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Memorial University’s Faculty of Science hosted its annual Three Minute Thesis competition as part of Memorial’s Research Week on Nov. 26.

Twenty-two graduate students competed; five emerged victorious, with the first- and second-place winners taking home $500 and $250 prizes, respectively. 

First place: Role of MicroRNA-132 in Regulating Cholesterol Efflux and Foam Cell Formation in Macrophages

Human biosciences master’s student Ihechi Marcus presented her research on how to stop heart disease before it starts. She’s exploring how to tell the chemical process that removes cholesterol from our arteries to keep going and remove more cholesterol.

Second place: Comparing the Metabolic and Neurobehavioral Effects of Ulotaront vs. Semaglutide in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Fatema Elgammal, also a master’s student in human biosciences, took home the second place prize for her research presentation on how to best treat diabetes, with an alternative to Ozempic that is more affordable and may have fewer side effects.

Honourable mentions

Narmada Weerakkody’s thesis, Assessing the Health Benefits of Newfoundland Seaweed, is researching the science behind traditional knowledge of Indigenous remedies.

Amanda Turpin’s research, Back to Basics: Exploring Germination in Synchytrium Endobioticum, may hold the answer of treating a virus wreaking havoc on Canada’s potato industry.

Jacob Hearty’s thesis, The Association Between Milk and Dairy Consumption and Body Fat and Weight Status in School-aged Children in St. John's, N.L., aims to inform policy-makers on a means of preventing childhood obesity.

Three Minute Thesis

Three Minute Thesis is a research communication competition developed in 2008 by The University of Queensland in Australia.

The competitions are hosted at academic institutions around the world to cultivate students’ academic, presentation and research communication skills.

The unique event challenges participants to present their research in just three minutes, using language accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Two winners and three honourable mentions from the Faculty of Science Three Minute Thesis competition will advance to Memorial University’s Three Minute Thesis competition, hosted by the School of Graduate Studies in the winter 2026 semester. The winner of that competition will represent Memorial University at the eastern regional Three Minute Thesis competition, hosted by Saint Mary’s University in summer 2026.

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The winners of the Faculty of Science Three Minute Thesis are available for an interview. For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Nicole Squires, communications advisor, Faculty of Science, Memorial University, at n.squires@mun.ca or (709) 864-2019.