UMD Three-Minute Thesis Competition
The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition challenges students to communicate the significance of their research projects to a non-specialist audience in just THREE MINUTES! The University of Maryland Graduate School invites graduate students from all disciplines to compete in the annual 3MT Competition. The 2026 3MT Competition is underway.
The final round, in-person 3MT Competition is on April 15, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Stamp Student Union, in the Charles Carroll Room (second floor). Up to 20 3MT Finalists will compete.
The entire campus community is invited! Join us to cheer on your colleagues and enjoy some cookies and ice cream. Please let us know if you will attend in person or online by completing the form below.
| 2026 3MT Finalists |
|---|
| Flavia Batista da Silva, Government and Politics |
| M Pease, Counseling Psychology |
| Jessica Abramson, Psychology |
| Ciaran Stone, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science |
| Charlie Fisher, Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Nayeeb Rashid, Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Raziq Zaman, Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Michael Bonthron, Mechanical Engineering |
| Adira Colton, Mechanical Engineering |
| Sydney Overton, Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| TBA |
| TBA |
| TBA |
Benefits of participating in a 3MT Competition:
- Sharpen communication and presentation skills
- Gain better perspective about how your research fits into the larger picture
- Increase networking opportunities with students and faculty on campus
- Showcase your work to colleagues and prospective employers
- Earn recognition and prizes
Registration for the 2027 3MT Competition will be open in January 2027.
Important 2026 Dates for 3MT Participants
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 25 | Deadline to register for the 3MT Competition. |
| March 4 | If college level first-round is virtual, deadline to submit 3MT video and slide. |
| March 4-31 | College-level 3MT Competitions. College-level Finalists to be announced by March 31, 2026. |
| April 1-14 | College-level 3MT Finalists Prepare for the Final Round Competition. |
| April 15 | Final Round 3MT Presentations (in-person). RSVP to attend and support your colleagues. |
| April 17 | Winners and honorable mentions announced. |
3MT Award Winners of the 2025 Competition
Celia Chen – Information Studies
View 3MT Video
Kiersten Janjigian – Kinesiology/Cognitive Motor Neuroscience
View 3MT Video
Hongjin Lu – Plant Sciences
View 3MT Video
Tifanee McCaskill – TLPL/Urban Education
View 3MT Video
Smrithan Ravichandran – Chemical Physics
View 3MT Video
Emily Woerner – Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health
View 3MT Video