Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) was originally developed by the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. The goals of the competition are to highlight the excellent research conducted by graduate students and challenge students to develop communications skills to explain their complex and technical research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 3MT Competitions are currently held in over 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide. Learn more about 3MT at Three Minute Thesis - University of Queensland (uq.edu.au).

3MT, Three Minute Thesis Competition Finals. Watch RIT Doctoral Students Compete by Explaining Their Research in Just 3 Minutes!
Friday, November 7th, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., doors open at 2:45 p.m. in the Wegmans Theater, MAGIC Center.

Be part of the competition by voting for the People's Choice!
An essential aspect of the competition is the People’s Choice prize. Following all presentations, the audience is asked to vote on who they thought gave the most convincing 3MT presentation.

2025 3MT Winners

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.
Watch the 3MT Competition video here

Runner-Up
Sherralyn Sneezer, Sustainability PhD
Advisor: Nathan Williams
In Pursuit of Energy Sovereignty: Renewable Energy and Independence
Watch the 3MT Competition video here

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?
Watch the 3MT Competition video here

2025 Judges
Frank Sklarsky, Alumnus and RIT Board of Trustees, Vice Chair
Kathleen Davis, Vice President, Enrollment Management and Associate Provost
Ryne Raffaelle, Vice President for Research
Rebecca Brubaker, Alumnus and Graduate Dean’s Advisory Council, Chair

• The competition is open to current RIT PhD students who have passed their qualifying exam or are in their third year of study or greater.
• Finalists must be available to compete in person on Friday, November 7th, 2025

• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (i.e. no poems, raps, or songs).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through movement or speech.
• Presentations are to commence from the stage.
• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or ‘movement’ of any kind) and 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.
• Zoom backgrounds are considered props. Please ensure your background is a blank screen or wall. 
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

• First Prize - $750 - Sponsored by donations from the Graduate School Sentinel Society
• Runner-Up - $500 - Sponsored by donations from the Graduate School Sentinel Society
• People’s Choice - $250 - Sponsored by the Eugene H. Fram Chair in Applied Critical Thinking

• Submit a recording of your 3MT talk (Zoom or YouTube link) and your slide (PDF or PowerPoint) by the deadline: September 29th 
  • Note: If using Zoom for your recording, please do not share your screen. You’ll be submitting your slide as a separate document.
• Finalists will be notified by October 20th
• In-Person Final Round Competition - November 7th, MAGIC Center, Wegmans Theater. Doors open at 2:45 PM. The competition begins at 3:00 PM.

The winner advances to the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) Regional 3MT Competition (virtual) in Spring 2026
Are you ready to enter the competition? Begin here!

Prepare to deliver a confident, compelling, and concise presentation with these curated resources. From expert-led prep sessions and personalized coaching to video examples and official guides, these tools will support you at every stage of your 3MT journey.

Comprehension and content

• Presentation provided clear motivation, background and significance to the research question
• Presentation clearly described the research strategy/design and the results/findings of the research
• Presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes and impact of the research

 Engagement and communication

• The oration was delivered clearly, and the language was appropriate for a non-specialist audience
• The PowerPoint slide was well-defined and enhanced the presentation
• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm for their research and captured and maintained the audience’s attention

Congratulations to Our Three Minute Thesis 3MT® Competition Winners!
You can find the complete list of past competition finalists and winners here.

The competition deadline for the current year has passed.