The Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) is a research communication competition developed by The University of Queensland, Australia. The exercise develops academic, presentation, and research communication skills and supports the development of students' capacities to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to an intelligent but non-specialist audience.
Doctoral students have three minutes to present a compelling oration on their dissertation topic and its significance. 3MT™ encourages students to consolidate their ideas and crystalize their research discoveries.
Congratulate the 2023 3MT Winners!
1st Place: Hyosoon Yim
Sport Management
Promoting Sport Participation among Older Adults: Application of the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
2nd Place: Tania Sultana
Biomedical Sciences
ZIKV NS3 Drives Assembly of a Viroplasm-Like Structure (VLS)
People's Choice: John Akintola
Chemistry and Biochemistry
Functional Polyelectrolyte Complexes
2023 3MT Competition Finalists!
Cui Jing
Art Education
Art May Facilitate Community Building to Alleviate Chinese International Students' Alienation
Hemant Goswami
Molecular Biophysics
Development of an Ultrasensitive and Rapid Virus Detection Method Based on CRISPR-Cas Enzyme
Click here to read the FSU News Article
Click here to see the 2023 3MT Competition Gallery
Your graduate research. 3 minutes. 1 slide.
Skills development for research candidates
Participating in 3MT develops academic, presentation and research communication skills, while developing research candidates’ ability to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.
Building external relations for the university
3MT winners go on to represent FSU at regional and national competitions which provides an excellent networking and professional development opportunity.
Currently enrolled doctoral students at Florida State University are eligible to participate in the 3MT™. 3MT® presentations must represent the primary research the student has conducted in their graduate program.
Master's students are not eligible.
- 1st Place - $1,000
- 2nd Place - $750
- 3rd Place - $500
- People's Choice (selected by the audience): $250
At every level of the competition each competitor will be assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.
Comprehension and content
- Presentation provided clear 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
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description), and the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration and remain in view for the duration of the oration.
- No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum, and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
- The decision of the judging panel is final.
- Click here to view the Three Minute Thesis Virtual Competition Handbook.
3MT Recording/Editing Links
- OpenShot Editing Video
- Kapwing Website
- 3MT Workshop Recording of Kapwing Editor: this video is a demonstration of the software
- Kapwing Tutorial
- FSU Canvas Support Center Tutorial: Best Practices for Student Video Production (iMovie and Movie Maker)
- Vimeo Website
Past 3MT™ Competitions
Fall 2023 3MT™
Doctoral student in Sport Management, Hyosoon Yim took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000.
Read more.
Fall 2022 3MT™
Doctoral student in Science Education, Dionne Wilson took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000.
Read more.
Fall 2021 3MT™
Doctoral student in Art Education, Chris Omni took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000.
Read more.
Fall 2020 3MT™
Mark Duslak (Educational Leadership & Policy Studies) and Matthew Martenson (Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences) finished first this year.
Read more.
Fall 2019 3MT™
Judges selected Alyssa Henderson (Physics)and Sara Jones (Biomedical Sciences) as this year’s first-place winners.
Read more.
Fall 2018 3MT™
Doctoral student in biological science, Eve Humphrey took first place at this year's 3MT competition and won $1,000.
Read more.
Fall 2017 3MT™
For the first time, a student from the College of Education, Shannon Gooden (Teacher Education), won the $1,000 prize.
Read more.
Fall 2016 3MT™
Madhuparna Roy(Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering)won first place in this year's competition.
Read more.
Fall 2015 3MT™
Aniket Ingrole (Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering) won first place in the 3MT™ competition.
Read more.
Fall 2014 3MT™
Kimberly Smith (Neuroscience) won first place in this year's 3MT™ competition.
Read more.