Fall 2025 3 Minute Thesis Completion

College-level winners from across campus came together to compete at the university-wide 3MT event held in the fall of 2025. The 3MT competition challenges graduate students to deliver a clear, compelling three-minute presentation of their research—using a single static slide and no jargon—to a broad audience. The goal is to sharpen professional skills like public speaking, enhance career readiness, and foster interdisciplinary understanding and connections among students, faculty, and future employers. 

 

At the university level, eleven doctoral students (each having won their college-level competition) presented on a diverse range of research topics. The judging panel—composed of faculty and campus leaders—evaluated presenters on clarity, engagement, and the accessibility of their work to non-specialists. 

 

We are pleased to announce that this year’s winner is Nicki Nimlos, a Ph.D. student in Rangeland Ecology & Watershed Management in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences & Natural Resources. Her presentation, titled “Are Ranchers Willing to Join the Carbon Market?”, explored how ranchers might be incentivized to sequester greenhouse gases from the atmosphere through improved land-management practices. Nicki’s clear, compelling talk set her apart from the field and earned her the top honor. Second place went to Preetika Kaur (Civil Engineering), and third place was awarded to Cesar Gerardo Freyre Pinto (Civil Engineering). Additionally, a People’s Choice Award was given to Alirza Orujov (Chemical & Biomedical Engineering). 

 

We congratulate all participants for their outstanding efforts. The 3MT competition is more than a contest—it’s a platform for our graduate scholars to communicate the value and impact of their research to a broad audience, strengthen their presentation and storytelling skills, and build visibility both on campus and beyond. Participants leave with stronger professional and communication capabilities, and stronger networks across disciplines. 

 

Interested in competing? Keep an eye out as we prepare for college-level competitions during the Spring 2026 semester.