An 80,000-word thesis would take 9 hours to present. Their time limit… 3 minutes!
The 3MT competition asks Doctoral candidates to present their research in just three minutes, in language appropriate to non-specialists, and with only one single presentation slide to support them. Can it be done? Scroll down and find out.
Doctoral candidates competed in faculty heats from February to May 2024 with the winner and runner-up from each Faculty Heat progressing to the UCL 3MT® Institutional Final, which took place on Wednesday 5 June as part of the Doctoral School Showcase Day.
Eight finalists were judged by Elizabeth Halton, Director of the Doctoral School, Yasmin Garcia- Sterling, Lecturer at The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction , Imogen Swift, Winner of the UCL Three Minute Thesis 2023 competition , and Issy Smith, Students’ Union UCL Postgraduate Officer.
The 2024 finalists were:
| Name | faculty |
|---|---|
| Ashly Fuller | Engineering Sciences |
| Ferdinando Sereno | Engineering Sciences |
| Brittany Cucchiaro | Medical Sciences |
| Rhyla Mae Santiago | Medical Sciences |
| Stephanie Caixeiro | Population Health Sciences |
| Eva Lymberopoulos | Population Health Sciences |
| Katharina Webhofer | Life Sciences |
| Nicola Nguyen | Life Sciences |
And the winner is...
Ferdinando Sereno (Engineering Sciences), "Development and production of a stable encapsulin-based mRNA vaccine" - congratulations. Watch Ferdinando Sereno's winning presentation below.
Runner Up was Stephanie Caixeiro, and People's Choice was Rhyla-Mae Santiago.
Have a look at the previous winners...
2022/23
Imogen Swift (Brian Sciences), "Blood: a gateway to dementia treatments" - congratulations.
2021/22
Maria Caluianu (Population Health Sciences), "Getting a Molecular Train Back on its Tracks" - congratulations.
2020/21
On 17 June 2021, 11 incredible finalists competed. The event's winner was Lydia Mapstone, the runner-up was Emma Mitchell and Suviti Chari took home the People's Choice Award.
We streamed the event on our Facebook page and a recording is available here if you missed the live one!
2019/20
Our first remote 3MT final due to the Coronavirus Pandemic saw Nekisa Zakeri with The New Cells on the Block: removing the brakes for liver cancer therapy win.
2017/18
On 25 June 2018, 9 students competed. The winner of the event was Elizabeth Forsyth, the runner-up was Ione Woollacott and Sarah Slack took home the People’s Choice award.
2016/17
On 26 June 2017, 13 students competed. The winner of the event was Alexandra Bridarolli with Carlos Ledezma taking home the People’s Choice award.
2015/16
On the Final on 26 June 2016, 16 students competed. The winner of the event was Jonathan Lambert, with Fatumina Abukar taking home the People’s Choice award.
Jonathan was entered into the national UK Three Minute Thesis semi-final and progressed to the national final.
2014/15
On 30 June 2015, 11 students competed. The winner of the event was Jonathan Hannabuss, with Sabina Andron coming second.
Jonathan was entered into the national UK Three Minute Thesis semi-final and progressed to the national final.