Three Minute Thesis

Know before you go: Three Minute Thesis final competition, Jan. 29

Cay Leytham-Powell — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:10:38 +0000

Know before you go: Three Minute Thesis final competition, Jan. 29 Cay Leytham-Powell Fri, 01/23/2026 - 14:10

This annual event, which showcases graduate student’s ability to distill their nine-hour thesis down to three minutes, comes back Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

That’s the question that 11 graduate students will be wrestling with as part of the Graduate School’s ninth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) final competition, which will be held in the University Memorial Center’s Glenn Miller Ballroom on Jan. 29, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m.

This event challenges students to explain their thesis to the general public. They are then evaluated by a panel of judges from across the university and ��ý�� community. Winners of the event will be announced at the end of the program and the audience will have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice award.

While the event is free and open to the public, space is limited and registration is required for in-person attendance. The event will also be live-streamed.

If you go

Date: Jan. 29, 2026

Time: 4 to 6 p.m.

Location: University Memorial Center’s Glenn Miller Ballroom

This year’s competitors include:

Muhammad Ali, journalism, "AI Anchors, Real Concerns: Journalism at Crossroads"
Yorick Andeweg, physics, "From Pendulums to Atoms: How to Keep Clocks Ticking Without Disturbing Them"
Mackenzie Bowden, environmental engineering, "Detecting Hidden Hazards in Our Water"
James Cannon, aerospace engineering, "Measuring Electron Puddles in our Atmosphere"
Rosanna Garris, biochemistry, "How Cyanobacteria Solve the Carboxysome Puzzle"
Loraine Glidewell, teacher learning, research & practice, "From Fish Guts to Fireflies: Finding the Magic of Rural Education in Pre-Service Teacher Learning"
Ben Hammel, materials science and engineering, "Looking at Nanocrystals"
Laurie Lawson, information science, "'That’s Not How I Remember it' We’re Lost in Translation"
Krithik Ranjan, creative technology and design, "Lights, Camera, Interaction! Designing for Creative Computational Thinking"
Phani Arvind Vadali, civil, environmental and architectural engineering, "The Challenge of Electrification: Light Through SABER"
Shreya Venkatesh, mechanical engineering, “Breast Cancer in Bone: A Vicious Cycle of Destruction”

The 3MT competition began in 2008 when the state of Queensland, Australia, suffered from a severe drought. To conserve water, residents were encouraged to time their showers, and many people had a three-minute egg timer fixed to the wall in their bathroom. The then-Dean of the University of Queensland Graduate School, Emeritus Professor Alan Lawson, challenged graduate students to present their research in the same amount of time, launching what would become a global academic tradition.

At CU ��ý��, 3MT competitors are tasked with delivering a compelling, jargon-free explanation of their thesis in just three minutes using a single static slide.

To prepare, students participated in a series of fall-semester workshops focused on storytelling, writing, presentation skills, and improv comedy techniques. They then competed in a preliminary round, from which eleven finalists were selected to advance to the final competition. At the finals, participants will be evaluated by a panel of judges on comprehension, content, engagement, and communication.

This year's judges include Lori Bergen, dean of the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information; Sammy Ramsey or "Dr. Sammy," an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a science communicator who is an international 3MT winner; Leopold Beuken, an assistant teaching professor in robotics and a former CU ��ý�� 3MT finalist; and Aaron Brockett, City of ��ý�� mayor. Bud Coleman, professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, will be the event’s emcee.

The first-place winner of the competition will receive $1,500 in prize money and will have the chance to compete at the state and regional competitions as the ��ý��’s representative. The runner-up and the People’s Choice winner, voted on by the live audience, will also receive prize money.

More information about the competition is available on the Graduate School's 3MT web page.

This annual event, which showcases graduate student’s ability to distill their nine-hour thesis down to three minutes, comes back Jan. 29 at 4 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Shreya Venkatesh

Cay Leytham-Powell — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:56:27 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Shreya Venkatesh Cay Leytham-Powell Fri, 01/23/2026 - 07:56

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

That’s the question eleven graduate students will be wrestling with as part of the Graduate School’s ninth annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, which will be held in the University Memorial Center’s Glenn Miller Ballroom on Jan. 29, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

This event challenges each student to explain their thesis to the general public. They are then evaluated by a panel of judges, which this year include Lori Bergen, dean of the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information; Sammy Ramsey or "Dr. Sammy," an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, a science communicator, and an international 3MT winner; Leopold Beuken, an assistant teaching professor in robotics and a former CU ��ý�� 3MT finalist; and Aaron Brockett, the City of ��ý�� mayor.

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Shreya Venkatesh, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering who focuses on biomedical research. Her 3MT presentation's title is, "Breast Cancer in Bone: A Vicious Cycle of Destruction."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I study how breast cancer cells respond to the forces our bones experience from exercise.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

My research looks at how cancer and bone cells interact, which is really important if we want to find better drugs and other treatments to reduce fracture risk from bone disease caused by cancer.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

Learning that mechanical forces can change our biology in a really huge way was a big part of my undergraduate work, and that concept was so fascinating to me. I especially love the idea of working on research that can improve not just physical health but mental health too, since mobility is a huge part of all of our lives.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

Getting to talk about it to people outside of science!

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

I'm a trained Indian classical dancer, and I perform in and around ��ý��! I also enjoy anything crafty, rock climbing and hiking out on trails to observe reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

I was a competitive archer in high school, and I once (accidentally) shot an arrow through my parents' bedroom wall while I was practicing in the backyard.

Shreya Venkatesh is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Phani Arvind Vadali

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:57:32 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Phani Arvind Vadali Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 01/22/2026 - 07:57

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Phani Arvind Vadali, a doctoral candidate in civil, environmental and architectural engineering who researches how to build energy systems. His 3MT presentation's title is, "The Challenge of Electrification: Light Through SABER."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I create decision-support tools that enable building owners to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability through cost-effective, environmentally responsible strategies.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

By 2050, the world has pledged to achieve a number of climate goals on various fronts. Nearly 80% of the buildings that exist then already exist today. Through my research, I want to make sure that every building owner has access to the right tools to guide them towards a sustainable and energy efficient future.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

Architectural engineering exists in this unique nexus of art, science and engineering that makes it amenable to solve environmental challenges in creative ways. My research provides an opportunity for me to interact with the our built environment from a unique perspective, deepening my understanding of how humans engage with the spaces they inhabit.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

Understanding how different people prioritize different goals and how those priorities guide the decisions they make.

What is your favorite food and why?

I love a good pizza. It's an incredibly versatile dish that can be adapted across cuisines, ingredients, and preparation styles, with each variation offering a unique flavor.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

I once swam a 5K.

Phani Arvind Vadali is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Krithik Ranjan

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:34:11 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Krithik Ranjan Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 01/21/2026 - 08:34

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Krithik Ranjan, a doctoral candidate in the ATLAS Institute who researches creative technology and design. His 3MT presentation's title is, "Lights, Camera, Interaction! Designing for Creative Computational Thinking."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I design and research how we can learn and be creative with computers outside of traditional computers with the help of everyday physical materials like paper.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

My work tries to show how by bringing creative computing out into the physical world, we can help people transform their relationship with computers, from seeing themselves as passive consumers, to thinking of themselves as active makers of technology. With the insights I develop, I hope to impact how learners of all ages, from elementary schools students to adults, begin engaging with computing technologies in classrooms, homes, libraries.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

I was an undergraduate student in electrical and computer engineering, while trying to expand my learning domains by pursuing "almost" minors in design, philosophy and German.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

I've always been interested in building technology to help people, and I saw a PhD in creative technology and design as a way to use my engineering skills towards researching and designing creative, critical and impactful technologies.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

The most joyful part of this research is conducting workshops with children and students to see all the unique and creative ideas they come up with (which are often ways to break things I developed).

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

I enjoy taking photographs and learning more about analog technologies. After finding and repairing my grandfather's camera from the 70s, I have collected a few different film cameras that are decades old and I spend too much on film rolls to try those out.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

When I was 14, I could solve 14 different types of Rubik's cubes. My favorites were Square-1, Gear Cube and the Pyraminx. (I did not maintain the trajectory... I can maybe solve two now.)

Krithik Ranjan is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Laurie Lawson

Cay Leytham-Powell — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:50:29 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Laurie Lawson Cay Leytham-Powell Mon, 01/19/2026 - 08:50

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Laurie Lawson, a doctoral candidate in information science who researches collective memory discrepancy in English and Arabic on Wikipedia and in AI. Her 3MT presentation's title is, "'That’s Not How I Remember it' Investigating How Collective Memory is Lost in Translation."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

When people speak different languages, they often pull from different information and perspectives that are isolated in that language and we can see that play out in digital platforms like Wikipedia and AI.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

I think my research opens up a gray area. People often think that there is an objective fact to a story but more often than not they are actually dealing with a specific perspective. That perspective then changes between communities and individuals. We see this a lot in politics in America right now. If we can accept that there are more gray areas in more contexts, we can approach stories and events with more openness and this can address a lot of community level tensions.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

I was studying computer science, physics and Arabic in undergrad (at Washington and Lee University).

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

I was studying Peace and Conflict in Northern Ireland and the Middle East and realized that there were large narrative discrepancies between different communities. I came back and was talking to my advisor and she said that I either had to drop it or go to grad school. So here I am!

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

I love putting math to social phenomenon such as behavior and communication.

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

I enjoy being a jack of all trades. I like to ski and rock climb but I’ve also recently gotten into knitting, sewing, and scrapbooking. Anything to take a break from my computer.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

I played golf in undergrad and have played golf across the world.

Laurie Lawson is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Ben Hammel

Cay Leytham-Powell — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 14:23:33 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Ben Hammel Cay Leytham-Powell Fri, 01/16/2026 - 07:23

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Ben Hammel, a doctoral candidate in materials science and engineering who researches electron microscopy of nanomaterials. His 3MT presentation's title is, "Looking at Nanocrystals."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I use a powerful microscope to take pictures of tiny crystals.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

I study tiny crystals which emit colorful light, which is already used in the latest generation televisions to make them brighter and vibrant. But more than that, I think these tiny crystals might enable new types of quantum computers or allow us to efficiently harvest sunlight to make electricity and fuels.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

Drove from Albuquerque to the Outer Banks.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

I love building things with atoms and molecules and want to do that to make a positive difference in the world.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

Definitely collaborating with other researchers. My collaborators send me gorgeous nanocrystals. Of course, nanocrystals are so small that you really can only see them with an electron microscope. So I might be the first person to see what they look like. The best part is when I get to share my images and see how delighted my collaborators are by the data.

What is your favorite food and why?

Chile rellenos: Hatch green chile, melted cheese and it's fried. What more could you want?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

My middle name is Franklin. So my name is actually Benjamin Franklin.

Ben Hammel is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Loraine Glidewell

Cay Leytham-Powell — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:11:14 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Loraine Glidewell Cay Leytham-Powell Thu, 01/15/2026 - 08:11

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Loraine Glidewell, a doctoral candidate in education who researches teacher learning, research and practice. Her 3MT presentation's title is, "From Fish Guts to Fireflies: Finding the Magic of Rural Education in Pre-Service Teacher Learning."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

It's really about exploring what teacher preparation can do for rural education, and what rural education can do for teacher preparation.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

I'd like to believe that everyone has experienced having that one teacher who made an impact on who they are today. Teachers are some of the most important people on the planet. And there are a lot of kids out in rural places who really need teachers. My research is about seeing what becomes possible for pre-service teachers when they have the chance to learn about the magical and mysterious world of teaching and learning in rural schools.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

I taught middle school science in the San Luis Valley.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

My students inspired me. I was so lucky to get to teach where I taught, but especially who I taught. In a small town, you get to watch your students grow up. And I had the best students. It was really hard to teaching positions go unfilled and taught by a rotation of substitute teachers. My students were bright and funny and so deserving of teachers who could see that in them. They actually encouraged me to be here, to work on teacher shortages in rural areas.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

My north star has always been my students out in the San Luis Valley, I am here because of them. I think what I love most about my research is that I've never lost my way. I get to share stories with pre-service teachers about how my students made me laugh, made me cry, and completely inspired me. I even get to see a student who I taught when they were a in middle-school out in the San Luis Valley, here at CU ��ý�� on this very campus and we have been walking together almost every Friday catching up on life. I love that my research is deeply connected to the students that I was so lucky to teach, and to the many rural students our there across Colorado and the country.

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Outside of my academic work I love to go fishing. My dad taught me how to fish when I was a little girl, and I love when I go fishing with my boyfriend and catch a bigger fish than he does. And here's something awesome about being a rural teacher, when I was teaching out in the San Luis Valley, my principal and I would go kayak the Rio Grande River and go fishing together after work.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

I used to work at the Gator Farm. Yep, there are alligators in Colorado! It was one of the best jobs I ever had while I was in college. Oh, I also got a fish hook in my eye when I was a kid. Treble hook, yellow red dot panther martin, in the eyeball.

Loraine Glidewell is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Rosanna Garris

Cay Leytham-Powell — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:17:16 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Rosanna Garris Cay Leytham-Powell Wed, 01/14/2026 - 08:17

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Rosanna Garris, a doctoral candidate in biochemistry who researches photosynthesis. Her 3MT presentation's title is, "How do cyanobacteria assemble the carboxysome puzzle?"

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I study how the original photosynthesizer is able to build sugars so efficiently.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

Understanding the way CO₂ is turned into sugars in nature is essential for understanding how their role in global climate.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

I was a behavioral neuroscientist who studied the way pain is perceived and physically expressed.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

I am fascinated by the way tiny molecular machines can form in cells!

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

My the cells that I grow are absolutely beautiful, both to the naked eye and under the microscope!

What is your favorite food and why?

As a North Carolinian, I love and have extremely strong opinions about BBQ, but I have even more love and strong opinions about mac n cheese.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

I've never broken a major bone, but I have broken several fingers, a few toes and my nose.

Rosanna Garris is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist James Cannon

Cay Leytham-Powell — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:52:49 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist James Cannon Cay Leytham-Powell Tue, 01/13/2026 - 07:52

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is James Cannon, a doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering sciences, who researches very low frequency (VLF) remote sensing of the ionosphere, or the ionization part of Earth's upper atmosphere. His 3MT presentation's title is, "Measuring Electron Puddles in our Atmosphere."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I bounce radio waves off the upper atmosphere to figure out where there are higher concentrations of electrons that come from space storm.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

Fundamentally my research is crucial to advancing global climate models and predicting the effect to our ozone layer by solar and geomagnetic storms. While the Northern Lights are the most visible impact of these storms, the long-lasting effects on the ozone layer will contribute to our globally changing climate and is currently poorly understood.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

I came to grad school immediately after undergrad in St. Paul, Minnesota. Undergrad at Macalester was a whirlwind of experiences, most notably I both co-founded the high-power rocketry club and performed on the main stage in Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard."

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

The combination of being able to tease at incredibly complex problems and to teach others about these problems made a doctorate program incredibly enticing.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

I love how I have been able to see the full life-cycle of this project from building instruments, to deploying those same instruments into the field, all the way now to data analysis and theoretical work.

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

I wish I had time for all the things I enjoy outside of work! I'm a rock climber, hiker and baker. I enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy, playing role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, and love both board and video games. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with my wife Kaitlin, and our two cats Bear and Bun.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

I used to be able to do a really accurate Irish accent. Ten years ago, for a play, we all worked with a dialect coach to do Irish accents and I took to it more than most of my cast mates. For years, my party trick has been to either juggle or slip seamlessly into an Irish accent. (It's not nearly as good as it used to be.)

James Cannon is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Meet 3MT Finalist Mackenzie Bowden

Cay Leytham-Powell — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:17:39 +0000

Meet 3MT Finalist Mackenzie Bowden Cay Leytham-Powell Mon, 01/12/2026 - 08:17

The 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

What is the best way to distill a multitude of information into just three minutes?

In the days leading up to the event, we’ll feature each of the competitors. Today’s is Mackenzie Bowden, a doctoral candidate in environmental engineering who evaluates chemical and biological risks in complex water mixtures. Her 3MT presentation's title is, "Rethinking Water Risks: Making Sense of Chemical Mixture Effects."

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

I integrate chemical characterization and biological testing to evaluate mixture toxicity in water systems.

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

Clean water is something we all depend on, yet it often contains complex mixtures of chemicals we don’t fully understand. My research helps uncover those risks and translate them into actionable insights for safer water.

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

After earning my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, I completed an internship with Catholic Relief Services and USAID in Madagascar focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). I then worked for the U.S. Department of the Navy as a project manager in fleet sustainment to fund my master’s degree in sustainable engineering, motivated by my goal to work in the international development sector.

During that time, I applied for and was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to research alternative feedstocks for anaerobic digestion in rural Indonesia, but the fellowship was terminated early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That experience reinforced my desire to conduct primary research and prompted me to shift my master's studies into a full-time research track, where I worked out of a civil engineering lab and focused on optimized pyrogenic carbonaceous matter (essentially activated carbon) for the remediation of munitions residues from the environment on military testing ranges.

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

While completing my research-based master’s, I realized I wanted to strengthen my analytical skills beyond what I had gained in earlier projects. That drive for technical depth, combined with my interest in protecting public health, led me to pursue a PhD with an initial focus on environmental chemistry. Over time, my work expanded to include biological endpoints and water systems, allowing me to integrate chemistry and toxicology to better understand water risks in real-world contexts.

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect: figuring out how to measure something that’s hard to see and making sense of complex data. What makes it even better is knowing that these discoveries can help make water safer for people and communities.

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Outside of research, I love spending time outdoors, especially visiting national parks and hiking or snowboarding. I’m passionate about nature photography and even have a gallery of my photos displayed above my desk in our department office. I also enjoy exploring new coffee shops and finding the best brews wherever I go.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

My travels have led to some wild experiences, from chatting with a former U.S. president over ice cream to inviting the pope’s nephew to dinner in the Vatican.

Mackenzie Bowden is one of eleven people competing in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis final competition, which will be held Jan. 29, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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Three Minute Thesis

Know before you go: Three Minute Thesis final competition, Jan. 29

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Meet 3MT Finalist Shreya Venkatesh

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Phani Arvind Vadali

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What is your favorite food and why?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Krithik Ranjan

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Laurie Lawson

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Ben Hammel

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What is your favorite food and why?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Loraine Glidewell

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Rosanna Garris

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What is your favorite food and why?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist James Cannon

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

Tell us a random fact about yourself

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Meet 3MT Finalist Mackenzie Bowden

If you had to describe your research in one sentence, what would you say?

What do you feel is the significance of your research to the every day audience?

What did you do before coming to CU ������ý���� for graduate school?

What led you to pursue your doctoral degree in your field of study?

What is your favorite thing about the research you do?

What are your hobbies/what do you enjoy doing outside of your academic work?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?

What did you do before coming to CU ��ý�� for graduate school?