Three Riccio College of Engineering Graduate Students Named 3MT Finalists
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Three graduate students from the Riccio College of Engineering have been named finalists in the Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT), a campus-wide research communication competition hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Graduate School.
Raphael Chukwuka Nnachi (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Timothy Nsubuga (Environmental and Water Resources Engineering), and Luying (Louise) He (Materials Science and Engineering) advanced through preliminary rounds and will compete in the campus final on Friday, March 6, from 2–3:30 p.m. in the Old Chapel. Eleven finalists will present their research in three minutes or less from 2–3 p.m., followed by a reception where winners will be announced live. Judges will select a winner and runner-up, and audience members will vote for the People’s Choice award.
The 3MT competition challenges graduate students to present complex research clearly and concisely to a general audience, using only one static slide and no props.
Raphael Chukwuka Nnachi (Civil and Environmental Engineering) investigates community immunity to COVID-19 through wastewater-based epidemiology, measuring key biomarkers in sewage to better understand public health trends. His work advances ethical and innovative approaches to sewer-based public health monitoring.
Timothy Nsubuga (Civil and Environmental Engineering) focuses on environmental and water resources engineering, developing data-driven and community-centered approaches to improve water security and infrastructure resilience. His research integrates engineering analysis with real-world implementation, aiming to strengthen water systems and expand equitable access to safe water in vulnerable communities.
Luying (Louise) He (Materials Science and Engineering) is a biomaterials and polymer researcher whose work spans formulation, multiscale characterization, and performance testing. Her broader research explores engineering living materials, using microbes for environmental restoration and developing biocompatible materials for medical applications.
Please join us on March 6 to support these outstanding graduate researchers as they represent the Riccio College of Engineering in the campus-wide final.