Meet the winners of Concordia’s 2025 Three Minute Thesis Competition
Four Concordia graduate students claimed top prizes after competing live at the university’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180) competitions on March 21.
The event challenges students to distill complex research into a clear, jargon-free presentation that engages a non-specialist audience — all in under three minutes and using a single, static PowerPoint slide.
The 3MT competition takes place at more than 900 institutions across 85 countries worldwide and is now in its 14th year at Concordia. This year’s edition featured 14 finalists, including eight master’s and six doctoral students. Three of the participants competed in the French version, Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180).
In preparation for their 180 seconds in the spotlight, participants began working with GradProSkills and guest coaches in January. They incorporated the coaches’ feedback to refine their pitches, and out of the 40 students who took part in the training, 14 were selected to compete.
On March 21, three judges selected the best presentation, along with second- and third-place winners. The audience also had the opportunity to vote for their favourite overall presentation. Winners received cash prizes of $750 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 each for third place and the People’s Choice award.
Missed the event? Watch a full recording of the competition:
This year’s winners
1st place: Meghan McManus
“Ultrasons et thérapie génique: Ouvrir la porte à un cœur en meilleure santé?”
Meghan McManus, a doctoral student in the Department of Biology, claimed first place. Her winning presentation focused on using ultrasound to improve the effectiveness of a treatment for individuals with a genetic predisposition to heart weakness.
McManus, who presented in French, will represent Concordia at the Ma thèse en 180 secondes (MT180) competition at the 92nd Acfas Conference, co-hosted by Concordia.
This was her third time participating in the competition, but her first time earning a prize — and her first time presenting in French.
“I’m happy that after all the work I’ve put in, I’ve finally made it,” McManus says. “Public speaking is a skill that can be developed. People think, ‘It’s not for me. I wasn’t born with the public speaking gene.’ But I’m proof that’s not the case. I used to cry at presentations, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. It’s all about practice.”
This year's winners (from left): Nabeel Chaumun, Meghan McManus, Marie-Sophie Roy and Alina Gutierrez Mejia.
2nd place: Marie-Sophie Roy
“Reindeer mating: Are males being strategic?”
Marie-Sophie Roy, a master’s student in the Department of Biology, was the runner-up with her presentation on sexual selection in reindeer, also known as caribou in North America. Her research explores how male reindeer modify their behaviour during mating season to maximize their chances of reproductive success, which could inform future conservation strategies.
“I’m a shy person, and winning this really makes me proud of the work I did,” Roy says. “I learned that if you are well prepared, you can achieve almost anything. This experience helped me gain more confidence.”
Roy will represent Concordia at both the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) 3MT competition and the 3MT Eastern Regional Competition.
3rd place: Nabeel Chaumun
“Out injured? Not for long!”
Nabeel Chaumun, a master’s student in health and exercise science, secured third place with his presentation on developing a rehabilitation exercise program for individuals recovering from concussions, with the goal of improving long-term outcomes.
Chaumun, who also works as a physical therapist for a high school football team, is passionate about helping athletes return to the game safely.
“This experience helped bring me back to my ‘why,’ my purpose,” Chaumun says. “I work with football players, and concussions are one of the most common injuries. For me, anything that helps get a player back to the game faster is a win.”
People’s Choice: Alina Gutierrez Mejia
“From confusion to clarity: The power of visual thinking”
Alina Gutierrez Mejia, a doctoral student in the Individualized Program (INDI), was the audience favourite for her presentation on using drawing as a tool to improve communication and understanding.
“Seeing that people connected with what I said was amazing,” Gutierrez Mejia says. “It makes me realize I’m doing something that matters. It’s also rewarding to see how people outside my field can engage with my work. The competition is nerve-wracking, but it helped me gain skills I can apply both inside and outside academia.”
Learn more about Concordia’s graduate skills development program, GradProSkills.
