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 first round will be a video competition and occurs during the month of March 2026.
The final round will be in-person, and is scheduled on April 15, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Stamp Student Union, in the Charles Carroll Room (second floor).
Participation in the 3MT competition provides students with:
- Experience in presentation skills and public speaking
- Better perspective about how their research fits into the larger picture
- An opportunity to showcase their work to colleagues and prospective employers
- Networking opportunities with students and faculty on campus
- Recognition and prizes
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 winners to be announced by March 31, 2026. |
| April 1-14 | Semi-finalists prepare for 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