Cognition, Neurosince, and Social Psychology doctoral student Susan Rodriguez was awarded First Place in USF鈥檚 Three Minute Thesis (3MT庐) Final, held November 2025. As the university champion, she will represent USF at both the Regional Competition at Louisiana State University (LSU) and the Statewide Competition at the University of Florida (UF) in the coming months. This achievement marks the first time a Psychology Ph.D. student has earned first place in USF鈥檚 3MT competition.
For those unfamiliar with the competition, the Three Minute Thesis (3MT庐) is an academic research communication challenge developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. It has since expanded to over 900 universities across more than 85 countries. The competition invites graduate students to present the significance and impact of their research in under three minutes, using a single static slide and no additional resources. Presentations are evaluated based on the participant鈥檚 ability to effectively communicate their research to a multidisciplinary, non-specialist audience in clear, engaging, and accessible language. The 3MT cultivates essential academic, presentation, and research communication skills that bridge the gap between specialized scholarship and public understanding.