Communicating complex research in a short time to a broad audience is no small feat. On October 22, undergraduate researchers from across Ohio State embraced that challenge during the 2026 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, sharing their work in just three minutes using a single presentation slide.
Held in Thompson Library, the competition brought together 17 undergraduate researchers representing a wide range of disciplines and research interests. Under the guidance of faculty mentors, participants conducted collaborative research projects addressing important questions cancer treatment, autism spectrum disorder, diabetic retinopathy, environmental health, soybean disease resistance, aerospace engineering, language acquisition, and more. By explaining months, and in some cases years, of work into a concise presentation, students highlighted both the impact of their research and the value of effective science communication to a general audience.
At the conclusion of the competition, judges recognized three students for their outstanding presentations:
First Place: Vedika Rathi, Microbiology
Left Behind: How Surviving Cancer Cells Change After Treatment
Mentors: Dr. Patricia Sarchet and Dr. Fernanda Costas Casal De Faria
Second Place: Kate Bowers, Sustainable Plant Systems
Outpacing Pathogens: Fine Mapping Novel Resistance Genes to Phytophthora sojae in Soybeans
Mentor: Dr. Leah McHale
Third Place: Navya Garg, Medical Anthropology
Effects of High-Fat Diet on Risk-Based Decision-Making in Aged Male Rats
Mentor: Dr. Ruth Barrientos
While these students earned top honors, the competition celebrated the accomplishments of all participants, whose research reflected the breadth and depth of undergraduate scholarship at Ohio State.
2026 Three-Minute Thesis Presenters:
Madeline Arbuckle, Molecular Genetics
Investigating Kinetic Changes in TCR Signaling Patterns in HER2-Targeted CAR-T Cells Using Chronic TCR and Chronic CAR-Driven Exhaustion Models
Mentor: Dr. Hazem Ghoneim
Sherman Chan, Neuroscience
The Efficacy of a Novel Monopolar Spindle 1 Inhibitor in the Treatment of Glioblastoma
Mentor: Dr. Monica Venere
Haley Colegrove, Health Sciences
Sex-Based Differences in Social Responsiveness, Attention, and Sensory Processing in Autism
Mentor: Dr. Jewel Crasta
Ella Fischer, Chemistry
Optimization of an Electrochemical Cell Designed to Separate Hydrogen Isotopes in Alkaline Aqueous Electrolyte
Mentor: Dr. Anne Co
Sam Giles, Mechanical Engineering
Plasma Flow Control for Thrust Vectoring
Mentor: Dr. Nathan Webb
Tiffany Guo, English & Biology
Spontaneous Generation and Paleoart
Mentor: Dr. Lee Martin
McKenna Mack, Neuroscience
Trajectories of Social Trust Behavior in Emerging Adults with and without Early Psychosis: Interactive Effects of Group and Partner Types
Mentor: Dr. Aubrey Moe
Mitchell Mazzone, Health Sciences
Ethical Alternative: Studying Muscle Function in Road Killed Frogs
Mentor: Dr. Paul Andreadis
Zaid Mustafa, Exercise Science
Modeling the Early Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy in Mice
Mentor: Dr. Sumaya Hamadmad
Indrakshi Pal, Chemical Engineering
Developing a 2-D Microarray Assay to Characterize Leukocyte Migration and Interactions
Mentor: Dr. Eduardo Reategui
Saloni Sachdeva, Neuroscience
Characterizing Fibroblast Proliferation in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Hearts and Skeletal Muscle
Mentor: Dr. Jill Rafael-Fortney
Anika Yadati, Neuroscience
Time-Frequency EEG Markers of Attention and Sensory Gating in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Mentor: Dr. Jewel Crasta
Alex Zekanovic, Molecular Genetics
Monolingual English Speakers' Interpretation of Overt vs. Covert Partitives
Mentor: Dr. John Grinstead
Nancy Zhu, Environmental Science
Associations Between Harmful Algal Bloom Exposure and Endocrine-Related Health Outcomes in Communities Surrounding Ohio's Inland Lakes
Mentor: Dr. Jiyoung Lee
Thank you to all of the students who presented, the faculty mentors who supported their work, the judges who shared their expertise, and the many family members, friends, faculty, staff, and students who attended the event. Together, they helped make the 2026 Three-Minute Thesis Competition a memorable celebration of undergraduate research, mentorship, and scholarly achievement at Ohio State.
