Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition Draws Packed Crowd to Celebrate Graduate Research

More than 100 graduate students from across the University of Cincinnati (UC) applied for this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition, making it one of the most competitive events to date.

After multiple preliminary rounds, 15 finalists advanced to the final competition, where they distilled years of research into engaging three-minute presentations using a single slide. Presentations were evaluated by a panel of UC faculty and staff.

The final competition filled Clifton Court Hall to standing-room-only capacity, with students, faculty, staff, and community members cheering on the finalists and voting for the People’s Choice Award. The event showcased the wide range of research taking place across UC and highlighted the communication and storytelling skills graduate students develop to convey complex ideas clearly to a broad audience.

The 3MT competition, founded at the University of Queensland, emphasizes storytelling, research impact, and professional skill development. At UC, the competition embodies the university’s commitment to preparing graduate students to translate discovery into real-world impact across disciplines.

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 L. Winkle College of Pharmacy.

Prize awards for the competition included $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place, and $500 for the People’s Choice Award, selected by audience vote. 

Esra Oz Cetindere will advance to represent UC at the regional 3MT competition hosted by the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools during its annual meeting, held March 25–27, 2026, in Kansas City.

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.

Featured top image shows 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). Photo provided.