The Office of Graduate Education and Life has announced the winners of the annual Three-Minute Thesis Competition.
The event was held during Graduate Student Appreciation Week and Research Week.
Ezekiel Irewole, a neuroscience doctoral candidate in the School of Medicine, earned first place and people’s choice for his presentation, “Improving Cognition in Estrogen-Deficient Conditions: The Role of Phytoestrogen.”
Irewole described the competition as a welcome opportunity to step outside of his comfort zone and hone his science communication skills. He did so with an engaging presentation on how estrogen loss affects the brain and whether phytoestrogens — estrogenic compounds from plant sources — can mitigate cognitive decline in post-menopausal women.
He credits his mentor, Bernard Schreurs, as well as his colleagues, family and friends for their support and input throughout his preparations for the competition.
Wycliffe Tugume, a mining engineering doctoral candidate in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, earned second place for his research on how mine-polluted streams can be transformed into a resource.
His presentation, “Modification of Biochar for the Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Acid Mine Drainage,” highlighted the development of a sustainable process for selectively recovering rare earth elements, which are needed to make crucial components for phones, laptops, cars, army defense systems and other modern tech equipment, from acid mine drainage using modified biochar.
Tugume said the experience reinforced the importance of always considering the bigger picture and the real-world applications of his work, because the ultimate goal of research is to address societal challenges. He also emphasized that, although mining is sometimes viewed as part of the problem, innovative solutions like this show how it can be a positive force by promoting sustainable resource recovery while cleaning up the environment.
Sneha Haridas, a plant and soil science doctoral candidate in the Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, received third place for her presentation, “The Hidden Workforce of Our Pastures: Understanding Dung Beetle Communities and Rearing Native Species for West Virginia.”
With dung beetles estimated to save the U.S. cattle industry $380 million annually, Haridas’ research focuses on conserving dung beetle populations in West Virginia pastures by identifying where they thrive and where intervention may be needed.
Her participation in the Three-Minute Thesis competition was driven by a desire to make entomology more visible and relatable to broader audiences. Haridas described insects as the “little things that run the world,” noting that the experience challenged her to communicate her work beyond academia and bring attention to often overlooked organisms.
Irewole will move on to compete in the regional competition next spring.
This year’s judges included:
Taylor Brown, fellow and doctoral student in the Life-Span Developmental program.
Damien Clement, associate dean for the Honors College and professor of sport exercise and performance psychology.
Shauna Johnson, executive director of Strategic Communications.
Cinthia Pacheco, director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Kate Staples, associate professor and chair of the Department of History.
Read about all 10 grand finale finalists and learn more about the WVU 3MT Competition.