The Graduate School is delighted to host the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Graduate Student Showcase. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Konover Auditorium in The Dodd Center for Human Rights and is open to degree-seeking graduate students from all UConn campuses. This event celebrates the impact, creativity, and purpose behind graduate students’ work through brief, engaging presentations for a general audience. Please join us in person as you are able, but the event will also be livestreamed here. The Grand Prize winner of the event will be put forth as the UConn candidate for the regional, national, and international 3MT competitions.

Agenda for the Event:

Finalists 2026 (in order of presentations):

CATEGORY 2: Arts, Humanities, and Social Science PhDs

CATEGORY 1: Master’s Degrees & Professional/Clinical Doctorates

CATEGORY 3: STEM PhDs

Judges 2026:

Chris Chadbourne

Chris Chadbourne is a 1988 alumnus, graduating with a B.S. from the School of Business. He recently retired following a distinguished 30-year career in employee benefits sales and client management, where he worked extensively within the health insurance industry. Throughout his career, Chris partnered with senior leadership at several of Aetna’s and UnitedHealthcare’s largest national account clients, supporting complex strategies in achieving their operational objectives. Since retiring, Chris has remained actively engaged in leadership and community initiatives, including spearheading the redesign and restoration of a local golf course. He has renewed his commitment and dedication to the University, joining the UConn Foundation Board of Directors in October 2025. Chris and his wife reside in Newton, MA, and remain enthusiastic supporters of UConn students and athletics.

Ebad Jahangir, Ph.D.

Ebad Jahangir, Ph.D. is an engineering and technology leader with more than 25 years of experience spanning aerospace, advanced technology development, systems engineering, and strategic partnerships. He currently serves as Associate Director of Strategic Technologies & Partnerships at RTX Technology Research Center, where he works at the intersection of emerging technologies, research, and industry collaboration. Dr. Jahangir is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University, where he has taught graduate courses in systems engineering, and has extensive experience working with industry, government, and academia to translate complex technical ideas into practical solutions. He holds a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering and brings a strong passion for mentoring the next generation of engineers and researchers.

Barbara Kream, Ph.D.

Dr. Kream is Professor in the Department of Medicine at UConn Health and holds joint appointments in the Departments of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Orthopaedic Surgery. She currently serves as Associate Dean of the Graduate School at UConn Health. Dr. Kream received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mount Holyoke College and a PhD in Molecular Biology and Biophysics from Yale University. She did postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin and UConn Health and was the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship award from the National Institutes of Health. As an NIH-funded investigator, Dr. Kream studied the hormonal regulation of bone remodeling. Dr. Kream is a member of the Graduate Faculty in Biomedical Science and Dental Science. She previously served as Chair of the Graduate Programs Committee and Director of the MD/PhD program at UConn Health.

Fyiane Nsilo-Swai