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 was on April 15, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Stamp Student Union, where 20 3MT Finalists presented their 3MT presentation to a live audience.
2026 3MT Graduate School Award Winners
- Jessica Abramson, Psychology
- Flávia Batista da Silva, Government and Politics
- Michael Bonthron, Mechanical Engineering
- Adira Colton, Mechanical Engineering
- Rayal Smith, Chemistry
- Ciaran Stone, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
2026 3MT Finalists
- Jessica Abramson, Psychology
- Flávia Batista da Silva, Government and Politics
- Michael Bonthron, Mechanical Engineering
- Adira Colton, Mechanical Engineering
- Hannah Daley, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
- Charlie Fisher, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Eeshita Ghosh, Bilogical Sciences
- Adriana Hammond, Architecture and Historic Preservation
- Elizabeth Huang, Geological, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
- Bridget Moran, Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education
- Sydney Overton, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- M Pease, Counseling Psychology
- Anshul Rana, Plant Science
- Nayeeb Rashid, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Jeet Shah, Physics
- Rayal Smith, Chemistry
- Ciaran Stone, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science
- Ruiting Wang, Plant Science
- Raziq Zaman, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Fathima-Zhulfaa Zhulficar, Chemistry
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. |