3MT - Three Minute Thesis

Q: What does a Three Minute Thesis competition involve?  

A: In a 3MT event, students from a wide range of disciplines describe their thesis research and key results in three minutes using only a single, static PowerPoint slide. The presentation must be understandable to a general university audience- not just to specialists in the student’s area of research. It’s an exciting and fast-paced event!  

3MT presentations are competitive. The presentations are evaluated by a panel of judges, and cash prizes will be awarded. After the event, these awards will be credited to the students' accounts. Presentations from all academic areas are judged together. This reinforces the objective that the presentations must communicate effectively to a general audience. 

Q: Who is eligible to participate? 

A: All active doctoral students and thesis master’s students. Those who have successfully defended are not eligible to move onto the regional competition but may participate at the UMSL University level. 

The presentation must describe the student’s own research and key results (no literature reviews). Non-thesis master’s students are not eligible.  

If you are not eligible or not wanting to participate in the competition, we encourage you to attend to support your peers! Audience members will also have the opportunity to live-vote for the “People’s Choice” award.  

Q: How do I know if my discipline is appropriate?  

A: It’s not all about biological sciences, chemistry, and psychology! 3MT winners from all over the world include graduate students in communications, languages, business, education, criminology and criminal justice, and English.  

If you have any questions about your eligibility to compete, please contact us at gradevents@umsl.edu! 

Q: Why should I participate in 3MT? 

A: 3MT provides a great opportunity to practice presenting a summarized version of your thesis. You can practice identifying the key points of your thesis and receive feedback from the panel of judges. Furthermore, the top presentations will earn cash prizes, and first place will earn the opportunity to move onto the regional competition with the Graduate School covering transportation and hotel expenses. 

Q: What are the rules? 

A: The official 3MT organization is housed at the University of Queensland. The following rules are based on their guidelines, with a few local modifications: 

• The student is allowed a single, static PowerPoint slide. No transitions, movements, animations, etc. 

• Presentation must be in English. 

• No sound or video files are allowed. 

• No additional props. No costumes, musical instruments, lab equipment, posters, etc. 

• Presentations must be spoken word. No poems, raps, dancing, miming, or singing. 

• Presentations are strictly limited to exactly three minutes. We will have a timer visible to the presenter, and anyone who runs over three minutes is disqualified. 

• The decision of the judging panel is final. The audience will also have the ability to live-vote for the "People's Choice" award. 

Q: What is the time limit for the presentation? 

A: Presentations are strictly limited to exactly three minutes. We will have a timer visible to the presenter, and anyone who runs over three minutes is disqualified. Practice is key to making the best use of your time.  

Q: What are the judges looking for? 

A: See our “Judging Criteria” tab for specific criteria.  

Q: Are there any resources to assist participants in preparing slides and presentations? 

A: Yes! We encourage participants to watch presentations of 3MT winners from around the world and explore the competitor guide for tips on creating your slide and preparing for your presentation.  

Q: What are some tips and tricks for preparing the best slide and presentation?

A: From a former judge:  

1. Make sure your slide content is large enough to be seen in the back of a large room.  
2. Use colors and textures to convey different elements, but make sure those colors are high contrast and show well. 
3. Be confident and enthusiastic: You know your work better than anyone.  
4. Remember that most of your audience are not experts in your discipline. 
5. Practice practice practice, preferably with folks unfamiliar with your area. 3 minutes goes by fast. Write a script. Does it meet the judging criteria? 

Q: How do I register to participate? 

A: Complete the registration form, including your slide, to participate in the competition.  If you are having problems submitting your slide, please email it directly to gradevents@umsl.edu. All materials must be received by midnight on Monday, February 9th, 2026. 

Q: What are the prizes? 

A: The first three places get cash prizes awarded through UMSL student accounts.  

1st Place: $350 

2nd Place: $200 

3rd Place: $100 

First place winner also has the opportunity to compete in the 2026 MAGS 3MT® Three Minute Thesis Competition. Competition will take place March 27th, 2026 at the Marriott at Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, MO. The Graduate School will cover transportation and hotel expenses.  

The audience will also have the ability to live-vote for the “People’s Choice” award. It is possible to win both the People's Choice award and place. 

Q: What is the deadline? 

A: The deadline to register and submit your slide is February 9th, 2026.  

Judging

The grad school will arrange for judging panels to be drawn from all disciplines. We may also include a few non-academic judges from off campus. Depending on how many students participate, we will divide the presentations into heats. The top 2-3 presentations from each heat will then move on to a finals round.

The judging criteria recommended by the 3MT organization are shown below.

Comprehension & content

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background to the research question being addressed and its significance?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the key results of the research, including conclusions?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the thesis topic, key results, and research significance and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the speaker avoid scientific jargon, explain terminology, and provide adequate background information to illustrate points?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation, or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect, or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement & communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience’s attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation – was it clear, legible, and concise?

Registration is now open for the Spring 2026 Event

Before registering please review the FAQ page!

Registration Form

If you have any clarifying questions / troubles with registering please contact UMSL Graduate School at graduate@umsl.edu or 314-516-5900.

February 2025

1st Place: Ellie Lyne, Criminology and Criminal Justice, PhD
Dual Decision-Making: Gender Disparities in Civil Protection Order Cases

2nd Place: George Todd, Biology, PhD
Tarsi Gustation in Dipteran Flies

3rd Place & People's Choice: Kristen Rosamond, Biology, PhD
Seeing the Invisible: The Hidden World of Microbes that Influence Bird Health

February 2024

1st Place and People's Choice: Ellie Lyne, Criminology and Criminal Justice, PhD
On the (Zoom) Record: The Role of Video-Conferencing in Detention Hearing Proceedings

2nd Place: George Todd, Biology, PhD
Pollinator Behavior at urban Orchards in St. Louis

3rd Place: Danish Gul, Biology, PhD
Microbial Hunger Games: Is Coexistence a Key to Surviving Competition?

February 2023

1st Place: Jeremy Howard, Biology PhD

2nd Place: Palak Sondhi, Chemistry, PhD

3rd Place: Timothy Kauer, Criminology and Criminal Justice, PhD

People's Choice: Ketra Oketcho, Biology PhD

November 2018

1st Place: Natalia Kecala, Psychology
Effects of Peritraumatic Coping on Physiological Responding to Trauma Cues

2nd Place: Robert Graziano, Psychology
You Can't Sit with me: How Bullying Affects the Brain

3rd Place & People's Choice: Nyasha Makoni, Chemistry
Elucidating the Oligomerization State and Function of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Complex

November 2017

1st place - Vanessica Jawahir, Biology PhD
Identifying Indole-3-butyric Acid Response Genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

2nd Place - Emma Young, Biology PhD
Malaria Parasites in Tropical Forest Birds: Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together?

3rd Place and People's Choice - Matteo Panza, Chemistry PhD
Development of the HPLC-based Automated Oligosaccharide Synthesizer

November 3MT winners - from left to right
Emma Young, Matteo Panza, Vanessica Jawahir

November 2016

1st place - Sydney Harris, Psychology MA
Heart Rate Reactivity and Locus of Control Predict PTSD Symptoms

2nd Place - Stephan Germann, Chemistry PhD
Synthesis and Characterization of Luminescent 2,7 and 3,6-Disubstituted Silfluorines

3rd Place - Michael Deckard, Criminology & Criminal Justice PhD
The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Crime in St. Louis, MO from 2010-2014

People's Choice - Kruti Surti, Psychology PhD
Do you Think you can Control Love?

November 3MT participants - from left to right
Back Row: Reigna El-Yashruti, Mari Jaramillo, Kruti Surti, Ibitsam Al Badri
Front Row: Mike Deckard, Anthony Fischer, Stephan Germann, Sydney Harris, Rebecca Meza

April 2016

1st place - Omar Cabrera, Psychology PhD
Caffeinated and Sedated:Nerotoxic Implication for Preterm Babies

2nd Place - Joseph Meisel, Chemistry and Biochemistry PhD
Chemical Methods for Gene Therapy

3rd Place - Michelle Sanchez, Psychology MA
Love Regulation During Heartbreak