Congratulations to the 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Winners

Group photo of RIT’s 2025 Three Minute Thesis winners Sagar Lekhak, Sherralyn Sneezer, and Priya Benny Chiriyankandath standing with Dean Diane Slusarski, competition judges, and fellow finalists in the Magic Center.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) winners Sagar Lekhak (center left, first place), Sherralyn Sneezer (center right, runner-up), and Priya Benny Chiriyankandath (far right, people’s choice) with Dean Diane Slusarski, competition judges, and fellow finalists. Photo credit: Keith Bullis.

The RIT Graduate School proudly announces the winners of the 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition.

This annual event challenges PhD students to present their research in just three minutes, using only one slide, to a non-specialist audience. Participants demonstrated exceptional clarity, creativity, and communication skills as they shared their work.

First Place
Sagar Lekhak, Imaging Science PhD
Advisor: Emmett Ientilucci
No More Deadly Butterflies: Drone and AI Against Landmines
Sagar will advance to represent RIT at the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) Regional 3MT Competition, which will be held virtually in Spring 2026.

Runner-Up
Sherralyn Sneezer, Sustainability PhD
Advisor: Nathan Williams
In Pursuit of Energy Sovereignty: Renewable Energy and Independence

People’s Choice
Priya Benny Chiriyankandath, Biomedical and Chemical Engineering PhD
Advisor: Emiliano Brini
How Can We Manage Protein Conformations for Better Therapeutics and Drug Discovery?

Learn more about the competition on the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) webpage and explore highlights from the event in the 2025 3MT® Photo Gallery.