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3MT Competition – THREE MINUTE THESIS at UAIC

Winner of the 3MT 2026 Competition

Dobîndă-Albu Marius, a student at the Doctoral School of Physics of „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iaşi (UAIC), won the UAIC final stage of the 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Competition, which took place on March 16, 2026, with the presentation When Biological Systems Lose Their Complexity.

Regulations of the “Three Minute Thesis” Competition/ Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT Competition), academic year 2025-2026

Overview of the competition
The 3MT/Three Minute Thesis Competition is designed to showcase the research activity of doctoral students. Initiated in 2008 by the University of Queensland (Australia), the competition is an exercise in cultivating the academic, presentation, research, and communication skills of doctoral students, offering them the opportunity to present their research in three minutes, efficiently and in a language accessible to a non-specialist audience in their research field.
The enthusiasm with which it was received and its adoption by numerous universities have transformed 3MT into an international competition. Currently, it takes place in over 170 universities across all continents.

UAIC is the first university in Romania enrolled in the 3MT competition, following the approval received on 13.06.2015 from the University of Queensland.

In June 2017, the first final of the 3MT competition within the Coimbra Group (CG) was organized at the annual general assembly at the University of Edinburgh.

In 2026, the 10th edition of the 3MT competition will take place within the CG (The Coimbra Group Three-Minute-Thesis Competition). Three finalists selected based on the videos submitted by the Doctoral Studies Working Group (DS WG) from among the winners of the member universities of the Coimbra Group will participate in the final stage of the competition. The final will take place at the University of Granada, Spain, on June 18, 2026.



The three universities whose doctoral students are selected for the final stage will fully bear the costs imposed by the travel of their respective candidates.
The 3MT competition is based on the presentation of research results rather than research plans.
  • Only active doctoral students are eligible (those who have not publicly defended their doctoral thesis by the time the competition takes place at the institutional level) who have substantial and relevant results that can be presented.
  • The target group is represented by doctoral students in the final stage of their research.
Presentations that do not contain tangible results will be excluded by the technical committee.
  • January – February 2026 – Stage at the level of doctoral schools within IOSUD-UAIC
  • March 16, 2026 – Stage at the IOSUD-UAIC level
  • March 27, 2026 – Deadline for submitting video recordings for participation in the selection conducted by the Coimbra Group
  • April 14 – 24, 2026 – Period during which Coimbra Group member universities can cast their votes to choose the three finalists at the Coimbra Group level (one vote per university)
  • After April 29, 2026 – The three finalist candidates selected for the final stage will be announced via e-mail
  • June 18, 2026 – 3MT Final – University of Granada, Spain
Both recordings from physically held and online competitions will be accepted, provided that the presentation took place during a live event (even if online) and the submitted recording is not the best version out of multiple takes.
  1. Only a single static PowerPoint slide is permitted (no animation or other effects). The slide will be displayed from the beginning of the presentation.
  2. The use of any additional electronic media devices (audio or video) is not permitted.
  3. The use of props (costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) is not permitted.
  4. The presentation must be limited to 3 minutes; candidates who exceed this limit will be disqualified.
  5. The presentation is exclusively spoken prose (the insertion of poetry, rhymes, or songs is not permitted).
  6. Presentations begin on stage.
  7. Timing starts from the moment the candidate begins the presentation by gesturing or speaking. No sound or other signals will be used to mark the start of the presentation.
  8. The jury’s decision is final.
Technical rules for creating the recording to be sent to the Coimbra Group Technical Department
  • The video recording must be made during a live institutional 3MT event (face-to-face or online) and not in a recording studio.
  • The doctoral student’s presentation must not be preceded by an introduction of the candidate or other thanks addressed to the organizers.
  • The recording must be made with a static camera, without using the zoom function.
  • Editing the video file is strictly prohibited.
  • The use of microphones that capture quality sound is recommended.
  • Computers or other devices are not permitted during the presentation.
  • During the recording, the candidate must be filmed in full.
  • The audience in the room must not appear in the recording (if this option is possible).
The technical department will exclude recordings that prove to be edited.
The following evaluation criteria will apply both to events taking place at the institutional level, in order to determine the finalists, and in the final stage of the competition.

Clarity and Content

The following aspects will be evaluated:
  • Whether the presentation led to a good understanding of the research premise and its importance.
  • Whether the presentation clearly described the research strategy/plan and the main research results.
  • Whether the presentation clearly described the conclusions, outcomes, and impact of the research.
Engagement and Communication

The following aspects will be evaluated:
  • Whether the presentation followed a clear and logical argumentative line and the language used is accessible to an audience non-specialized in the research field.
  • Whether the presentation slide was clear, well-crafted, and brought added value to the presentation.
  • Whether the competitor conveyed enthusiasm regarding the research topic and captured the audience’s attention.
In evaluating presentations, it must be kept in mind that academic and scientific research is the foundation of the activity. Therefore, the results and evidence obtained play a significant role in the presentation. Simple remarks or exaggerations of any kind regarding the results obtained from the research and their relevance must be avoided.
An important aspect of this competition is the people’s choice award. After all presentations are concluded, the audience votes for the most compelling presentation (based on understanding the criteria described above). The audience checks the name of their favorite candidate on the ballot papers. The people’s choice award can also be awarded to the winner designated by the jury or the second-place candidate.
In order to participate in the selection conducted by the Coimbra Group, in addition to the video recording of the presentation by the winner at the IOSUD-UAIC level, the following will be submitted:
  • The competitor’s presentation slide (PDF);
  • 1 introductory slide, which will contain:
  • university name
  • competitor’s name
  • title of the presentation
  • research field
  • competitor’s e-mail address
  • 1st Place – grant worth 3000 RON
  • 2nd Place – grant worth 1500 RON
  • People’s Choice Award – grant worth 1000 RON
The prizes offered by the Coimbra Group, during the final stage, which will take place live at the University of Bologna, Italy, have a total value of € 5000:
  • € 2000 for the winner of the final
  • € 1500 for each of the next two runners-up

Arhiva Competiției 3MT

Legături utile

Facultatea de Fizică,  Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași, Bulevardul Carol I, Nr.11, Corp A Iaşi, România, Telefon: +40 232 201050, E-mail: fizica@uaic.ro

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