Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)

The University of Southern Queensland congratulates all PhD students who participated in the 2026 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition. This year's finalists showcased outstanding doctoral research across a diverse range of disciplines, demonstrating excellence in research communication and public engagement.

2026 Competition Winners

First Place and UniSQ Representative at the 2026 Virtual Asia Pacific 3MT® Competition
Tarynn Potter
Beyond Tired: Decoding Post-Stroke Fatigue

Second Place
Jessica Elliot
The Secret Sauce to Staying

People's Choice Award
Ranaweera Arachchige Perera
Transforming Agribusiness Waste into New Products 

The People's Choice Award was determined by votes from the UniSQ community.

About the Competition:

The Three Minute Thesis competition celebrates innovating research conducted by doctoral students. It helps develop their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely to a non-specialist audience. All UniSQ 3MT® participants benefit from training and experience in research communication and presentation.

Prize Winners:

First Prize: Tarynn Potter ($1,000*)
Second Prize: Jessica Elliott ($500*)
People's Choice Award: Ranaweera Arachchige Perera ($250*)

*All prizes are to be used for research related activities.

Judging:

• Professor Charlotte Brownlow, Dean, Graduate Research School
• Hunter Walkenhorst, Associate Director, Commercialisation and Partnerships
• Chris Walker, Director, Media and Strategic Communications
• Dr Lindsay Helwig, Program Director (UniPrep) and Senior Lecturer, Pathways.

2026 Presentations

Congratulations to all 2026 competitors: