- Kaela Lucke, Atmospheric Sciences
- Anjo Mate, Civil Engineering
- Robeam Melaku, Civil Engineering
- Joshua Oluwayomi, Petroleum Engineering - FINALIST
- Edirisuriya Siriwardane, Physics/Astrophysics - FINALIST
- Melissa Sisson, Biology
- Mona Sohrabi Thompson, Biomedical Sciences - 1ST PLACE & PEOPLE'S CHOICE
- Xincheng Wan, Petroleum Engineering
- Jeffrey Widner, Social Work
2019 Competitors
- Adedoyin Adeyilola, Geology/Geological Engineering.
- Karthik Balaji, Petroleum Engineering
- Marie Bergelin, Geology/Geological Engineering
- Jeremy Lewis, Chemical Engineering.
- Johannes Van der Watt, Chemical Engineering.
- Furkan Altincicek, Physics/Astrophysics
- Sayantani Ghosh Dastidar, Biomedical Sciences
- Pragalv Karki, Physics/Astrophysics
- Natalie Midzak, Atmospheric Sciences - 2ND PLACE
- Brian Teske, Aerospace Sciences
- Srikanth Vijjamarri, Chemistry
- Mark Williamson, Biology - 1ST PLACE & PEOPLE'S CHOICE
- Olga Abramova, English
- Zsofia Barandi, Accounting
- Renee Colsch, Nursing
- Emily Dougherty, Higher Education
- Jeremy O’Keefe, Physical Therapy
- Haseon Park, Communication
- Debra Radi, Higher Education
- Kristina Syversen, Education Foundations & Research.
- Ian Watson, Public Health
2018 Competitors
- Peter Brandt, Geography
- Lauren Clarke, Chemical Engineering - FINALIST
- Ian Foerster, Chemical Engineering - 1ST PLACE & PEOPLE'S CHOICE
- Peter Halcrow, Biomedical Sciences
- Catherine Kohs, English
- Ning Li, Earth Systems Science and Policy
- Chris Mark, Experimental Psychology - FINALIST
- Ryan Menath, History - 2ND PLACE
- Kayla Michelson, Biology
- Intisar Rizwanihaque, Biomedical Engineering
- Afshin Shabani, Earth Systems Science and Policy
- Muneer Shaik, Chemistry
- Madina Sultanova, Physics and Astrophysics - FINALIST
- Trevor Waagen, Counseling program - FINALIST
- Susanne Watts, History
- Paul Wren, Space Studies - FINALIST
- Jin Zhang, Geology and Geological Engineering - FINALIST
2017 Competitors
- David Apostal, Computer Science
- Kristen Black, Biology
- Carolyn Broner, Special Education
- Nick Cilz, Biomedical Sciences
- Lauren Clark, Chemical Engineering
- Sara Faraji Jalal Apostal, Computer Science
- Matt Fuka, Mechanical Engineering
- Brooke Hagenhoff, Atmospheric Sciences
- Laurie Johansen, Nursing
- Ted Krmpotich, Clinical Psychology
- Rain Li, Chemistry
- Kouqi Liu, Petroleum Engineering
- Kavya Manyapu, Space Studies
- Sean McCloat, Space Studies
- Talus McCowan, Biomedical Sciences
- Riley McGlynn, Biology
- Robeam Melaku, Civil Engineering
- Adnan Quadri, Electrical Engineering
- Mohsen Riahimanesh, Electrical Engineering
- Roy Roach, Higher Ed
- Charles Schneider, Biomedical Engineering
- Reem Shadid,Biomedical Engineering
- Bahareh Shoghli, Civil Engineering
- Bridget Tetteh-Batsa, English
- Hannes van der Watt, Chemical Engineering
Scholarships
$500 | First Place
In addition, this year’s overall winner (first place) will continue on to the regional competition hosted by the Western Association of Graduate Schools’ annual meeting held this year in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"Graduate Education 360: Supporting the Whole Student"
62nd Annual WAGS Meeting
March 21–24, 2021
Location: Virtual Conference
$250 | Second Place
$100 | Third Place
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is proudly co-sponsored by UND School of Graduate Studies and the Division of Research & Economic Development. 3MT® is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland.