Columbia University Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition

The Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition showcases the research of Columbia’s doctoral student community. Participants are challenged to share their research clearly and effectively with a broad, general audience in just three minutes, using one slide and no notes.

3MT is an entertaining and instructive event that helps doctoral students develop their presentation and communication skills, which are vital for academic conferences and a variety of careers both within and beyond the academy. Through 3MT, participants also have the opportunity to share their work with the broader Columbia community by presenting in front of a diverse audience of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The 2024 Columbia University 3MT Competition, co-sponsored by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Coordinated Doctoral Programs in Biomedical Sciences, was held on March 7, 2024. 

Read about the 2024 Columbia 3MT competition and watch videos of the 2024 finalists' presentations.

2024 Competition Information for Reference

The 2024 Columbia University 3MT competition will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Low Memorial Library. The in-person event will be followed by a reception. A Zoom livestream is also available.

• All applicants are invited to participate in a public speaking workshop series and will have the opportunity to receive feedback on their communication skills.
• Finalists compete for cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 for the first-place, second-place, and third-place winners, respectively. Audience members vote for Audience Choice.

Application Instructions

The application to participate in the 2024 Columbia University 3MT has closed and the competition will not be held in 2025. All advanced PhD candidates from across the university may apply. Applicants must submit:

1. Presentation/project title. This may be the same as your dissertation title, or you could choose a title that appeals to a broader audience.
2. Concise summary of your dissertation project (no more than 1,500 characters) geared toward a non-specialist audience. Project summaries should avoid jargon and technical language and should be written in a way to engage an audience that is not familiar with your field.

Please write to Rachel Bernard at [email protected] with any questions.

Review Process

1. Completed applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by an internal committee of staff from the sponsoring schools. Applications will be evaluated for clarity of expression and ability to engage an audience that is not familiar with your field or research topic.
2. Those selected to continue as semifinalists will be invited to complete a brief recorded video interview in January.
3. Those selected as finalists will be notified in late January. Finalists will attend a preparatory workshop in February and must be able to present in person at the event on March 7.
4. All applicants, including finalists, will be invited to attend a series of online public speaking workshops in February.

Eligibility

Applicants must be advanced doctoral students currently enrolled in their first seven years of any Columbia PhD program. Applicants must have passed relevant milestones, such as a qualifying exam, prospectus defense, and/or MPhil conferral. Graduates are not eligible.

Resources

Consult the resources below as you prepare:

• Videos of the 2023 and 2024 Columbia University 3MT competitions.
• Official 3MT Competitor Guide from The University of Queensland.
• Research communication techniques and exercises to improve your talk: Finding Your Research Voice: Story Telling and Theatre Skills for Bringing Your Presentation to Life (2019) by Itai Cohen and Melanie Dreyer-Lude.
• Presentation advice from previous winners of the Vitae 3MT® competition by Taylor & Francis Group.
• Scientists as Storytellers Guide from 3M and Communication Fundamentals from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Although these guides are designed for scientists, the principles apply to all disciplines.
• Videos of Humanities PhD finalists in 3MT at the University of Amsterdam.