A speaker in a grey suit presents research in a lecture hall. Screens display scientific diagrams titled "Spiky molecular 'hats' for Alzheimer's Disease." A blue and yellow "Shaheen 3MT" banner stands nearby, and a digital timer reads 02:34.
Graduate students from the Colleges of Arts & Letters, Engineering, and Science; the Keough School of Global Affairs; and the Mendoza College of Business will take the stage February 9–12 for the preliminary rounds of the Shaheen Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition. In this fast-paced, lightning-talk format, competitors are challenged to distill years of research into a compelling three-minute presentation—using just one static slide—to make their work accessible to a non-specialist audience.
At the end of the preliminary rounds, three finalists from each competition will advance to the 3MT® Finals, where they will compete for cash prizes, including a People’s Choice Award voted on by the audience. The final competition will take place on February 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in Decio Theatre at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and is open to the public. A reception will follow.
3MT Preliminary Round Schedule
- February 9 – Arts & Letters | 5–7 p.m. | 104 Bond Hall
- February 10 – Engineering | 5–7 p.m. | 283 Galvin Life Science Center
- February 11 – Keough/Mendoza | 5–7 p.m. | 104 Bond Hall
- February 12 – Science | 5–7 p.m. | 104 Bond Hall
Originally developed by The University of Queensland in 2008, the Three-Minute Thesis competition was designed to strengthen students’ academic presentation and research communication skills. Now in its 10th year at University of Notre Dame, 3MT® continues to celebrate graduate research and the art of clear, impactful storytelling. To learn more about the 3MT®: https://graduateschool.nd.edu/graduate-training/research-communication/3mt/.