Three Minute Thesis 2023

Contestants in the College of Engineering shared their intellectual passion projects while competing for cash prizes.

Thursday April, 6, marked the fi nale of the 2023 Three Minute Thesis competition at UMass Dartmouth, presented by the Offi ce of Undergraduate Research. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition was developed by The University of Queensland, Australia, as an academic communication competition that challenges students at the undergraduate and graduate levels to effectively explain their research to a non-expert audience in just three minutes. Competitors are allowed a single, static PowerPoint slide as a visual aid; no other electronic media or props are permitted. Presentations exceeding three minutes are automatically disqualifi ed.

and graduate levels to effectively explain their research to a non-expert audience in just

Contestants are judged on comprehension and content as well as their ability to effectively engage their audience. This year’s 3MT offered cash prizes of up to $1,000 for the winners in the undergraduate and graduate categories.

2023 3MT winners: Undergraduate

People’s Choice, Undergraduate: Jillian Wilson, Bioengineering. Advisor: Professor Quingo Fan. “Gelatin Microsponges for Drug Delivery Applications.”

First Place

, Undergraduate: Mckenzie Ferrari, Physics. Advisor: Professor Robert Fisher. “Burning Up: Developing a New Thermometer for Stars.”

Second Place, Undergraduate: Mariana Hebert, Bioengineering. Advisor: Professor Tracie Ferreira. “The Effect of Microplastics on Zebrafish and Possible Risks for Human Development.”

, Undergraduate: Jillian Wilson, Bioengineering. Advisor: Professor Quingo Fan. “Gelatin Microsponges for Drug Delivery Applications.”

People’s Choice, Graduate: Ramina Behzad, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. Advisor: Professor Lamya Karim. “Association of Physical Activity, Bone Fracture and Diabetes.”

Third Place and Diabetes.”

First Place Lamya and Diabetes.”

, Graduate: Ramina Behzad, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. Advisor: Professor Lamya Karim. “Association of Physical Activity, Bone Fracture and Diabetes.”

Second Place, Graduate: Dipshika Das, Engineering and Applied Science. Advisor: Professor Sukalyan Sengupta. “Going Gentle on Spent Li-Ion Ba ery Recycling.”

Third Place, Graduate: Sarah Dulac, Mechanical Engineering. Advisor: Professor Banafsheh Seyed-Aghazadeh. “Navy Seals and Harbor Seals: One and the Same, Guards of the Water.”