Congratulations to this year’s Three Minute Thesis winners

Nazira Albargothy, doctoral researcher from the Faculty of Medicine, has won both top awards in this year’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) University Grand Final. Nazira competed against doctoral researchers from our seven other faculties, and impressed both the judges and the audience, winning first prize and also the People’s Choice Award.

This annual competition, developed by the University of Queensland and now an international initiative, requires doctoral researchers to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes, accompanied by only one static slide.

Currently in her second year of candidature, Nazira’s research focuses on mapping the most efficient route for drug delivery into the brain, and is funded by Biogen.

Nazira’s engaging and informative presentation likened her research to producing a ‘Google Map’, which will highlight the clearest ‘motorways’, or pathways, for drugs to be delivered to certain areas of the brain.

Awarded second place was Elena Bollati from the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences. Also in her second year of candidature and based at NOC, Elena invited the audience to travel with her on an imaginary night dive as she explained how ‘Fluorescent proteins found in corals can help us understand and monitor an ecosystem in danger.’

The 3MT prize money will be used by Nazira and Elena in support of their research, and Nazira will now go on to represent the University at the national 3MT semi-final this summer.