Could you present your dissertation research in just three minutes?
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an international competition that challenges doctoral candidates to communicate complex research clearly and engagingly to a general audience—using only one static slide.
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an international competition that challenges doctoral candidates to communicate complex research clearly and engagingly to a general audience—using only one static slide.
Who can Participate?
Participants must:
- Be currently enrolled in a research-based doctoral program at Mizzou and be in good academic standing
- Have met the doctoral candidacy requirements for their program and have a D-3 on file
- Review and follow the official 3MT® competition rules
- Meet all orientation, practice, and competition attendance requirements
- If selected as the campus winner, be willing and available to represent the University of Missouri at the regional 3MT® competition
See the current 3MT® application for specific dates, attendance requirements, and other participation details.
Why Participate?
3MT® helps you develop high-impact communication skills you can use in job talks, interviews, presentations, networking, and conversations with audiences outside your field.
- Storytelling & Clarity: Learn to distill complex research, eliminate jargon, and communicate the significance and impact of your work.
- Professional Speaking: Strengthen your delivery, pacing, presence, and confidence through practice and feedback.
- Showcase Your Research: Share your work with audiences beyond your discipline and expand your professional network.
- Recognition & Prizes: Compete for professional development awards and the opportunity to represent Mizzou beyond the university competition.
Competition Rules
The 3MT® has a few simple requirements:
- Presentations must be no longer than three minutes
- Presenters may use one static slide only — no transitions, animations, video, or audio
- Presentations must be spoken word; poems, raps, songs, and props are not permitted
See the official 3MT® website for 3MT® competition rules.
Judging
How Judging Works
Presentations are evaluated by a panel of judges using the official 3MT® judging criteria. Judges consider two key areas:
- Comprehension & Content: Was the research communicated clearly and logically in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
- Engagement & Communication: Did the presenter effectively engage the audience and communicate enthusiasm for their research?
See the official 3MT® website for full judging criteria.
Awards
Mizzou 3MT® participants compete for $1,000 in professional development awards:
- First Place: $500 in professional development funds and a plaque
- Runner-up: $300 in professional development funds and a plaque
- People’s Choice: $200 in professional development funds and a plaque
The first-place winner also advances to the regional 3MT® competition, with travel supported by the University of Missouri, and may have the opportunity to advance to the national competition.
2026 Mizzou 3MT® Competition
Competition: Wednesday, Nov. 4, 3:30 p.m.
Application Deadline: Friday, Sept. 25 at 5:00 p.m.
The application includes complete participation requirements, preparation opportunities, important dates, and other details for the 2026 competition.
Want to learn more before applying? Attend the virtual 3MT® Info Session on Friday, Sept. 18, noon–1:00 p.m. to learn more about the competition, participation requirements, and what to expect. Attendance is optional.
Questions?
Email Dr. Heather Hoffman, Assistant Dean for Professional Development & Leadership, at hoffmanh@missouri.edu.
Past Competitions
2025
Winners
- 🥇 1st Place: Leah Gastonguay, Plant Science & Technology
- 🥈 2nd Place (tie): Soraya Nekouian, Biomedical Sciences
- 🥈 2nd Place (tie): Xin “Frida” Qi Humphreville, Journalism
Other Contestants
- Sonia Akter
- Rishabh Mahendra
- Manobendro Sarker
- Meftah Uddin
- Daniel Yuhasz
Winners
- 🥇 1st Place: Arshdeep Singh, Food & Hospitality Systems
- 🥈 2nd Place: Emily Knebel, Area Pathobiology
- 👏 People’s Choice: Xiuhan Chen, Statistics, Measurement, and Evaluation in Education
Other Contestants
- Ahmad Alhonainy
- Arshdeep Singh
- Brian Thomas
- Eric Partridge
- Emily Knebel
- Heba Abdelnaby
- Ruth Opoku
- Meet Parikh
- Xiuhan Chen
Winners
- 🥇 1st Place: Jacob Thomas, Health & Rehabilitation Science
- 🥈 2nd Place: Varsha Bhaskaran, Natural Resources
- 👏 People’s Choice: Peggy Birikorang, Biochemistry
Other Contestants
- Jenny Gutierrez, Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Michael Owusu Ansah, Agriculture & Applied Economics
- Nanan Nuraini, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience
- Kate Nyarko, Chemistry
Judges
- Dr. Sarah Traub, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for MU Extension & Engagement
- Dr. Praveen Edara, Interim Dean for MU College of Engineering
- Katelynn McIlwain, Managing Editor for KBIA-FM
Emcees
- Kacey Lynch, Theatre
- Irene, Gasarah, Theatre
Winners
- Majid Abdul’s speech, titled Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Role of Sugars, earned him the first place title in Mizzou’s 2019 3 Minute Thesis Competition. Majid is a doctoral candidate in the Nutrition Sciences program.
- Clarissa Steele, doctoral candidate in Management, came in second place with her speech titled Taking Care of Business.
- Amir Mofrad, doctoral candidate in Chemical Engineering won the People’s Choice Award with his speech titled Exploring Computational Materials Science.
Other Contestants
- Bitty Balducci, Marketing
- Lauren Borkowski, Biomedical Sciences
- Parijat Ghosh, Rural Sociology
- Nathan Katz, Sociology
- Jason McKinney, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
- Amir Mofrad, Chemical Engineering
- Meredith Shaw, Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
- Lisa Shepard, Physics
- Haejung Shin, Communication
- Clarissa Steele, Management
- Levi Storks, Biological Sciences
- Majid Mufaqam Syed Abdul, Nutrition Sciences
- Al Willsey, Philosophy
Judges for the evening were: Dr. Gavin King, Associate Professor, Physics and Biochemistry; Dr. Susan Renoe, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, Extension, & Engagement; Eric Stann, Research News Strategist, MU News Bureau
Emcees for the evening were Kasey Lynch & Blake Willoughby, Theatre.
Winners
Electrical Nerve Stimulation: Improving Voice after Injury was the title Megan Haney chose to introduce her speech, which earned her the title of 2018 Mizzou 3 Minute Thesis winner. Megan was a doctoral candidate in Pathobiology Area Program. Second place winner was Clarissa Steele, Business Administration. Audience members voted Li Lee from Biomedical Imaging the People’s Choice winner.
Other Contestants
- Ghazwan Alwan, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Michael, Appenteng, Chemistry
- Glenn Baker, Psychological Sciences
- Josh Bramlett, Communication
- Mary Decker, Special Education
- Megan Haney, Area Pathobiology
- Briana Kille, Psychological Sciences
- Li Lee, Biomedical Imagine
- Tareq Lehmidi, Pathobiology Area
- Rayne Lim, Biomedical Sciences
- Deanna Maynard, Special Education
- Aditi Mishra, Biological Sciences
- Marco Navarro, Biological Sciences
- Tunde Ojewola, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources
- Joel Reed, Communication
- Clarissa Steele, Business Administration
- Anna Valiavska, Organizational Communication
- Sangkwon Woo, Anthropology
- Nasibeh, Zanjirani Farahani, Industrial Engineering & Manufacturing Systems
Judges for the evening were Dr. Jeni Hart, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice Provost for Advanced Studies; Dr. Susan Renoe, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, Extension, and Engagement; and Dr. Sheila Grant, Associate Vice Chancellor of Research and Strategic Initiatives.
Emcees for the evening were Kate Busselle and Blake Willoughby, Theatre
Winners
Can You Avoid a Colonoscopy? Using Bacteria to Detect and Treat Colon Cancer
That was the message delivered by the 2017 Mizzou 3 Minute Thesis winner Susheel Bhanu Busi, a doctoral candidate in Molecular Pathogenesis and Therapeutics. Audience members also voted Susheel as the People’s Choice winner! Second place was awarded to Freddie Jennings, a doctoral candidate in Communication.
Other Contestants
- Nettie Brock, Communication. A Thousand TV Shows. Mentor: Dr. Ben Warner.
- Ryan Dibala, Natural Resources. Trees Providing Forage for Livestock. Mentor: Dr. Shibu Jose.
- Anna Perinchery, Biological Sciences. You are what you eat! Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth King.
- Zach Rubin, Sociology. Lifestyle and Activism: The Key Ingredients. Mentor: Dr. Victoria Johnson.
- Lisa Groshong, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Climate change doesn’t care. Mentor: Dr. Sonja Wilhelm Stanis.
- Liga Wuri, Animal Science. Vitrification for Fertility Preservation. Mentor: Dr. Yuksel Agca.
- Alex Howe, Philosophy. Citizenship Goes to the Dogs. Mentor: Dr. Peter Vallentyne.
Judges for the evening were Provost Garnett Stokes; Dr. Jeni Hart, Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Vice Provost for Advanced Studies; and Dr. Keven McDonald, UM System Chief Diversity Officer & MU Vice Chancellor for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.
MC for the evening was Rachel Bauer, doctoral candidate in Theatre.
Winners
- First place winner was Jacqueline Gamboa
- Second place Dr. Michael K. Fink
- People’s Choice Megan Sheridan
Thirty doctoral candidates participated in the first annual Mizzou Three Minutes Thesis competition.
Winners
- First place winner was Arianna Soldati
- Second place Jessica M. Anderson
- People’s Choice Lincoln Sheets, MD
About 3MT® Worldwide
Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. The exercise challenges doctoral* candidates to present a compelling oration on their thesis (dissertation) topic and its significance in just three minutes.
3MT® develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of research students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
View 3MT® presentations
To view winning presentations from around the world, go to the 3MT® Showcase on the official UQ site.