Skip to content

Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

An annual competition for University of Rochester doctoral students

Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that challenges doctoral students to describe their research to a global audience—within three minutes.

2023 three minute thesis contest

Final presentations for this year’s competition will take place on April 4, 2023.

Review the full schedule for more details, including a sub-heat schedule.

The registration window has officially closed for this year’s contest. If you’ve already registered, be on the lookout for an email from us confirming your participation. Please contact us if you have any questions.

 

Contest overview

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) logo

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. Visit the 3MT organization’s website for more details.

Eligible doctoral students at the University of Rochester can participate, and winners will receive travel funding prizes. The competition is brought to you by the University’s Graduate Education Office and Office of the Vice President for Research, along with:

2023 schedule

The finals for 2023’s contest will occur on Tuesday, April 4, from 3:45–6 p.m. More event details will be shared as they become available. Sub-heats will occur leading up to the finals.

Sub-heat Finalists

Social Sciences:

  • Katie Zheng – PhD Candidate in Business Administration, Simon School of Business
  • Betul Zeyrek – PhD Candidate in Developmental Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences

Humanities and Music:

  • Vincent Tanzil- PhD Candidate in Philosophy, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Harry Golborn- PhD Candidate in Philosophy, School of Arts and Sciences

Natural Sciences:

  • Lynn Sidor- PhD Candidate in Biology, School of Arts and Sciences
  • Sanjana Kapisthalam- PhD Candidate in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences

Engineering:

  • Tre DiPassio – PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering, Hajim School of Engineering
  • Ziyang Ye– PhD Candidate in Materials Science, Hajim School of Engineering

Life Sciences:

  • Gabrielle Kosoy- PhD Candidate in Biophysics, School of Medicine and Dentistry
  • Sara Blick- Nitko- PhD Candidate in Pathology, School of Medicine and Dentistry

Finals schedule

Competition finalists will present on April 4, 2023, from 3:45–6 p.m. in the Class of ’62 Auditorium. With poster session and reception/awards ceremony to follow in the Flaum Atrium.

Reference the University’s Maps website if you need help navigating campus. You can also contact us with any additional questions.

2023 Trainings

Communicating Your Research in Brief, Clear and Relatable Terms

Librarians from Miner Library (URMC) and River Campus Libraries helped registrants work out their goals, and they practiced with other graduate students to hone this aspect of their presentation. They worked on communicating their research to an audience in a way that avoids jargon or a prior knowledge of your subject. Focusing on:

  • Was the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
  • Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?

(See the worksheet from this presentation in Box.)

Slide Design for 3MT Competition 

Learn the rules and best practices for designing your slide for the 3MT competition. Get tips on how to create and find images that speak to your audience and how to make your content more accessible.

(Watch this pre-recorded presentation in Box.)

Pitch and Presentation Tips

An important part of effective public speaking is engaging your audience. In this workshop, you learn how to tell a compelling research story to a non-specialist audience by making the content relevant and exciting. Professional staff from the Teaching Center explore when and how to use detail, how to frame your research within a larger disciplinary and real-world context, and the importance of tempo, body language, and eye contact.

(See slides from this presentation in Box.)

Eligibility

The competition is open to current Ph.D. and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have passed their qualifying exam or are in their third year of study or greater.

Rules and judging criteria

  • A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
  • Presentations are to commence from the stage.
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.
  • The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Judging criteria

Judges are drawn from diverse disciplines within the university and the broader Rochester community. Review the judging rubric for full details on the judging criteria. Judging is broken up into two major categories:

  • Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
  • Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research including conclusions and outcomes?
  • Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
  • Was the thesis topic, key results and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
  • Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
  • 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?
  • 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?

Prizes

Participants have multiple chances to win.

  • Top Two Finalists Sub Heat: Winner: $100
  • Poster Session: Winner: $150, Runner Up: $100, People’s Choice: $50
  • Final:  Winner: $750, Runner-up: $500, People’s choice: $250

Registration

The registration window has officially closed for the 2023 contest, as-of February 27, 2023.

If you’ve already registered, your participation is not guaranteed until you have received a confirmation e-mail from us. These will be sent out after registration closes. This will allow time for potential adjustments based upon the total number of interested registrants, and for the planning committee to determine sub-heat room assignments.

Final competition presenters will be determined following the sub-heats.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Return to the top of the page