The Graduate School at the University of Nevada, Reno is delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 Three‑Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, one of the most anticipated events of the academic year.
The final round of the competition took place on April 9, 2026, bringing together exceptional graduate scholars who rose to the challenge of explaining their research in just three minutes using a single static slide. Representing a wide range of disciplines, competitors were tasked with transforming complex research into clear and compelling elevator speeches for a general audience.
Throughout the evening, finalists demonstrated poise, professionalism and deep knowledge of their scholarly work. The competition was fiercely competitive, the presentations polished and the breadth of research on display reflected the strength and diversity of graduate education being conducted at the institution.
The 3MT competition is an academic event challenging graduate students to communicate the significance of their research using one static slide in under three minutes. Presentations are designed to make complex ideas accessible to non‑specialist audiences, with strict rules prohibiting animations, props or additional media.
At the University of Nevada, Reno, the competition includes preliminary rounds followed by a final round for master’s and doctoral students. Winners in each category receive cash prizes, and top competitors in the past have gone on to earn regional and national recognition through the 3MT showcases hosted by the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS).
Please join in congratulating this year’s winners.
People’s Choice Award
Jeshurun Biney ($600) – presentation title: Smart Sensors for Lifesaving Brain Shunts
Master’s Category Winners
- Rosa Kirk‑Davidoff ($1,500) – presentation title: Using Shrubs as Allies in Post-Fire Tree Planting
- Kristina Priotto ($900) – presentation title: Bofedales as Natural Containment Buffers in Glacierized and Non-Glacierized Andean Headwaters
- Quinn Contaldi ($600) – presentation title: Human Centric Programming Language
Doctoral Category Winners
- Abdulwarith Kassim ($1,500) – presentation title: The Plastic with an Undo Button
- Madhusudan Manjunatha ($900) – presentation title: Targeting Insulin Signaling for Precision Pest Management
- Dan Li ($600) – presentation title: Boys Will Be Boys? The Gender Trading Difference
In addition to the award recipients, the Graduate School recognizes the outstanding finalists who advanced to the final round of the 2026 competition. These scholars exemplified excellence in research communication and contributed to a highly competitive event.
2026 3MT Finalists:
- Graham BeVier– presentation title: Lizard Throat Coloration: A Gamble of Sex and Death
- Ishika Bhattacharya– presentation title: Mirroring the New World: Colonial India and the Soviet Union (1920s -1940s)
- Joshua Chukwu– presentation title: No Foundation No Building: Cyclohexenone - An Invaluable Building Block
- Omotayo Fagbule – presentation title: Can One Simple Lesson Change a Child's Smile?
- Caleb Gesick – presentation title: Vandals and Berbers and Arabs, Oh My!
- Qizhou Luo– presentation title: Narrow Framing and Stock Market Investment: Evidence from a Laboratory Experiment
- Aastha Pudasainee– presentation title: Heavy Rain vs. High Heat: The Real Driver of Wastewater Violations in the United States
- Chathura Sumanasiri– presentation title: Steady Wings, Safer Skies
- Jay Villanueva– presentation title: (In)visibility: Trans communities online
The Graduate School congratulates all participants for showcasing their innovation, creativity and research that highlight graduate education at the University of Nevada, Reno.
In addition, thank you to the judges; without them, this would not be possible.
- Heather Brown – Regent, Nevada System of Higher Education
- Heather Goulding – Member, Nevada State Assembly
- Paul Hauptman – Dean, School of Medicine
- Matthew Hawn – Vice President, Graduate Student Alumni Chapter
- Jennifer McClendon – 2025/26 Faculty Senate Chair
- Demetris Paraskevopoulos – Founder, Managing Director Nif/T
- Tom Weller – Dean, College of Engineering
The graduate school gives thanks to Dr. Mitch Hitchcock, CEO of Biomea and founder of the University’s Hitchcock Center for Chemical Ecology, for his continued support of students in this competition.
