The winners and finalists of the 2026 Three Minute Thesis competition.For the 15th time, Concordia's annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition once again showcased the depth, creativity and real-world impact of graduate research across disciplines. 15 participants were challenged to present their work in just three minutes, using only a single slide.
Meet this year's winners who impressed judges and audiences alike with engaging presentations that made complex ideas accessible and compelling.
Arielle Rousseau takes first place
Arielle Rousseau, a PhD student in Health and Exercise Science, won first place for her presentation, Get Strong, One Dish At a Time. Her research examines blood flow restriction training and habitual physical activity as modulators of maternal postpartum recovery.
"I loved hearing about everyone's research, and it was a meaningful moment for me to feel I was on the right track when some people asked to be part of my study after my 3MT," she says. "This experience greatly increased my confidence in my research."
Exploring communication and connection
First runner-up Selina Di Nitto, an MA student in Child Studies in the Department of Education, presented Shh…The Pictures Are Talking. Her research explores how visuals can support autistic preschoolers to initiate communication in play.
"Watching everyone's work evolve from initial drafts to polished final products across the trainings was a very wholesome and inspiring experience," she says.
Rethinking health and digital tools
Second runner-up Comfort Akinfenwa, a PhD student in Health and Exercise Science, presented When Digital Health Fails, It's Not Always the User. Their research redefines digital health literacy to better reflect how people use digital health tools today, helping improve interventions, measurement and policy.
"3MT didn't just improve how I communicate my research, it impacted how I understood it," they say. "I appreciated listening to the diverse student research."
Indigenous perspectives and video game design
Also earning second runner-up honours, Morning Star Fayard, an MA student in Media Studies in the Department of Communication Studies, presented Land as Teacher in Video Games.
Their work brings Indigenous (Eeyou) perspectives into conversation with video game design, exploring how land can function as an active participant alongside players and how reciprocal relationships can shape Indigenous-led gaming frameworks.
"I absolutely loved the skills I learned and the team that supported me," they say. "What meant the most was how much my coaches advocated for me to believe in myself and become confident in speaking to others."
Audience picks a favourite
The People's Choice Award went to Kayla Toledano, a PhD student in Health and Exercise Science, for her presentation, Same Title, Different Plot: How Age of Onset Shapes Obesity.
Her research compares individuals with childhood-onset and adult-onset obesity before and after weight loss to better understand metabolic differences in fat, muscle and exercise levels.
"I really enjoyed hearing about all the interesting projects going on at Concordia that my peers presented on," she says. "As a graduate student you can have a bit of tunnel vision on your own work, so it was great to see what everyone else is doing."
Learn more about Concordia's Three Minute Thesis competition.
