# 2025 UCalgary 3MT Finalists

**Source**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/professional-development/communication-skills-and-competitions/three-minute-thesis/2025-ucalgary-3mt-finalists
**Parent**: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/

Congratulations to our 2025 3MT award winners and finalists!

[2025 3MT Talks Youtube playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsKmRbF9zAwD5cOKhDrF05YEQfuRbsdCm)

### First place and people's choice winner

**Parker Volk, Gastrointestinal Sciences**\
Supervisor: Dr. Derek McKay\
*Friend and foe? Looking for new anti-inflammatories from parasitic worms*

[**Watch Parker's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/hBFobDA--NU)

### Second place winner

**Thérèse Poulin, Community Health Sciences**\
Supervisor: Dr. Kirsten Fiest\
*Family presence and adverse events in the critically ill*

[**Watch Thérèse's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/L05FzIxACqU)

### Third place winner

**Faizan Syed, Biomedical Engineering**\
Supervisor: Dr. Walter Herzog\
*Reducing stiffness in the muscles of children with cerebral palsy*

[**Watch Faizan's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/Fk4FFbG8Las)

### Finalist

**Salman Mirza, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases**\
Supervisor: Dr. Kunyan Zhang \
*Disarming superbugs: How MRSA loses its antibiotic resistance*

[**Watch Salman's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/xYru1eaW_U4)

### Finalist

**Brian Irvine, Biomedical Engineering**\
Supervisor: Dr. Adam Kirton \
*With a little help from my friends: Transfer learning for brain-computer interfaces (BCI)*

[**Watch Brian's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/etYsA98WIW4)

### Finalist

**Renata Pinho, Veterinary Medical Sciences**\
Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Pang\
*Veterinarians don't need an elephantine memory*

[**Watch Renata's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/RK_kAqvYbME)

### Finalist

**James King, Community Health Sciences**\
Supervisor: Dr. Tyler Williamson\
Co-supervisor: Dr. Gil Kaplan\
*When, why, and which Albertans are being screened for and diagnosed with celiac disease?*

[**Watch James' 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/GMuICU38HL4)

### Finalist

**Andreas Dauter, Medical Sciences**\
Supervisor: Dr. Benedikt Hallgrimsson\
*Dance of the cells: How to grow a healthy face*

[**Watch Andreas' 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/w5pYeVjJRNU)

### Finalist

**Menna Elzairy, Communication and Media**\
Supervisor: Dr. Jessalynn Keller\
*Representing success? Postfeminist gendered religious identities on reality TV*

[**Watch Menna's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/-Qh05aqcG0s)

### Finalist

**Torri Heiser, Kinesiology**  \
Supervisor: Dr. Walter Herzog \
*Titin: The hidden hero that saves you energy*

[**Watch Torri's 3MT Talk**](https://youtu.be/kKh77A7L8fc)

## Ready to master the art of communication?

Time to show the world what you got!

### Sign up

You've learned about the 3MT, you know you're eligible, you've talked to your friends, family, colleagues and supervisor, and everyone agrees. You need to sign up for this amazing experience!

This part is easy: come up with a catchy title and send in your registration.

### Start practicing!

It takes time, careful editing and lots of practice to pull off a great 3MT talk. Time management is essential, since you're doing this alongside your other obligations.

In time, you'll need to memorize your talk. Practice with family, friends, a mirror, or try recording yourself.

### Sign up for a feedback session and workshops

Sign up for workshops during the registration process.

Sign up for an in-person feedback session to get one-on-one advice on your talk and slide. *Pro tip:* most past finalists attended a feedback session. In-person feedback sessions take place in March.

### Keep practicing!

You've done some workshops, attended a feedback session and you've got your talk memorized. Time to put your feet up and relax? No way! Keep practicing. Have you tried your talk while in the shower? On the train? Driving to work? Feeding the ducks? Practice, practice, practice.

### Attend your in-person heat

This is it! You'll be in a heat of around 15 students. Heat audiences are usually small, so don't stress. Besides, you've been practicing like crazy! Have fun and give yourself a pat on the back - this is a big accomplishment. And remember to make some noise for your competitors!

### Going to finals

The top two finishers from each heat go to finals, which usually takes place about two weeks after the heats. We offer finalists another feedback session to really hone the small details. Make sure you keep practicing!

The winner of the finals represents UCalgary at Western Regionals.

### Video sessions and outreach

After finals, all 3MT finalists will have a video recorded for them by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. These videos will be posted on the My GradSkills website.

## 3MT Rules and Regulations

Learn more about 3MT rules, prizes, history, past winners and more

[UCalgary 3MT Overview](https://grad.ucalgary.ca/my-gradskills/three-minute-thesis)