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The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition challenges graduate students to present their research and its significance in just three minutes and one slide. The competition cultivates students' academic, presentation, and research communication skills, and celebrates exciting graduate research taking place at Simon Fraser University.

Students in thesis and non-thesis based graduate programs in computing science, engineering science, mechatronics and sustainable energy engineering are invited to participate in the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) heat for a chance to win cash prizes and advance to the SFU Final.

In 2026 the FAS heat will be held in-person, where students will present their research in front of a live audience and panel of judges.

2026 FAS 3MT Heat

Tuesday, March 10, 2026
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
ASB 10900, SFU Burnaby Campus | Big Data Hub Presentation Studio

Prizes:
First Place - $600*
Runner Up - $300*
People's Choice Award - $200

*The top two winners determined by the judge's scoring will advance to the SFU Final to compete for cash prizes and the chance to represent SFU at the Western Regional and National Competitions.

Learn more about the history, rules and eligibility criteria - see 3MT webpage.

Registration

Contestant Registration

Deadline: Friday, February 13

Current FAS graduate students are encouraged to apply to compete in the 2026 3MT Competition.

Register Now

Audience Registration

Deadline: Monday, March 09

Interested in watching the FAS Finalists compete? Attend the event as an audience member and a chance to win a prize!

Register Now

Presentation Submission Guidelines

To enter this year’s Faculty of Applied Sciences heat for the SFU Three Minute Thesis Competition, please read the competition rules and requirements and fill out the form below to submit your presentation slide. 

This year’s FAS heat will be held in-person at SFU's Burnaby campus on March 10th, which will require you to submit a presentation slide in advance. Judging will take place by a panel of faculty judges, and the audience will also submit their votes for the People’s Choice Award.

Note that our judging panel will include faculty members; they will be required to report any conflicts of interest and not score presentations of students they are supervising. The judging panel will be announced soon and their bios will be posted on www.sfu.ca/fas-archive/3mt.

Visit the SFU 3MT competition main page:

  • To read the eligibility criteria, competition rules and how the judges will score your presentations.

Download the PowerPoint template:

  • To read the competition rules.
  • To create your title slide as instructed.
  • To create your one slide for the presentation.

By Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST, please submit the following:

  • The completed title slide and presentation slide using the template provided.
  • A photo of yourself to be used on the FAS/SFU website. Please note that when you submit the photo, you will be giving us permission to post it on the FAS/SFU channels for promotional purposes.
  • If you have any questions, please contact fasgrad@sfu.ca.

Submit Presentation Here

2026 Graduate Student Contestants

Coming Soon

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2026 Judges Panel

Dr. Ahad Armin

Dr. Armin is a Lecturer in the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering at Simon Fraser University (SFU), with over a decade of combined academic and industry experience in robotics, manufacturing, and mechanical simulation.

His work spans finite element modeling, rapid prototyping, smart materials, and sensor actuator technologies, with a focus on advancing engineering education and innovation.

 

Harinder Singh Khangura

Harinder Khangura has been an instructor in the School of Computing Science at SFU since 2005. He has developed multiple courses on the social impact of computing, professional writing, computing systems, and has incorporated AI projects into the undergraduate curriculum.

He has won numerous teaching awards, including being the first recipient of the Faculty of Applied Science Excellence in Teaching award, and being nominated for the SFU Excellence in Teaching award. He received his BSc in Computer Science and Physics from the University of Toronto, and MSc in Computer Science from the University of British Columbia.

 

Dr. Mina Xu

Dr. Mina Xu is a lecturer at SFU’s School of Sustainable Energy Engineering, with a vision to cultivate responsible engineers in promoting sustainability in our society. She earned her PhD in Chemical and Materials Engineering from University of Alberta and completed postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia. She is a member of the Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA). 

She teaches cornerstone and capstone engineering design, engineering ethics and economics, and hydrogen energy for undergraduate students; and supports graduate students’ research by teaching the research methodology and communication skills. 

Previous Winners

2025

  1. First Place: Dexter Zamora, Mechatronic Systems Engineering Spinal Cord Injury: Bridging the Gap through Engineering
  2. Runner Up: Rimika Chaudhury, Computing Science PhD Self-Monitoring for Self-Directed Learners
  3. People's Choice: Rimika Chaudhury, Computing Science PhD Self-Monitoring for Self-Directed Learners

2024

  1. First Place: Omar Nemir, Sustainable Energy Engineering MASc Student Optimizing Micro-Engineered Textures on Silicon Enhances CO2 Capture
  2. Runner Up: Muhammad Talha Usmani, Sustainable Energy Engineering MASc Student Elastomeric Piston Seal Performance Assessment for High Pressure Direct Injection Systems
  3. People’s Choice: Mateen Ulhaq, Engineering Science MASc Student Using AI to Compress Data

2023

  1. First Place: Hengameh Delbari, Sustainable Energy Engineering MASc Student Injection and Ignotion Characteristics of Gaseous Fuel Jets for Low emission Engines
  2. Second Place: Yameena Naqvi, Sustainable Energy Engineering MASc Student Ionic Liquid Systems for Hydrogen Compression in Refueling Stations
  3. People’s Choice: Parsa Rajabi, Computing Science MSc Student Impact of an Intro Computer Science Course on Computational Thinking

Contact Us

If you have questions about the FAS heat of this competition, please contact fasgrad@sfu.ca