3MT for the Graduate School
We are excited to announce that the Graduate School is hosting the annual 3MT (3 Minute Thesis) Contest.
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Where: Student Center Ballroom
Why: Skills development for research candidates and adding to the research culture of our university.
Who is eligible: Research-based Master’s and Doctoral students who have completed their prospectus by the time of the competition.
Event: Each student competitor will have 3 minutes and one static PowerPoint slide only to present their research.
Prizes:
1st place $2,000.00
2nd place $1,500.00
3rd place $1,000.00
People’s Choice $1,000.00
Our first-place winner will also be awarded travel funds to attend the regional CSGS (Council of Southern Graduate Schools) annual meeting. Location and date to be provided later.
How Graduate Programs can help: Publicize this opportunity among their graduate students and nominate their top eligible student to participate. Nominations can now be submitted till September 11th.
2025 USA 3MT® Winners
WINNER: Sayema Naaz/College of Medicine "The Persister Problem: How Salmonella Survives Stress"
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Davies
2nd PLACE: Haley Kominek/College of Medicine "Silent Conversations: How RNA Connects Our Cells"
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Davies
3rd PLACE: Maddie Jackson/ College of Arts and Sciences "Separating the neural mechanisms of migration & reproduction in White-crowned Sparrows"
Mentor: Dr. Juan Mata
PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Maddie Jackson/ College of Arts and Sciences "Separating the neural mechanisms of migration & reproduction in White-crowned Sparrows"
Mentor: Dr. Juan Mata