Thank you for joining us on 19 March 2025 in Stakladen for an exciting event where talented PhD students presented their groundbreaking research — in just three minutes and with only one slide.
3MT showcases science communication at its best, making complex topics accessible and engaging for everyone.
For more details, explore the competition below, see this year's competitors, and find out who won the 2025 3MT competition, including the two runner-ups, the Special Mentioned Award winners.
Every year, Aarhus University invites its PhD students to participate in the 3 Minute Thesis competition (3MT). In 2025, the competition will be held in Stakladen at Aarhus University on 19 March.
In 3MT, PhD students present their research project in three minutes for an audience of non-specialists with only one static slide – and no other resources. To prepare the participating PhD students for this challenging exercise, the PhD students are taken through a communication workshop, feedback session and practice session before the competition.
A internal AU jury will announce the internal AU winner based on the judging criteria mentioned in the Coimbra Group Call below.
The video of the performance of the internal AU winner will be submitted to the international competition held by the Coimbra Group of more than 35 European universities. A Coimbra Group panel will then select the top three candidates, who will be invited to present at the Coimbra Group annual conference. In 2025, the 3MT international competition will be held on 12 June at the University of Bologna.
The 3MT was founded at University of Queensland, Australia in 2008 and is held at over 900 universities across more than 85 countries.
Ali Soltani
Technical Sciences, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering
"Teaching AI to Understand and Model Physical Systems"
Anders Schram
Health, Department of Clinical Medicine
"Enhancing well-being in healthcare: the role of simulation training"
Anna Hvarregaard Christensen
Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
"From Chaos to Control: Using the STING Pathway to Balance Immunity"
Cathrine Abild Meyer
Natural Sciences, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center
"Towards the communication between nuclei and mitochondria in a hydrogel environment"
Frederik Almar
Aarhus BSS, Department of Economics and Business Economics
"What does love have to do with inequality?"
Karolina Klucznik
Health, Department of Clinical Medicine
"Accounting for prostate motion during radiotherapy treatments"
Kerstin De Keukeleere
Health, Department of Biomedicine
"Genetic defects in severe herpes infections"
Madhuni Madhushika Wijesooriya
Technical Sciences, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering
"Mighty microbes turn CO2 into biofuel: Perfect partners are the key to success"
Marie Hélène van De Ven
Arts, School of Culture and Society
"Raiders of the Lost Antiquities: Illicit Archaeology and the Ethics of Collections"
Maryam Alizadeh Zolbin
Technical Sciences, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering
"Advanced PVD Ceramic Coatings for Sustainable Plastic Production"
Mj Balezina
Aarhus BSS, Department of Political Science
"Resistance to trans* athlete inclusion and fair play concerns"
Nanna Lassen
Aarhus BSS, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences
"Too Little, Too Late, and for the Few? Rethinking Couple Therapy"
Peter Bæk
Natural Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy
"Hypersonic Missiles: Too fast for detection?"
Purnima Gabhrani
Natural Sciences, Department of Biology
"Unraveling Anaerobic Archaeal Alkane Oxidation"
Sina Kalweit
Technical Sciences, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering
"Road transport transition in Europe for different climate targets"
Uffe Kjærgaard
Health, Department of Clinical Medicine
"Looking Inside the Liver: Unveiling Cancer's Metabolic Fingerprint"
Yrsa Larsson
Technical Sciences, Department of Environmental Science
"Aerobic post-treatment of anaerobic pig digest - reduction of antimicrobial spread in nature"
Uffe Kjærgaard, Ph.D. student at the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University, emerged as the overall winner of the 3MT Competition 2025, held on March 19. Competing against 16 other talented researchers, Uffe captivated the jury with his ability to distill complex scientific concepts into an engaging and accessible presentation. His outstanding performance earned him the prestigious title and a grant of 35,000 DKK to support his research through international collaborations and conference travels.
The 3MT Competition 2025 also recognized two exceptional participants with Special Mentioned Awards for their remarkable presentations.
Kerstin De Keukeleere, Ph.D. student at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University, secured second place with a research presentation that combined scientific depth with humor, making her work both insightful and entertaining.
Marie Hélène van De Ven, Ph.D. student at the School of Culture and Society, earned third place with an engaging presentation that underscored the broader societal relevance of her research.
Meet Omeed Neghabat and Anne Lundahl Mauritsen - two former contestants in the 3MT Competition. Among other things, they for example learned how to structure and deliver a presentation in one coherent connection. Watch the two videos below and learn more!
