Research and Innovation

Miami University’s 2026 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition winners

Graduate student researchers participated in the annual research communication competition Oct. 8

by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published 10/12/26

Research and Innovation

Miami University’s 2026 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition winners

Graduate student researchers participated in the annual research communication competition Oct. 8

by Susan Meikle, University Communications and Marketing • Published 10/12/26

Seventeen graduate students competed in the Miami University Graduate School Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition held Oct. 8.

The 3MT research communication competition, 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.

Left to right: Faith Dalton, Ruth Obianuju Ndupu, and Neda Malekikhas (photo courtesy of Meggan Davison)

Winners

First place ($1,200 prize)

Ruth Obianuju Ndupu, a third-year year doctoral student in Chemistry with faculty adviser John Alumasa, assistant professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, for her presentation “Giving a Last-Resort Antibiotic a Second Chance.” Ndupu’s research focuses on understanding and combating resistance to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic. She will compete at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools in Minneapolis in March for the regional 3MT competition.

Ndupu also won the People’s Choice award.

Tied for Second Place ($900 prize)

Faith Dalton,a third-year Master of Architecture student with Geographical Information Sciences certification, with faculty adviser Jeff Kruth, associate professor of Architecture, for her presentation “Anchors of Hope: The Role of Abandoned School Infrastructure in Rural Revitalization.”

Neda Malekikhas, a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Biology, with faculty adviser Haifei Shi, professor of Biology, for her presentation “Can GLP-1 and Female Hormone Signaling Team Up Against Colorectal Cancer?”

The Miami University 3MT competition is sponsored in memory of Gerald Sanders, chair of the Department of Communications from 1981-1992. Donors include Dr. Guorong Jiang and Hongyan Tang.