Three Minute Thesis Competition
Overview
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic research communication competition originally developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. The goal of the competition is for students to verbally summarize their master's thesis or doctoral dissertation research in a compelling way to a non-specialist audience in 3 minutes or less.
Competitor Details
WHAT: Competition to verbally summarize your master's thesis or doctoral dissertation research in a compelling way to a non-specialist audience in 3 minutes or less.
WHEN: Thursday, March 7, 2024 3-4 PM
WHERE: Borg Warner Auditorium, IAVS Building (1011)
DEADLINE TO REGISTER Sunday, March 3, 2024 by midnight, EST
Why Participate?
- Share your work with the greater university community.
- Develop academic, presentation, and research communication skills.
- Each competitor will receive a $30 Amazon gift card.
- The campus winner will receive an additional $200 Amazon gift card and go on to compete at the in-person Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools regional competition held April 5, 2024 in St. Louis, MO.
- Must be a currently enrolled UM-Dearborn master's or doctoral level student Winter 2024 term. Must have recently completed or be working on a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation.
- One single static PowerPoint slide is permitted, but not required. Slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description of the slide content is not allowed.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. notecards, scripts, pointers, costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to 3:00 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3:00 minutes are disqualified.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter begins through movement or speech.
Comprehension and content
- 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?
- Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
- Was the thesis topic, research 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?
Engagement and 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?
2024 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants L to R: Elie Rizk, Siddhi Baravkar, Sai Santosh Reddy Danda, Kais Riani, Nilakshi Pokharkar, Lilit Avetisyan, Shahid Aziz Khan, Michael Dolan, Zachery Hurd, Venus Kakdarvishi, Dasol Han
Winner: Sai Santosh Reddy Danda
Program of Study: Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering (PhD)
3MT Competition Title: "Driving Behavior on Ramp as a Marker for Early Detection of Alzheimer's Disease"
Thesis/Dissertation Adviser:Dr. Yi Lu Murphey
2023 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants L to R: GeeBeum Park, Joel Smith, Linxi Zhang, Aishwary Pawar, Alaa Jaber, Ziba Parsons, Hajira Baig, and Kais Riani
Winner: Hajira Baig
Program of Study: Psychology (MS)
3MT Competition Title: Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Post-Traumatic Growth Among Emerging Adults
Thesis/Dissertation Adviser: Dr. Pam McAuslan
Congratulations to the 2022 Three Minute Thesis Competition Winner: Katie Smith!
Program of Study: Psychology (MS)
3MT Competition Title: Parent and Child Adaption to COVID-19
Thesis Advisor: Dr. Caleb Siefert
Full competitor list: Aishwary Pawar, Kais Riani, Srikanth Kolachalama, Mansi Girdhar, Rachel Routin, Ruslan Akhmedagaev, Megha Datta, Amanda Langolf, Alicia Forsythe
Check out the recording of the 2022 Three Minute Thesis Event!
Congratulations to the 2021 Three Minute Thesis Competition Winner: Charlie Giraud!
Program of Study: Psychology (MS)
3MT Competition Title: Discrimination, Concealment, & Multiple Minority Status within LGBTQ+ Populations
Thesis/Dissertation Adviser: Dr. Michelle Leonard
Full competitor list: Bowen Zhang, Mrinal Jha, Hyunjae Park, Hyunjoo Park, Ruslan Akhmedagaev, Joyce Kuribayashi, Charlie Giraud, Gabrielle Alter, Sally Thrasher, JaLeshea Ligon
Check out the recording of the 2021 Three Minute Thesis Event!
2020 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants: Azeem Hafeez, Faisal Binzagr, Aishwary Pawar, Lindsey Bookman, Malak Nasser, and Angela Tiemeyer.
Winner: Malak Nasser - "Engineering Tumor Microenvironments for Drug Screening"
Check out last year's video for our 2020 Three Minute Thesis Competition!
2019 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants: Azeem Hafeez, Linyan Xiang, Meigui Yu, Paige Tiedeman, Safa Sankari, Ava Selke, Jay Sands, Christin DeWit, Marissa Mills, Selena Suttner
Winner: Christin DeWit - "Treatment Related Stress in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder"
Check out this video from our 2019 competition.
2018 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants: Mallory Stankovich, Christian Hessler, Ankush Bhandarkar, Chazlyn Miller, Samah Altairi, Saurabh Mali, Linyan Xiang
Winner: Chazlyn Miller - "Understanding Perceptions of and Reactions to Sexual Assault"
2017 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants: Omid Avatefipour, John Kelly Villota Pismag, Devon Kardel, Monish Urapakam Ramakrishnan
Winner: Devon Kardel - "Mindfully Managing Life Experiences Together"
2016 Three Minute Thesis Competition Contestants
Participants: Julie Altesleben, Katie Blasko, Corey Bryant, Samantha Cook, Jacqueline Fritts, Nevrus Kaja, Wiem Mkaouer, Hanzhang Wang
Winner: Nevrus Kaja - "A Trust Model in Cloud Computing"