Research Shines During 8th Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition

ATLANTA — Graduate students across disciplines took top prizes Wednesday in the final round of the 2024 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where they were charged with explaining their scholarship in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience in three minutes or less.

Developed by the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008, 3MT was designed to encourage students to develop their academic, presentation and research communication skills. The competition supports student abilities to explain their research in language appropriate for a non-specialized audience.

Sponsored by The Graduate School and the University Library, the final round of Georgia State’s 3MT contest was held March 27 at Centennial Hall.

Seven master’s and seven doctoral students from various programs competed, and a panel of judges comprised of faculty awarded first-, second- and third-place cash prizes. The Georgia State community was also given an opportunity to name a People’s Choice winner in each category.

“The Three Minute Thesis contest offers Georgia State's graduate students an opportunity to talk about their scholarship in an accessible, compelling manner, a critically important skill to master," said Lisa Armistead, dean of The Graduate School and a professor of psychology. "The event also offers a forum for the community to learn about the incredible scholarly activities in which our outstanding graduate students are engaged.”

The 14 finalists competing Wednesday were chosen from an initial pool of 46 contestants.

Judges for the competition were Sara Cook, dean of the Honors College and professor of psychology; Donald Hamelberg, interim vice president for research and economic development and a professor in the Department of Chemistry; and Michael Galchinsky, senior associate provost for academic affairs and a professor in the Department of English.

“We are incredibly proud of the exceptional display of talent and dedication showcased in the 3MT competition," said Nadine Kabengi, associate dean of The Graduate School and an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences. "Heartfelt congratulations to all the participants for their outstanding contributions."

Winners of the final round were:

Master's Category:

First Place
Piyumi Bandaranayake
Program: Economics
College: Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Thesis: Bus Transit and Impact on Neighborhood Crime: Evidence From Clayton County
Adviser: Stefano Carattini

Second Place
Ezgi Sen
Program: Biology
College: College of Arts & Sciences
Thesis: From Conception to Connection: Tracing the Roots of Adult Social Behavior
Adviser: Jonathan Sylvester

Third Place
Bukunmi Bifarin
Program: Anthropology
College: College of Arts & Sciences
Thesis: Bridging Spaces: An Ethnographic Study of Transnational African Art in Atlanta
Adviser: Emanuela Guano

People’s Choice
Ayodeji Babatunde
Program: MBA Business Analytics
College: J. Mack Robinson College of Business
Thesis: Unlocking Nashville's Airbnb Landscape
Adviser: Frank Lee

Doctoral Category:

First Place
Caroline Simpkins
Program: Kinesiology
College: College of Education & Human Development
Thesis: Neurobiomechanical Mechanisms of Ballet Preventing Falls in Older Adults
Adviser: Feng Yang

Second Place
Ozlem Tuncel Gurlek
Program: Political Science
College: College of Arts & Sciences
Thesis: Pre-Electoral Coalitions in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes
Adviser: Jennifer McCoy

Third Place
Morgan Gomez
Program: Neuroscience
College: College of Arts & Sciences
Thesis: Long-Term Immune Consequences of Early Life Pain
Adviser: Anne Murphy

People’s Choice
Chuntiel James
Program: Nursing
College: Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions
Thesis: Disease Risk Perceptions, Culture, Body Image, and Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Dietary Behaviors in Young African American Women
Adviser: Dawn Aycock

Photo by Shay Richards