WMU Graduate Standard - Three Minute Thesis

WMU Graduate Standard: Graduate College Events Spotlight

Fall 2018 Three Minute Thesis - by Carson Leftwich

The Fall 2018 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) at WMU brought standing room only crowds to the Bernhard Center on Nov. 14. Twenty graduate students presented their research in two separate heats, then the highest scoring presenters faced the entire audience with a third set of judges. Presenters are judged according to standards set by the University of Queensland in Australia, which started the Three Minute Thesis competition in 2008 as a way to increase their graduate students’ ability to speak on their research. Ten years later, 3MT now takes place in 66 countries with over 250 colleges and universities participating in the United States alone.

David Sottile, a doctoral Behavior Analysis student in Psychology, won the Fall 2018 3MT at WMU with his presentation “Risky Choices in a Wheel of Fortune Game.” His scores will be compared with those who compete in the Spring 2019 WMU 3MT competition on Feb. 27, 2019. First place winners receive a $500 scholarship; second place winners receive a $300 prize and People’s Choice winners receive a $200 prize.

The participant with the highest score from the spring 2019 and the fall 2018 3MT competitions at WMU goes to the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools regional competition. There, dozens of graduate students compete for the MAGS title. The winner of that round then goes to the U.S. national competition at the Council of Graduate Schools conference in December.

Second place went to Dana Goetz, PhD student in Clinical Psychology, with “A Transdiagnostic Approach to the Development and Maintenance of Social Problem Solving.” Muaaz Gul, PhD. student in Computer Science, who presented on “High-Performance Reductive Strategies for Big Data from LC-MS/MS” received third place. People’s Choice award went to Wassnaa Al-Mawee, Ph.D. student in Computer Science, for her presentation on “Mandatory Integrity Control for Arbitrary Structured Data.”

Judges included faculty members Carla Chase, Christine Byrd-Jacobs, Kathryn Docherty and Louann Bierlein-Palmer, and staff members Michele Behr and Jennifer Holm. Two graduate students who were also previous 3MT winners sat on the judges’ panel: De’Lon Dixon and Tanya Petrachkova.

3MT rules allow one static slide to accompany the presentation. Presenters have three minutes only to explain their research and its impact to a non-specialist audience. This format encourages presenters to avoid jargon and technical language. Many scholars have difficulty explaining their theories and findings to anyone but fellow experts so this experience has long-range positive outcomes. The process of preparing and delivering a 3MT helps all participants talk about their work more concisely. It can lead to higher rates of funding, acceptance as a speaker at conferences or on panels, and networking with a wider range of scholars. Furthermore, the experience enhances one’s ability to speak in public, thereby improving teaching skills.

A full listing of the Fall 2018 WMU 3MT presenters, their departments and degree levels, and their 3MT title and award follows.

• David Sottile, Behavior Analysis, Psychology Ph.D., “Risky Choices in a Wheel of Fortune Game” FIRST PLACE
• Dana Goetz, Clinical Psychology Ph.D., “A Transdiagnostic Approach to the Development and Maintenance of Social Problem Solving” SECOND PLACE
• Muaaz Gul, Computer Science, Ph.D., “High-Performance Reductive Strategies for Big Data from LC-MS/MS” THIRD PLACE
• Wassnaa Al-Mawee, Computer Science Ph.D., “Mandatory Integrity Control for Arbitrary Structured Data” PEOPLE’S CHOICE

• Arz Yahya Rzayyig Qwam Alden, Mechanical Engineering Ph.D., “Finite Element Modeling and Experimental Characterization of Knot Configuration Effect on the Mechanical Performance of Surgical Suture”
• Diksha Singh, MBA, “Nomophobia: Boon or Bane for Individuals in the Workplace”
• Divyesh Jain, MBA, “Rising Interest Rates Can Cause a Recession in 2020 with Regard to U.S. Real Estate”
• Elahe Honarvar, Chemistry Ph.D., “Improving protein analysis by Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI)”
• Florence Elfriede Sinthauli Silalahi, Geological and Environmental Sciences Earth Science M.S., “Frequency Ratio Method for Landslide Assessment in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia”
• Francisco Yapor Genao, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering M.S., “Multiscale Analysis of Composite Materials Using CalculiX and the Generalized Method of Cells: An open source implementation”
• Hussein Khudhayer Mohammad Mohammad, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Ph.D., “Reducing the Noise from Wind Turbines”
• Katherine Dvorak, Geologic and Environmental Sciences Ph.D., “The Canterbury Basin and the Lost Continent of Zealandia”
• Kaushani Mazumder, Computer Information Systems MBA, “The Negative Consequences of Improper Waste Disposal in the Ganges River”
• Khushi Bhatt, Physics, Ph.D., “Studying p-process by 80Hg 196”
• Masoud Shabani Nezhad, Physics Ph.D., “Localized Surface Plasmons in Metallic Nanoparticles”
• Matt Delacruz, Political Science Ph.D., “Genocide as an Ethnic Bonding Ritual”
• Monisha Khapali, MBA “Application of Blockchain in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India”
• Ran Wei, Sport Management Ph.D., “Does Human Reach the Limit?—An Analysis in Track and Field”
• Saif Ghazy Faisal Alrafeek, Mechanical Engineering Ph.D., “Development and Validation of Hybrid Continuum/Structural Finite Element Model for Evaluating Foot and Ankle Biomechanics”
• Shanshan Wang, Accountancy M.S., “Why is Mobile Payment So Popular in China?”