The Graduate School is gearing up for its most exciting event of the year — the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition — and couldn’t be more thrilled! Earlier this month, graduate students took the stage to present their groundbreaking research in front of a live audience and a panel of esteemed judges, all vying for a spot in the final round. Fueled by passion, and maybe a flutter of nerves, these students lit up the stage, making the preliminary rounds an inspiring showcase of academic excellence.
The 3MT competition is an annual event that challenges master's and doctoral students to present their research findings in just one slide and under three minutes. This unique format encourages students to articulate complex ideas into clear, concise and accessible presentations that engage a broad audience. The Graduate School honors the hard work and determination of all 50 students who competed and congratulates the 16 finalists who have made it through to the final round. These remarkable scholars have honed the skill of distilling complex research into captivating three-minute presentations, and the final showdown is an event not to be missed.
Since its inception in 2015, the Graduate School has hosted this competition, providing graduate students with an invaluable opportunity to share their research with the community. In recent years, the event gained even greater recognition, with notable successes such as the University’s 2023 winner, Kendra Isable, a doctoral candidate in the Anthropology program. Isable’s success continued beyond the University as she earned second place at the regional 3MT competition in early 2024 and was named the People’s Choice Winner (first place) at the national 3MT showcase at the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) annual conference in December 2024. Isable follows in the footprints of other notable University scholars who have made a name for themselves including Robert del Carlo, Ph.D., ’20 (Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology) and Jennifer Heppner, Ph.D., ’24 (Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology). Heppner, after winning the University’s competition in 2022, claimed third place regionally and del Carlo, after winning twice at the University, also found success regionally. Their exceptional journeys highlight the high level of research and scholarship across the graduate community.
To get a peek into this exciting world of research, the Graduate School invites all students, staff, faculty members, and the broader community to the final round of competition. The finals will take place on Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Auditorium in the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center and promises to be an event to remember. In addition to watching students compete for cash prizes, attendees can enjoy food, libations and the chance to interact with a distinguished panel of judges, including University President Brian Sandoval, First Lady Lauralyn Sandoval, and Desert Research Institute President Kumud Acharya.
Please join the University community in cheering on the innovation, creativity and intellectual prowess of the finalists as they take the stage for the final competition. The event will be a true celebration of the brilliance and impact of graduate education. Eight master’s students will compete head-to-head followed by eight outstanding doctoral students. The top three winners in each category will take home prize money and bragging rights.
For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be live-streamed via Zoom. Please to receive the Zoom information.
Congratulations again to all the competitors, and best of luck to the finalists on April 10!
Master’s category finalists:
- Munachimso Emesobum
- P.H. Public Health
- “Medications for Methamphetamine Dependence”
- Staphenie Ezeonye
- S. Chemistry
- “Shape-Shifting Recyclable Polymers”
- Shipra Goswami
- S. Biotechnology
- “Trust Me! You Don't Want to Lose Your Pericytes”
- Elizabeth Morgan
- A. Teaching History
- “History for the Future: Imagining Environmental History in the Secondary Classroom”
- Ann Newman
- F.A Visual Art
- “Contemporary Art and the Family Refrigerator”
- Hannah Potts
- S. Geography
- “Drone-Based Bioacoustics Monitoring for Mohave Ground Squirrel”
- Faven Stoner
- A. Criminal Justice
- “Classrooms to Courtrooms: The Impact of School Quality and Location on the School to Prison Pipeline”
- Nura Tung
- S. Civil and Environmental Engineering
- “The Mob Hits Reno…’s Water Treatment Systems”
Doctoral category finalists:
- Ria Anand
- D. Cell and Molecular Biology
- “Slit: How One Protein Signal Connect Fat and Immunity”
- Monika Bharti
- D. Education, Literacy Studies
- “Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) Experiences Teaching Writing to K-8 Multilingual Learners of English (MLEs)”
- Joshua Chukwu
- D. Chemistry
- “The Wonders of Small Molecules: From Functionalized Cyclopentenone to Highly Valuable Material”
- Chalyss Evans
- D. Human Development and Family Science
- “I Can’t Be Another Other”: The Intersection of Racial Socialization, Sexuality, & Racial Identity Development”
- Nadini Haththotuwe Gamage
- D. Animal and Rangeland Sciences
- “MicroRNAs: The Biggest Little Molecule Affecting Your Health”
- Jerry Howard
- D. Chemical and Materials Engineering
- “3D Printing of Metallic Glasses for Extreme Environments”
- C McCombs
- D. History and Gender, Race, and Identity
- “The Biggest Little Queer Utopian Project: Stonewall Park and the Reno Queer Culture 1983-1987”
- Nicole Tomitz
- D. Speech Pathology
- “Reference Values for Swallowing Kinematics and Sip Volumes in Older Adults”
