Ten finalists competed in the Miami University Graduate School Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition held Feb. 26.

Finalists were selected from among 13 graduate students who participated earlier this semester in the research communication competition.

The 3MT, held at more than 900 universities worldwide, challenges participants to present their research in just 180 seconds in an engaging form that can be understood by an intelligent audience with no background in the research area. 

Winners

First place ($1,200 prize): Kathryn Aldstadt, second-year doctoral student in Psychology, with advisor Allen McConnell, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology, for “Effects of Anthropomorphism on Pro-Environmental Behavior: The Interplay of Perceived Warmth and Competence.” Aldstadt received her BA from Butler University in 2022. She will compete in the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) Three Minute Thesis competition in St. Louis, Missouri, April 5. 

Second place ($950 prize): Jessica Flower ‘23, MS ‘24, master’s student in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, with advisor J. Andrew Jones, associate professor of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, for “Psychedelics Without the Trip.” Flower, who is completing her combined BS/MS in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, was a 2022-2023 Miami University Provost’s Student Academic Achievement Award recipient. 

Third place ($600 prize):  Autumn Otto, master’s student in Biology with advisor Tereza Jezkova, associate professor of Biology, for “Whose Leg is it Anyway?” Otto studies the phylogenetic relationships of grasshoppers in the subfamily Oedipodinae. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of Cincinnati in 2021. 

People's Choice ($500 prize): Tochukwu Nwoko, Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry with advisor Dominik Konkolewicz, John W. Steube professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for “Evolving Polymer Compositions; Disarming the ‘Monster.’” Nwoko studies polymer and photo-responsive materials. She received her B. Tech in 2016 from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, where she interned at University of Ibadan and was involved in green synthesis of nanoparticles and worked on speciation of heavy metals in dumpsite soil samples. 

Judges for the 3MT Final Round

Janelle Allen, visiting assistant professor of Biological Sciences  

Jim Clark, 1961 Miami alumnus

Claire McLeod, associate professor of Geology and Environmental Earth Science

Penny Mannix, emerita assistant to the dean of the Graduate School and manager of Graduate Student Services

Simran Kaur, Miami University Ph.D. in Student Affairs in Higher Education, 2022

Saruna Ghimire, associate professor of Sociology and Gerontology 

Miami's 3MT competition is sponsored by the Graduate School and in memory of Gerald Sanders, professor emeritus of Communications and chair of the department of Communications, 1981-1992.