Three Minute Thesis Competition
UC's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition challenges students to summarize their research or scholarship for a non-specialist audience using only three minutes of speech and a single PowerPoint slide.
2026 Competition
From top left to right: Dorsa Rezayat (Second Place Winner), Angel Perez Villa, Carlin Moore, Annie McGhee, Ramy Amin, Elham Hasani, Molly Winer, Fiona Wasson, Pankaj Rajdeo From bottom left to right: Tharushi Rajaguru, Esra Oz Cetindere (First Place Winner), Sara Alharbi, Amna Mira, Apala Biswas (Third Place Winner), Ipsita Gopal Kundu (People's Choice Winner)
This year’s competition drew more than 100 applicants from every college with a graduate program, making it one of the most competitive events to date. After multiple preliminary rounds, 15 finalists advanced to the final competition.
The final competition brought a full house to Clifton Court Hall and reached standing-room-only capacity, with students, faculty, staff, and community members gathering to support graduate scholarship and vote for the People’s Choice Award.
2026 Winners:
First Place: Esra Oz Cetindere, College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology
Second Place: Dorsa Rezayat, College of Engineering & Applied Science
Third Place: Apala Biswas, College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology
People’s Choice: Ipsita Gopal Kundu, James J. Winkle College of Pharmacy
The Graduate College appreciates everyone who came out to support our finalists and help make the event a success.
Planning is already underway for the next cycle. The call for participants will open in fall 2026, with the next Three Minute Thesis competition scheduled for 2027.
From left to right: Ipsita Gopal Kundu (People's Choice), Apala Biswas (Third Choice), Esra Oz Cetindere (First Place), Dorsa Rezayat (Second Place)
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The first place winner of the 3MT competition will receive a $1,000 award. Second place will receive $750, and third place will receive $500. The audience will select a people's choice winner, who will receive $500. Someone who wins first, second, or third place may also be awarded the people's choice. All prize funds will be posted to the winners' Catalyst student account.
The winner of UC's annual Three Minute Thesis competition will be registered to compete in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools' regional 3MT® competition. The competition will be held during the MAGS annual meeting, March 25-27, 2026 at the Kansas City Marriott at Country Club Plaza.
I feel that the challenge to make my scientific work more palatable to the public and effectively communicate it to a broad audience facilitated my maturation as a scientist. I now have a great pitch, ready on a whim, to use when telling others about my work.
2025 3MT Contestant
Contact Us
Please email the Graduate College 3MT organizers (3mt@uc.edu) with questions.