Nine doctoral students recently showcased their research in under three minutes during the championship round of Carnegie Mellon University’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. Benjamin Glaser, a doctoral student in Materials Science & Engineering, emerged victorious and shared his excitement about the challenge of distilling complex research into a concise presentation. Glaser’s research focuses on creating new aluminum alloys with high temperature strength and stability, and low cost and emissions.
Sampada Acharya, studying mechanical engineering, claimed second place and also received both the People’s Choice Award and the Alumni Choice Award. Acharya’s research centers on developing a device to collect pathogens from surfaces, aiming to make infectious places like hospitals safer to visit. She emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing such critical issues.
Nicole C. Auvil, a chemistry student, secured third place in the competition. Auvil highlighted the significance of incorporating artistic elements into science communication, stressing the impact of visuals in conveying complex scientific concepts. Her research involves improving the efficiency and accuracy of chemical analysis using a mass spectrometer, leading to the development of a new scientific device called the “Super Sniffer.”
The 3MT competition, which originated at the University of Queensland in 2008, has now been embraced by over 900 universities worldwide. Keith Webster, the Helen and Henry Posner, Jr. Dean of the University Libraries at Carnegie Mellon, brought the competition to the university and served as the host of the finals. The event continues to provide a platform for doctoral researchers to engage with a broader audience and showcase the significance of their work in a succinct and accessible manner.
