Image

Cristina Hirschbiegel, a doctoral student in chemistry, was named the winner of the Northeast Regional 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, held April 25 at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

The 3MT challenges graduate students to describe their research in an engaging manner, using non-technical language, all in three minutes or less. Hirschbiegel advanced to the Northeast regional competition by winning the UMass campus 3MT competition with her presentation, “Nanozymes for Smarter Cancer Treatment,” in March. 

The Northeast regional competition was organized by the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools (NAGS) and included 41 competitors from universities in the U.S. and Canada. As the winner of the regional competition, Hirschbeigel will advance to the national 3MT competition in December, organized by the Council of Graduate Schools.

“Winning the 3MT at UMass was already an incredible honor, but to then go on and win the Northeastern regional competition – among so many brilliant researchers from different universities – feels especially meaningful,” Hirschbiegel said. “It’s a testament to how powerful clear, accessible communication can be, and it’s deeply rewarding to see my research resonate with so many people beyond the lab.”

More information about the Northeast Regional 3MT Thesis Competition can be found on the NAGS website.