2025 SOM 3MT Competition

The 3MT is a world-wide academic competition that challenges PhD students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. 3MT celebrates discoveries made by research students and encourages their skill in communicating the importance of research to the broader community.

The School of Medicine hosted the 2025 edition of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition on March 28, at Alan Magee Scaife Hall.

And the 2025 winners are...

From left to right: Britt Chamberlain; Talia Adi; Dr. Saleem Khan, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Academic Affairs; Aidan Cole
Photo by Rayni Shiring - Office of Strategic Communications, Health Sciences

FIRST PRIZE - Talia Adi

Title "Immune cells on the brain: the meninges and migraine pain"

RUNNER-UP - Britt Chamberlain

Title "A pressing issue: how do we learn to avoid?"

RUNNER-UP - Aidan Cole

Title "Sick and Sneaky: The unexpected role of chemotherapy in cancer spread"

PEOPLE'S CHOICE - Britt Chamberlain

Congratulations to all the participants and to this year's winners!

Thanks to all students, staff, and faculty that attended and voted for the 2025 3MT People's Choice award.

Photo by Rayni Shiring - Office of Strategic Communications, Health Sciences

The SOM winner will go on to compete at the University-wide competition (April 7, 2025) sponsored by the Office of the Provost, University Library System and Center for Teaching & Learning, and this year, the University-wide winner will compete at a national competition!

The SOM winners will be awarded travel/research grants.

Thank you to the 2025 Judging Panel

Getting ready to compete!

Rules, criteria, awards

We are following the 3MT competition rules suggested by the University of Queensland, which founded the event.

Presentations are limited to 3 minutes and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
Presentations are to be spoken word (no poems, raps, or songs).
Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through speech.
A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement’) and is to be presented from the beginning of the oration.
No additional electronic media (e.g., sound and video files) are permitted.
No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
The decision of the adjudicating panel is final.

Prizes and Awards

First place prize: $1,000
Runners-up prize: $500
People's Choice prize: $1,000

The People's Choice prize will be determined by the votes of those attending the SOM 3MT Competition on March 28.

The ballots will be available on site - cheer and vote for your favorite presentation!

Judging Criteria

Competitors are assessed on the judging criteria listed below. Each criterion is equally weighted and has an emphasis on audience.

Comprehension and Content

Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
Was the thesis topic, research significance, results/impact, and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
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 and Communication

Was the oration delivered clearly, and was the language appropriate for a non-specialist audience?
Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation?
Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research and did they capture and maintained the audience’s attention?

The SOM Graduate Studies Office will be hosting a workshop to help you prepare and fine tune your communication skills.

With Erica Lloyd , Editor in Chief of Pitt Med Magazine - We will help you deconstruct your science pitch to make it accessible to non-specialists, analyze non-verbal communication, look at tips and tricks on how to engage your audience, and successfully communicate your science.

“Basics of Effective Communication to a General Audience” from Dr. John Radzilowicz, University Center for Teaching and Learning. This resource provides crucial tips on how to develop a winning 3MT presentation. Note that students must log in with Pitt credentials to view the recording.

To learn more about the competition history, rules, and to gain valuable preparation tips, visit the official 3MT website.

Questions?

nng15@pitt.edu

Check out the 2024 winners

University-wide winners

FIRST PLACE

Melaina Jacoby School of Public Health
"To Evade or Not to Evade: How Encephalitic Alphaviruses Engage the Immune System During Early Viral Infection"

RUNNER-UP Abdalla Wedn
"Small in size but big by function, How the transcription factor AP2B could be the hope for lobular breast cancer"

PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Hye Mi Kim "Orchestra of immune system to bring harmony in Cancer Patient"

Abdalla Wedn "Small in size but big by function, How the transcription factor AP2B could be the hope for lobular breast cancer"

Thank you to our judges for the 2024 edition of 3MT Dr. Michael Tsang, Dr. Asher Jones, and Dr. Smita Iyer

2025 SOM 3MT Competition