March 14, 2025 – New Brunswick, NJ – The 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Final Round at Rutgers University School of Graduate Studies (SGS) brought together eight doctoral finalists for an engaging competition that challenged them to present their research in just three minutes. The event in the Teleconference Lecture Hall at Alexander Library provided a platform for students to develop their public speaking skills and communicate their work to a broad audience.
The 3MT competition, originally developed by the University of Queensland in 2008, has become a hallmark event at Rutgers School of Graduate Studies, highlighting the research excellence of graduate students while emphasizing the importance of effective science communication. The finalists, selected from two preliminary rounds in February, represented a diverse range of disciplines.
Finalists and Competition Highlights
The 2025 3MT finalists were:
- Christine Kim (Toxicology)
- Andrew Schwartz (Anthropology)
- Harshitha Govindaraju (Electrical & Computer Engineering)
- Nora Jaber (Biochemistry)
- Rouba Houbeika (Biomedical Sciences)
- Vrinda Jain (Biomedical Engineering)
- Gustavo Rios Delgado (Microbiology & Molecular Genetics)
- Bhavesh Narala (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering)
Each competitor presented their research using a single static slide, with no props or additional media, demonstrating their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.
The judging panel included faculty and communication experts from across Rutgers:
- Dr. Dan Battey – Professor of Education
- Dr. Sara Campbell – Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Health
- Megan Castro – Senior Public Relations Specialist, Rutgers Communications & Marketing
- Dr. Juan Comesana – Professor and Graduate Program Director of Philosophy
- Dr. Marija Dalbello – Professor of Library and Information Science
- Dr. Mike Smart – Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director of Planning and Public Policy
Winners Announced
After an afternoon of impressive presentations, the top three presenters were recognized with awards:
First Place: Christine Kim (Toxicology) – $500 prize
Runner-Up: Rouba Houbeika (Biomedical Sciences) – $250 prize
Audience Choice: Bhavesh Narala (Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering) – $250 prize
Dr. Hae Chang Gea, Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Graduate Studies, presented the winners with their awards
A Celebration of Research and Communication
The event concluded with a reception, where finalists, faculty, and attendees gathered to celebrate the participants’ achievements. The competition showcased the breadth of doctoral research at Rutgers and reinforced the importance of research communication skills for academic and professional success.
The Three Minute Thesis competition continues to serve as an opportunity for graduate students to refine their ability to share their research effectively.
For more information on 3MT at Rutgers, visit the School of Graduate Studies website or contact Dr. Erica Reed at erica.reed@rutgers.edu. We extend our gratitude to all participants, audience members, and the judging panel, as well as to Dr. Reed for organizing this year’s 3MT and the SGS staff for their contributions.