Tiffany Leung, a child psychology graduate student at the University of Miami, wondered if young children could be taught to notice the signs of illness in others, like teens and adults often do.
Natasha Khatwani, a cancer biology graduate student and fitness enthusiast, pondered whether a tiny molecule called microRNA-29a could help preserve the energy of vital T cells from exhaustion and help them fight off illnesses like cancer.
And computer engineer Praga Vipulanandan explored whether concepts from quantum physics could be applied to create an accuracy scale for new AI tools such as ChatGPT, when they are used to offer fast answers in high-stakes fields like medicine.
All of them learned from their hypotheses and went on to develop new solutions that can be replicated in their fields.
But those were just three novel discoveries shared by eight graduate students who distilled years of research into three minutes during the 10th Annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition hosted by the University's Graduate School on Tuesday evening. Held at the Kislak Center at the University of Miami, the event drew students and faculty members from across the institution's three campuses.
"The eight remarkable competitors not only communicated their research to all of us in terms we can understand but also inspired us to keep learning," said Nicole Leeper Piquero, interim dean of the Graduate School. "Their work reminds us that curiosity is the spark that drives innovation."
Ultimately, Khatwani, from the Miller School of Medicine, won over the judges with her enthusiasm for a new therapy she devised with her advisor, Erietta Stelekati, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, to help strengthen T cells, which help fight off cancer and other diseases in the human body.
"MicroRNA-29a (miR-29a) acts as a master switch, giving CAR-T cells strength and health," said Khatwani, who plans to continue studying the process after her upcoming graduation. "When we boosted miR-29a, mitochondria grew and the cells became stronger … and when we engineered CAR-T cells to express miR-29a, they resisted exhaustion, were able to kill cancer cells more effectively, and allowed mice with lymphoma to live much longer."
Khatwani said she was humbled by the honor. She took home a prize of $750 as well as the chance to compete in regional and state 3MT competitions.
The 3MT runner-up was Leung, who discovered that young children under 9 often get sick more frequently than older children and adults because they aren't yet attuned to noticing signs of illness in others. Yet, through a short training program, Leung found that young children can learn to spot sickness in others and take caution to protect themselves from illness. She won a $350 prize for her presentation.
"I'm really excited that people see the value of this research and hope it spreads the message about reducing disease transmission," said Leung, whose advisor is Elizabeth Simpson, an associate professor of child psychology. "It was also very rewarding to show my project to others."
The students had just a few weeks to prepare for this year's competition, yet they learned quickly, since competitors must summarize their work into a 180-second presentation with a single PowerPoint slide and then memorize their pitch.
James Christie, a graduate student in atmospheric sciences, enjoyed speaking about his research on pollutants that are formed when particles rise and react with other compounds found in the upper atmosphere. Christie—whose advisor is associate professor Cassandra Gaston at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science—said being a part of 3MT helped him learn how to condense his work into digestible chunks.
"The results of my research can be used by policymakers to make targeted primary aerosol source reduction plans to improve air quality by reducing particulate matter," he said, noting that he has done air sampling in Utah to gauge the impact of mineral dust, deicing salts, and wood-burning fires in the atmosphere. "This would not only improve the air quality for people who live in that region, but the health, quality of life, and longevity as well."
Vipulanandan, an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student, recognized the faults of new large language models such as ChatGPT early on and wanted to make a way for all users of these AI tools to measure the credibility of each response.
"Whether it's low-stakes tasks or high-stakes tasks such as medicine, accuracy matters—but so does knowing when not to trust your system. So the next time you turn toward ChatGPT for a crucial answer, know for a fact that these are the exact moments I'm working hard to protect," said Vipulanandan, whose advisor is professor Kamal Premaratne in the College of Engineering.
Other competitors were:
- Saetbyeol Kim, a Ph.D. student at the Miami Herbert Business School, explained her work on how certain products are marketed as good for mental health, while others are framed as good for physical health. Through market research, she learned that customers believe products aimed at benefiting mental health are seen as luxuries, while those that improve physical health are viewed as more essential or necessary. Her advisor is Caglar Irmak, professor and chair of the Department of Marketing.
- Giuliano McDonald, a Ph.D. student at the School of Communication and former football player, explored what factors might lead college football players and teams to start wearing helmet covers as an added protection from concussions. He found that access, cost, comfort, and convenience all impact a player's decision to wear a cover and should be considered in marketing these protective tools. His advisor is Nicholas Carcioppolo, an associate professor of communication who focuses on health care.
- Savannah Saavedra, a Ph.D. student in Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, explored how gender, nationhood, and the city are characterized in four works of Colombian and Mexican literature. Her advisor is Christine Arce, an associate professor of modern languages and literatures.
- Guerdiana Thelomar, a Ph.D. student in community well-being at the School of Education and Human Development, studied the challenges that Black women must navigate in predominantly white higher education institutions. She found that while Black women are among the most successful and accomplished student populations in higher education, they often neglect their own needs and experience negative health outcomes. Thus, institutions should prioritize the well-being of this population. Her advisor is Laura Kohn-Wood, professor of psychology and dean of the School of Education and Human Development.
