Fordham-GSAS Three Minute Thesis Competition
2026 Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT® Competition
The Northeastern American Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) 3MT® competition will feature winners of each NAGS member’s local competitions, including GSAS first-place winner, Nia Ismayilzada, with the NAGS winner and runner-up being sent to the next Council of Graduate Schools national competition.
Register to watch this competition and discover the outstanding research explained by students with no jargon, no props, and using only one PowerPoint slide in 3 minutes.
April 22, 2026 | 2 - 4 p.m. | Virtual via Zoom
GSAS Research Day | 4/29/26 | Lincoln Center Campus | 4 - 7 p.m.
Thank you all for attending the 2026 Three Minute Thesis Competition.
Congratulations to the winners!
1st Place Winner:
Nia Ismayilzada, Biological Sciences, PhD Candidate
Motivation in the Brain: The Role of Dopamine D5 Receptors in Motivation-Related Behavior
2nd Place Winner:
Christoph Rosa, Applied Developmental Psychology, PhD Candidate
Masculinity, Values, and the Political Realignment of Young Men
Third Place Winner:
Erin Moran-Meder, Clinical Research Methods, MS Candidate
Religious Identity, Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Help-Seeking Preferences
People's Choice Winner:
Fernando Martinez, Computer Science, PhD Candidate
Dividing the AI Brain: Separation Perception from Strategy
Judges
| Christopher Aubin, PhD Professor of Physics |
Maria Nardone, PhD, '79, '82 Psychologist, Psychoanalysis, and Organizational Consultant |
| Megan Bogia, PhD Associate Director of the Center for Ethics Education |
Leila Ouldibbat, PhD Candidate Biological Sciences |
| Haruka Minami, PhD Associate Professor of Psychology |
Dennise Vellucci, '76 Retired Assistant Principal at Archbishop Molloy High School |
Prizes
| Competition Winner Placement | Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| First Place | $1,000 |
| Second Place | $750 |
| Third Place | $500 |
| People's Choice (The audience will vote for the winner during the final round.) |
$500 |
Please direct all 3MT®-related questions to the Seoyoon Chang, EdD, Assistant Dean of Student Professional Development, at [email protected].