3MT Competition at CWRU

• November 2025, Date TBD: Information & Research Communications Session, Thwing Center, room 201 (in-person). 
  • View the recording of last year's session here. 
  • View last year's info session slides here.
• Sunday, November 30, 2025, 11:59 PM: Deadline to Submit Video for CWRU First Round. Top competitors will move on to the final round.
  • Submission form coming soon
• January 2026 (TBA): Perfecting Your 3MT Pitch, Slide, and Stage Presence Workshops 
• Thursday, February 12, 2026, 12 - 2 PM: Practice Session for 3MT Finalists, Tinkham University Center, Ballroom A. 
• Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 12 - 2 PM: Practice Session for 3MT Finalists (In-Person), Tinkham University Center, Ballroom A.
• February 27, 2026, 12:40 - 3:15 PM: CWRU Final Round 3MT Competition (In-Person & Livestream). Audience members can register here.
• March 27, 2026: 1st Place CWRU 3MT winner will compete at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools Regional Competition held during the 2025 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana
• April 29, 2026, 3:00 - 5:30 PM: Winners of the CWRU competition will be celebrated at the 2026 Graduate Awards Ceremony. 

• CWRU students enrolled in either a Master’s or Doctoral program with an original research project may compete.
• CBM students in the graduate phase of their program are eligible to participate
• Undergraduate students are not eligible to participate

• A single static slide is permitted (no slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description, the slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration).
• No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
• No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
• Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
• Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
• Presentations are to commence from the stage (if possible for the final round). 
• Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through movement or speech.
• Decisions made by the adjudicating panel are final.

• Video submissions need to be less than or equal to 3 minutes, i.e. 3:01 will be disqualified.
• Presentations are expected to be of the spoken word format (no poems, no rap, no songs, no additional electronic media like sound and video files, no additional props are allowed).
• The 3 minute submission needs to be continuous without any interruptions or edits.
• Video submissions need to meet the following criteria to qualify for judging:
  • We recommend that videos be recorded via Zoom (all CWRU students have access to this)*
  • Must be filmed from a single camera angle throughout the presentation
  • Camera position should be horizontal so that the presenter is clearly visible under ambient lighting
  • Presenter needs to be seen physically in the video
  • Static slide with no animations, slide transitions or movements
  • Clear audio with no background noise
  • Clear visibility of text and figures on the slide 
• The slide background can be white or any other color, as long as the images (and the text within the images) are clearly visible on the Zoom screen.
• The decision of the judging panel is final and cannot be challenged.

*Watch the recording from the 2023-24 virtual CWRU Research Communications Workshop for tips on recording via Zoom.

Comprehension and Content

• Did the presentation provide an understanding of the background and significance to the research question being addressed, while explaining terminology and avoiding jargon?
• Did the presentation clearly describe the impact and/or results of the research, including conclusions and outcomes?
• Did the presentation follow a clear and logical sequence?
• Was the topic, research significance, results/impact and outcomes communicated in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience?
• Did the presenter spend adequate time on each element of their presentation - or did they elaborate for too long on one aspect or was the presentation rushed?

Engagement and Communication

• Did the oration make the audience want to know more?
• Was the presenter careful not to trivialize or generalize their research?
• Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?
• Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's attention?
• Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confident stance?
• Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?

• 1st Place Award: $2,000

• 2nd Place Award: $1,500

• 3rd Place Award: $1,000

• People's Choice Award: 3 Awards, $350 each

• Translational Fellows Postdoc Prize: $500

The 3MT winner will represent CWRU at the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 3MT competition on March 27, 2026 (tentative - to be confirmed) at the MAGS 2026 Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri (travel costs will be covered by CWRU). 

• Rachel Begley, Director, Graduate Studies, Professional Development Center 

• Stephen Fening, PhD, Professor, Biomedical Engineering, and Managing Director, Case-Coulter Translational Research Partnership 

• Wesley Chen, Program Operations Manager, Pilot Coordinator, Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative, Case-Coulter Translational Research Partnership

• Eric Moore, Director, Graduate Studies, Spoken English Language Programs

• Aaron McPeck, Assistant Director of Enrollment and Engagement, Graduate Studies

• Jillian White, Manager of Programs and Special Projects, Graduate Studies

Contact us at 3mt@cwru.edu