The Preparing Future Faculty and Professionals (PFFP) Annual Pathways Conference includes the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) and Three Minute Pitch (3MP) competitions. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a research communication completion developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. 3MT develops graduate students’ capacity to effectively explain their research in 3 minutes to a non-specialist audience. A great presentation will tell the audience what the research is, how the doctoral researcher is doing it, what they have discovered, and why the research is significant. Graduate students seeking Master’s Degrees (i.e. M.S., M.A., M.P.H., M.P.A, etc.) or Graduate Certificates should register for the 3MP (Three Minute Pitch) competition.
This competition is not recommended for incoming or first year graduate students!
Save the Date
3MT/3MP Competition 2025
November 13, 2025 9:00am - 2:30pm
Caylin Billingsley (right), winner of the 2024 3MT competition, shown here with Dr. Tabitha Hardy (left)
Sadman Sazzad (right), winner of the 2024 3MP competition, shown here with Dr. Tabitha Hardy (left)
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT® ) competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
The first 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2008 with 160 Research Higher Degree students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Due to its adoption in numerous universities, a multinational event was developed, and the Inaugural TransTasman 3MT competition was held at UQ in 2010.
Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT competitions are now held in over 600 universities across more than 65 countries worldwide. In November 2013, the first Universitas 21 (U21) 3MT competition was held with several universities from around the world competing in a virtual competition. 2016 brought an expansion of the Trans-Tasman 3MT competition to include a South-East Asia and North-East Asia. This competition is now called the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition.
The PFFP program at IU Indianapolis has been a 3MT partner organization since 2015 and has successfully held 3MT and 3MP competitions at the PFFP Annual Pathways Conference.
3MT - Active PhD and Professional Doctorate (Research) candidates who have successfully passed their confirmation milestone (including candidates whose thesis is under submission) by the date of their first presentation are eligible to participate in 3MT competitions at all levels, including the Asia-Pacific 3MT competition. Graduates are not eligible.
*Professional Doctorate (Research) (program composed of at least 2/3 research) and funded via the Research Training Program (for Australian students). Professional Doctorate (coursework) students and Masters students are not eligible for the 3MT® Asia-Pacific competition.
3MP-Graduate students pursuing a Certificate, Master’s or PostDoc.
Registration is limited to 25 total participants.
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) is permitted.
No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three 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 judging panel is final.
Participants in each category will compete for cash prizes, registration and travel scholarship to attend the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) annual conference in Indianapolis, IN, April 2-4, 2025, and advance to the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 3MT Competition.
At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
Comprehension & Content
Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
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?
Engagement & Communication
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?
I was absolutely shocked at the thought of describing your 5 years' worth of work in just 3 minutes, but I took it upon as a challenge and learned how to talk science to a non-scientific audience. It was a very exciting, exhilarating, and refreshing experience to watch people explain complex technologies and science via interesting everyday analogies. -Sukrati Kanojia, 2022 participant
Even thought I didn’t win, the experience was well worth it since I now have the words to describe my research in ways I didn’t before. -Megan Hillier-Geisler, 2022 participant
This competition hones one's communication skills and the art of presenting in front of an audience, which is not only a requirement for a graduate student but will take one far into their respective careers thereafter. -Radhika Bhaumik, 2022 3MT Winner
*All participants must attend this in-person practice session to be eligible for the competition*
Competition Winners
Picture this. You wrote hundreds of pages and spent countless hours on your thesis or dissertation. Now you have only three minutes to explain your work to a lay audience.
Caylin Billingsley, School of Medicine, won the 3MT competition and People's Choice Award. Billingsley's topic was "Virus Vibes: Unpacking the HPV Puzzle". Billingsley won $700 and will represent IU Indianapolis at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Annual Conference in Indianapolis this upcoming spring.
The 3MT Runner up was Phu Pham, School of Medicine. His topic was "Disease in the Powerhouse of the Cell: More Than Just a Power Outage."
While the Three Minute Thesis Competition is for PhD students, the Three Minute Pitch (3MP) is for master’s and professional students. The winner of this competition was Sadman Sazzad, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with the topic “Mind Meets Machine: Dancing with AI and Robotic Companions in Dementia Care.”
The 3MP Runner Up and People's Choice winner was Sai Varsha Koya, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Her topic was "Rethinking Aural Access to Generative AI."
Soumilee Chaudhuri, School of Medicine, won the 3MT competition and People's Choice Award. Chaudhuri's topic was "Heart & Brain Tango: Unmasking Alzheimer's Secrets." Chaudhuri won $700 and will represent IU Indianapolis at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri this upcoming spring.
The 3MT Runner up was Ifeoma Akobi. Her topic was "Burnout in the Nonprofit Sector."
While the Three Minute Thesis Competition is for PhD students, the Three Minute Pitch (3MP) is for master’s and professional students. The winner of this competition and the People's Choice Award was Nithika Sanghi, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with the topic “ChatGPT - Friend or Foe.”
The 3MP Runner Up was Festus Segun Ajiboye, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. His topic was "Technology: Possibility to Quick Detection."
Radhika Bhaumik, School of Science, won the 3MT competition. Bhaumik's topic was "Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and holding them at bay!" Bhaumik won $500 and will represent IU Indianapolis at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this upcoming spring.
The 3MT Runner up and People's Choice Award was Madhumita Sridharan, School of Science. Her topic was "The Devil Is In The Details."
While the Three Minute Thesis Competition is for PhD students, the Three Minute Pitch (3MP) is for master’s and professional students. The winner of this competition and the People's Choice Award was Rieanna McPhie, School of Science with the topic “Does Being Religious Protect Against Problem Substance Abuse?”
The 3MP Runner Up was Barakha Jain, School of Informatics and Computing. Her topic was "Development & Evaluation of a Special Care Tele-Dentistry OSCE Involving Visually Impaired Standardized Patients."
Shonda Nicole Gladden, School of Liberal Arts, won the competition. The runner-up was Sailee Lavekar, School of Science, and the People's Choice Award winner was Hayley Drodz, School of Medicine.
Gladden's topic was “The Soil of Our Grandmother’s Gardens: Womanist Visual Culture Unearthed from Antebellum American Plantation-Themed Cinema.” Gladden won $500 and will represent IU Indianapolis at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this upcoming spring.
While the Three Minute Thesis Competition is for PhD students, the Three Minute Pitch (3MP) is for master’s and professional students. The winner of this competition was Julie Marie Frye, School of Education with the topic “Care in a Border Town Public Library.” Frye won $400.
Daenique Jengelly
Daenique Jengelly, 3MT Award winner and People's Choice Award winner at the 2020 Pathways Conference.
Elizabeth Swallow 3MT Award winner, with Tabitha Hardy at the 2019 Pathways Conference. Elizabeth’s topic was “Holes - why do we care?"
Swapnali Chavan
Swapnali Chavan's topic was “Are Older women being pushed out of labor force?”
Sarvesh Chelvanambi
Sarvesh Chelvanambi, 3MT Award winner, with Tabitha Hardy at the 2018 Pathways Conference. Sarvesh’s topic was “The persistence of HIV viral protein Nef and the perplexingly high prevalence of vascular disease in HIV patients”
Grad Kepler
Grady Kepler, 3MP Award winner, with Tabitha Hardy at the 2018 Pathways Conference. Grady’s topic was “The Language Teacher's Imperative: Understanding Learner Responsiveness to Innovative Instruction”
Antja-Voy Hartley
Antja-Voy Hartley, from Pharmacology in the IU School of Medicine, was the first place winner of the 2017 3MT Competition. Pictured here with Dr. Tabitha Hardy. Hartley's topic was “What you know can kill you: targeting unique features of cancer cells for drug development”
People's Choice Winner, Janet Panoch, Communication Studies in the IU School of Liberal Arts. Pictured here with Dr. Tabitha Hardy. Panoch's topic was “Preparing High School Students to Communicate Effectively with Healthcare Professionals”
