Zehui Han presents the winning talk on her research, Giving Catheters an Immune System, in the 2026 3MT competition. In the background is an illustration of her work on catheter biofilm defense mechanisms. (Photo by Tracy Balduzzi)
Fast Facts: Graduate Students Get 3 Minutes to Present Their Research
Ten graduate students competed in the finals of this year’s (3MT) competition held recently at Bird Library. The annual event, sponsored by the , challenges participants to share highlights of their research and scholarship in succinct, engaging presentations lasting no longer than three minutes.
Three participants received recognition:
- Zehui Han, a doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering in the (ECS), won the competition with her presentation, . She received a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 chip and a one-year gold membership in a professional organization of her choice (the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation).
- Terese Millet Joseph, a doctoral candidate in human development and family science in the (A&S) earned the People’s Choice award for . Her prize was a set of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.
- Allie Thompson, a doctoral candidate in Earth and environmental sciences (A&S) earned an honorable mention for Using Hydrogen Isotopes in Leaf Waxes to Understand Ancient Rainfall.
Han’s winning project involves engineering smart urinary catheters that mimic nature’s immune defense system by using magnetically driven artificial cilia—microscopic, hair-like structures on cells—to physically sweep away bacteria and prevent life-threatening infections.
She says winning the competition “was both exciting and meaningful because it recognized not only the quality of the research but also the importance of communicating complex ideas clearly. Preparing for the competition showed me that presenting research in a way that connects with a broad audience is just as important as the work done at the bench.”
“Judging the Three-Minute Thesis competition is always exciting,” says Daniel Olson-Bang, director of professional and career development in the Graduate School. “I am continually fascinated by both the breadth of research our graduate scholars have underway and the quality of their presentations. This year, both aspects were particularly impressive.”
Glenn Wright, executive director of professional and career development in the Graduate School, says this is the school’s 12th year hosting the competition. “Participation and interest in the 3MT event continue to grow, and it is great to see that graduate students appreciate the professional development opportunity it represents. It also offers an excellent chance for them to showcase their research and skills.”
The other 3MT finalists (all doctoral candidates) are:
- Ava Breitbeck ’22, college science teaching, A&S: Science for the Greater Good
- Fasika Melese ’18, instructional design, development and evaluation, (SOE): What Happens When Future Educators Use GenAI Tools to Plan Lessons?
- Jacob Reese ’25, English, A&S: Sustainable Play: Encouraging Ecological Behaviors Through Slow Video Game Mechanics
- Ilaria Siriner G’25, cognitive psychology, A&S: How the Options Available Change What We Decide Is Right
- Mehrnoosh Nemati, biomedical engineering, ECS: A Window into the Placenta
- Hemalathaa Kasiviswanath Yuvaraja, instructional design, development and evaluation, SOE: Proof-of-Concept Augmented Reality iPad Application for Psychomotor Skill Learning: A Convergent Mixed Method Using Think-Aloud Protocols
- Nasim Khatibi, biology, A&S: New Targets, New Hope: Rethinking Rett Syndrome
Competition judges were of the ; , assistant professor of biomedical and chemical engineering in ECS; and Olson-Bang. Wright moderated the event.
was first developed at the University of Queensland in Australia and is now held at colleges and universities around the world.
