3 Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that showcases UNSW’s innovative PhD candidates, who have just 3 minutes to explain their world-changing research and why it is important.
Congratulations to the UNSW 2026 3 Minute Thesis Winners!
First Prize: Benjamin Wu, School of Biomedical Sciences – Reversing Aging in the Egg
Ben will progress through to the Asia-Pacific 3MT and Universitas 21 competitions
Runner Up: Zoe Vandeleur, School of Clinical Medicine – Throwing a Lifeline: How Re-tethering Proteins can Treat Rare Diseases
Third Prize: Phoebe Dunbabin, School of Biomedical Sciences – The Unicellular Astronaut: How Yeast is Paving the Way for Human Space Travel
Honourable Mention: Sarah Tucker, School of Social Sciences – 347: Creative Art in Prison – A Feasibility Study
People's Choice Award: Xingyu Zhang, School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering – TOUCH: The Missing Superpower of Robots
The Founders Award: Sumaya Ishtiaq, School of Chemistry – Electrical Pulses: Keeping Protein Biosensors Clean for Continuous Monitoring
2026 UNSW 3MT Highlights
I think getting insight into what the next generation are thinking and the problems they’re solving, and the different ways they’re thinking about solving these problems that perhaps we’ve never even thought there was a problem and finding alternative solutions … it’s always interesting to hear what young, smart people are thinking about the world and where it’s going
Pippa Downes
Non Executive Director and Audit Chair
What tonight has really shown us and showcased for us is the importance of academic work, of research and how much hope we can have in the future because of these great minds, these wonderful people who are willing to make a difference.
Dr Anne Johnstone
Head of School, Cranbrook School
The diversity this year was a highlight for me, and a second highlight was there was lots of research on the impacts of global warming … we’re doing a lot of work into how we can make the air heat up slower, but it’s also very important to face the fact that it is happening. We’re seeing lots of disasters and how can we respond to them more effectively and more safely.
