The Graduate School is pleased to announce the winners of the 10th Annual Three-Minute Thesis Competition
Graduate students across the University of Minnesota took the stage last Friday for the fast-paced Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where each participant had just three minutes to explain their research in a way that anyone could understand.
Ph.D. student Itorobong “Itoro” Uwatt from the School of Public Health earned first place — and a $500 prize — for her compelling presentation on the misunderstood risks of hookah smoking and its significant impacts on children’s health. She also received the People’s Choice Award, selected by audience vote.
Second place went to Nisha Vishwanathan from the College of Biological Sciences, who explored how bacteria’s own defensive strategies can be leveraged to make antibiotics more effective.
Modeled after an international competition founded in Australia, 3MT challenges graduate students to distill complex ideas into a clear, engaging message — whether they’re speaking in an elevator, a boardroom, or to potential funders. The skills gained through preparing a 3MT talk strengthen students’ ability to communicate across disciplines and career paths. Participants are allowed to use one static slide during their presentations but may not use props or additional media.
Throughout the past year, 12 colleges across the University of Minnesota hosted their own preliminary competitions. This year's finalists represent the winners from those collegiate events. Congratulations to all of this year’s competitors!
Special thanks to our judges
We extend our sincere thanks to our volunteer judges for lending their time, insight, and expertise to the Three Minute Thesis competition. Representing industries from corporate leadership to publishing to public media, they bring valuable perspectives from across our community to help recognize and celebrate the outstanding research of our graduate students.
- Jade Denson, Director of Tech Strategy & Ops, Target
- Chris Farrell, Senior Economics Contributor, Marketplace & Minnesota Public Radio
- Barb Fugate, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer & Chief Security Officer, United Bankers’ Bank
- Rekhet Si-Asar, Executive Director, In Black Ink
- Briana Smith, Program Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Minnesota