Three Minute Thesis 2026 competition winner announced
This year’s finalists delivered engaging research presentations covering a wide range of topics.
The annual Three Minute Thesis competition sees postgraduate researchers from across the University compete to deliver the best research presentation in just three minutes and one slide.
This year’s competition was held on 24 June 2026 in the Nucleus Building, King’s Buildings.
The 2026 competition winner was Brian O'Donovan with his presentation ‘From Complex Signals to Patient Insights’.
The people's choice winner was Rory Stewart with his presentation 'Cracking the Code of Osteoarthritis’.
The runner up was Katrine Gaasdal-Bech with her presentation ‘Rewinding the clock: Can we make old brains young again?’
Taking part in the Three Minute Thesis competition has been a great opportunity for my development as a researcher and communicator. With three rounds in the competition, I had multiple opportunities to refine how I present my work and build confidence in sharing it.
The support from The Doctoral Programme, including mentoring from a presentation specialist, was especially helpful in identifying areas for improvement and sharing practical tips to strengthen my presentation skills. I’d strongly encourage other PhD students to sign up for the Three Minute Thesis. It’s a great way to challenge yourself in a supportive environment!
Brian O’Donovan
2026 Three Minute Thesis winner
The judges were thoroughly impressed with the diverse range of research showcased at the competition. The Three Minute Thesis competition is an excellent platform for PhD researchers to convey their work to a broader audience, highlighting its significance and providing an opportunity for greater public understanding and engagement with research. Congratulations to the winners and finalists!
Dr Sharon Maguire
Three Minute Thesis judge
About the competition
The aim of the Three Minute Thesis research communications competition is for participants to lead an engaging research presentation that can be understood by anyone, regardless of their familiarity with the topic.
The competition helps postgraduate researchers develop their presentation, research and academic communication skills.
