2023 2023: The Office of Undergraduate Research presents 2023 Three Minute Thesis competition

UMass Dartmouth undergraduate and graduate students competed in the 2023 Three Minute Thesis competition.

Thursday April 6 marked the finale of the 2023 Three Minute Thesis competition at UMass Dartmouth, presented by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Contestants shared their intellectual passion projects while competing for cash prizes. 

What is 3MT? 

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition was developed by The University of Queensland, Australia, as an academic communication competition that challenges students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to effectively explain their research to a non-expert audience in just three minutes. Competitors are allowed a single, static PowerPoint slide as a visual aid; no other electronic media or props are permitted. Presentations exceeding three minutes are automatically disqualified.  

Contestants are judged on comprehension and content as well as their ability to effectively engage their audience. This year’s 3MT offered cash prizes of up to $1,000 for the winners in the undergraduate and graduate categories.  

Student research tackles real-world problems 

The 2023 contestants included student researchers from many different disciplines: physics, computer science, bioengineering, Portuguese, art history, marketing, interior design, mechanical engineering, and marine science and technology. Their research addressed wide-ranging topics;, from queer representation in the arts to naval technology, and new ways of preventing, detecting, and treating diseases in humans.  

“The 3MT competition speaks not only to the breadth and the quality of the research done at UMassD by students and their mentors, but also the confidence and eloquence with which our students communicate about their work,” said Master of Ceremonies, Professor Robert Fisher. “My fellow faculty members and I are immensely proud of the accomplishments of all the students who presented.” 

2023 3MT winners 

Undergraduate

People’s Choice, Undergraduate: Jillian Wilson, Bioengineering. Advisor: Professor Quingo Fan. “Gelatin Microsponges for Drug Delivery Applications.” 

First Place, Undergraduate: Mckenzie Ferrari, Physics. Advisor: Professor Robert Fisher. “Burning Up: Developing a New Thermometer for Stars.” 

Second Place, Undergraduate: Mariana Hebert, Bioengineering. Advisor: Professor Tracie Ferreira. “The Effect of Microplastics on Zebrafish and Possible Risks for Human Development.” 

Third Place, Undergraduate: Jillian Wilson, Bioengineering. Advisor: Professor Quingo Fan. “Gelatin Microsponges for Drug Delivery Applications.” 

Graduate

People’s Choice, Graduate: Ramina Behzad, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. Advisor: Professor Lamya Karim. “Association of Physical Activity, Bone Fracture and Diabetes.”

First Place, Graduate: Ramina Behzad, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. Advisor: Professor Lamya Karim. “Association of Physical Activity, Bone Fracture and Diabetes.” 

Second Place, Graduate: Dipshika Das, Engineering and Applied Science. Advisor: Professor Sukalyan Sengupta. “Going Gentle on Spent Li-Ion Battery Recycling.” 

Third Place, Graduate: Sarah Dulac, Mechanical Engineering. Advisor: Professor Banafsheh Seyed-Aghazadeh. “Navy Seals and Harbor Seals: One and the Same, Guards of the Water.”