The Three Minute Thesis Competition, or 3MT®, first held at The University of Queensland in 2008, is an academic competition that challenges graduate students to present a compelling oration on their thesis/dissertation topic and its significance to a non-expert audience in just three minutes using a single, static slide.
2026 3MT Awardees
1st place and People's Choice - Vidya Nadar, PhD candidate in Chemistry
2nd place - MaRyka Smith, PhD candidate in Pathobiology
2026 Finalists
Sadaf Azhar, PhD student in Food Science The Battle for Better Bread: Can Your Bread Handle the Protein Punch?
Nik Carpenter, PhD student in Health and Human Sciences - Kinesiology Harnessing The Power of The Pepper
Rachael Cox, PhD candidate in Curriculum and Instruction Strengths, Resources, and Needs of Secondary Language Arts Teachers for Literacy Instruction
MaRyka Smith, PhD candidate in Pathobiology Traceability 'til The Cows Come Home
Kelechi Igwe, PhD student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Beyond the Visible: An Early Warning System for Detecting Water Stress in Maize
Sarah Fenn, MS student in Kinesiology Small Talk, Big Impact: How Doctor's Advice Can Improve Women's Heart Health During Menopause
Olusola Olagunju-Yusuf, PhD candidate in Grain Science Teaching Computers To See Wheat: An Optimized Model For Automated Winter Wheat Assessment
Adji Zamtato Gane-Bang, MS student in Agricultural Economics Alternative Enterprise Opportunities for Western Kansas: The Case of Sesame
Vidya Nadar, PhD candidate in Chemistry From Rare Molecules to Real Medicines
Audrey Matheny, PhD candidate in Pathobiology Evaluation Of Cross-Protective Immunity of West Nile Vaccines Against Japanese Encephalitis Virus In Swine
Asmita Mahara, PhD student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering Nature’s Cleanup Crew For Industrial Wastewater Treatment
Adam Hedelund, PhD student in Health and Human Sciences - Couple and Family Therapy Grieving Across the World: International Student Loss
Elif Peker, MS student in Food Science Improving Sorghum Byproducts For Use In Biodegradable Food Packaging Films
Support for K-State's 3MT® competition is provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research and K-State's Chapter of Sigma Xi. If you would like to support the 3MT® or other Graduate School initatives, please visit our giving page.
Click on presentation titles to view videos of winning presentations.
Must be enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at Kansas State University in the Spring 2026 semester.
A student’s program of study must contain an original research project. The degree program need not formally require a thesis or dissertation. However, the 3MT® presentation topic must cover the original research project that is being conducted as part of the student's K-State graduate degree program.
The presentation must address research the participant conducted during their graduate career at K-State (not undergraduate research or graduate research conducted at another institution).
Students are not required to have reached a particular point in their research, but those who are further along in their research activity are likely to be more competitive.
Graduate students must receive approval from their major professor prior to registering for the competition.
The 3MT is an in-person competition. Participants must be available to give a presentation on the K-State Manhattan campus.
The first place winners from previous competitions are not eligible to compete this year; other award recipients from previous competitions are eligible to participate in this year's competition.
Present a compelling oration of your original research topic and its significance using language appropriate for a non-specialist audience
Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps or songs)
Time limit: 3 minutes. Competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified
Prepare a single, static PowerPoint slide that represents the purpose and importance of your original research; no slide transitions, animations, or 'movement' of any type are allowed; the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration
Props, sounds, and other materials may NOT be included in the presentation
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
Being successful in the 3MT involves much more than summarizing your research in three minutes. You need to be able to connect with your audience: explain your work in a way non-experts can understand and in a way that makes them interested in hearing what you have to say. Explore tips for success
Presentations will be evaluated on the following criteria:
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.
Contact
Questions about the Kansas State University Graduate School’s 3MT® competition may be directed to Dr. Megan Miller, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Success, mmmiller@ksu.edu or 785-532-6191.
