Professional Development

Research Communication Competitions

A critical piece of the graduate student journey is working towards gaining experience and building skills to support your transition to the next step in your career development journey. Graduate students should participate in Three Minute Thesis (3MT) and Images of Research (IoR) to build skills to support professional development, share their research in a meaningful way, earn money by winning prizes, and meet and support other graduate researchers and have fun.

Through initiatives such as Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) and Images of Research, students have opportunities to develop across all four areas of the Graduate Student Medicine Wheel.

  • Physical (Knowledge) - Academic: 3MT and Images of Research help students deepen their understanding of their research by identifying and communicating its key messages clearly and effectively.
  • Mind (Wisdom) - Professional Development: Participants develop valuable communication, presentation, visual storytelling, and public engagement skills that support academic and professional success.
  • Emotional (Awareness) - Social, Health & Wellness: These programs build confidence, encourage self-reflection, and provide opportunities to celebrate research achievements in a supportive environment.
  • Spirit (Understanding) - Community: By sharing research with broader audiences, students foster connection, understanding, and engagement within the graduate student community and beyond.

Together, 3MT and Images of Research support a holistic graduate experience by promoting academic growth, professional development, personal confidence, and community connection.

SGS Medicine Wheel

Participant Experiences 

Three-Minute Thesis was one of my first opportunities to present my research to a broad audience, and the skills and relationships I made throughout the event are incredibly valuable in my career.

Three Minute Thesis Participant, 2026

[Images of Research] encouraged me to step outside traditional formats and tell the story of my research through a photograph. The process made me reflect on my work from a new perspective.

Images of Research Participant, 2026