3MT®

 

Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®)

Can you present your 80,000-word thesis or dissertation in three minutes? 

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition will be held on April 1, 2026. This event will showcase engaging research presentations, providing graduate students the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience using easy-to-understand language. Watch the highlights from the 2025 3MT® live recording. 

Congratulations to our 2025 Winners!

First Place Winner

Elizabeth Croft
Program: Biology MS
Topic: Assessing Conservation Need of Native Texas Crayfish Species Through Distribution Analysis and Ecological Niche Modeling

Second Place Winner

Kirk Bradford
Program: DNP
Topic: Charting a Course to Safer Care: A Nurse Education and Fall Prevention Strategy

Third Place Winner

Andy Walker
Program: Biology MS
Topic: Environmental tolerances and habitat association of three critically imperiled crayfish species in Texas

Hear from Previous 3MT Participants!

Curious about the 3MT experience? Watch this video to see past participants share their journey.

Competition Guidelines, Awards, and Eligibility

• A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations, or ‘movement’ of any kind; the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
• No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
• No other props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are allowed.
• Presentations are limited to three minutes maximum, and competitors exceeding three minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations must be spoken word (i.e., no poems, raps, or songs).
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when presenters start their presentation through speech.
• The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

For full details, please review the Competitors Guide

Awards

Participants have the opportunity to win cash awards!

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $500
• Third Place: $250

Eligibility

Currently enrolled master's and doctoral students in all disciplines at the University of Texas at Tyler are eligible to participate in 3MT®. Work presented must have been conducted at the University of Texas at Tyler. Students should be in the final stages of graduate school, so they have some sound conclusions and impacts from their research. Students who have already graduated are not eligible.

Preparation Slide Deck 

This deck covers tips for crafting a compelling presentation, guidance on slide design, and key rules and judging criteria.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us.

Want to show off your research?

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