Kansas State University

Finalists selected for Three Minute Thesis

Submitted by Michael Sellman

Twelve graduate students have been selected to compete in the final round of K-State's Three Minute Thesis, or 3MT, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.

The finalists were chosen among 69 graduate students from almost 30 academic programs who participated in the first round of competition on Feb. 7. This is the largest number of participants since K-State began hosting the 3MT in 2016. The students were challenged with giving a compelling presentation of their research topic to an audience of non-experts in three minutes with just a single static slide.

The finalists:

• Endy Lopes Kailer, doctoral student in agronomy, "Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Invisible Engineers of Soil Health and Food Production."

• Ryley Griffin, master's student in grain science, "Pet Food of the Future: Soybeans and Why they are Perfect for your Pup."

• Juhwan Lim, doctoral student in hospitality administration, "Interview behaviors tell personality traits for the better hiring decisions."

   

   

• Shivaprasad Doddabematti Prakash, doctoral student in grain science, "Unwrapping the Sweet Mystery: Is Your Cookie Dough a Safe Delight?"

• Kendra Marstall, master's student in public health, "Physical Activity in Rural Long-term Care."

• Megan Bourns, doctoral student in agronomy, "Sustainable Sufficiency: Phosphorus fertility, reimagined."

• Fei Xyza Asuncion, doctoral student in biological and agricultural engineering, "How to effectively control insect by predicting the motion of insecticide particles."

• Irosha Wanithunga, doctoral student in agronomy, "Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Corn Inoculated with Associative Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria."

• Kylee Jennings, master's student in regional and community planning, "'It's affordable housing, but not really': Mobile home parks in Riley County, Kansas."

   

   

• Jordan Williams, master's student in civil engineering, "The End is not the End: Swine Manure, a Love Story."

• Hazel Scribner, master's student in entomology, "Managing the Giant Eucosma moth is like clockwork."

• Dena Bunnel, doctoral student in security studies, "Growing Peace: rural resilience in the face of conflict."

During the final competition, judges will select a first-place winner to receive a $500 scholarship and to represent K-State at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT competition on April 5 in St. Louis. 

The second-place presenter receives a $250 scholarship.

The final competition is open to the public and includes an opportunity for audience participation. The audience is invited to vote for their favorite presentation of the night to receive the people's choice award, a $125 scholarship.

The 3MT began in 2008 at the University of Queensland, Australia. The competition is hosted in more than 900 universities across more than 85 countries worldwide.

Questions about K-State's Three Minute Thesis Competition can be directed to Megan Miller, Graduate School assistant director of student success, at mmmiller@k-state.edu.