3MT®

Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®)

The University of Texas at Tyler

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

The 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition was held on April 8, 2025. The Graduate School hosted another round of engaging research presentations, providing graduate students the opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience. This year, 25 participants rose to the challenge of delivering compelling spoken presentations in just 180 seconds, 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

Faculty Mentor Awards

Congratulations to the inaugural recipients of the Faculty Mentor Awards, recognized at the 2025 3MT® Competition! 

• Dr. Alwathiqbellah Ibrahim; College of Engineering
• Dr. Rob Carpenter; Soules College of Business

 

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.

Highlights from 3MT® 2025

Faculty Mentor Awards

The Graduate School is proud to introduce the Faculty Mentor Awards as part of the annual Research Month celebration and 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition. These awards recognize faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to mentoring graduate students and providing invaluable guidance both formally and informally. At the 3MT® 2025 Competition, we awarded the winners of the first edition of the Faculty Mentor Awards. 

Preparation Workshop Recording

On Monday, March 24, 2025, the Graduate School hosted a live preparation workshop to help participants get ready for the competition. Missed the session? No worries, you can still access the full recording! The session covers tips for crafting a compelling presentation, guidance on slide design, and key rules and judging criteria.  Watch the 3MT Prep Workshop here

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

Want to compete in 2026?

Sign up here to be notified when registration opens!