Kalin Baca Earns Second Place in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition
LAWRENCE – The Three Minute Thesis Competition is a global research communication event that challenges graduate students to convey their research in three minutes or less. After weeks of presentations featuring cutting-edge research, two University of Kansas graduate students claimed honors and cash prizes at the conclusion of the competition Nov. 9 in the Burge Union.
Sayuri Niyangoda, doctoral student in chemistry, won first place and $500 for her presentation, “Alzheimer’s Disease through the Eyes of a Fish.” Niyangoda also won the People’s Choice Award ($125) for her presentation. As the top finalist, Niyangoda will represent KU at the regional Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools 3MT Competition, which will take place March 29-31, 2023, in Chicago, with expenses paid by the Graduate Studies office.
“It’s a great honor and a privilege to have won the 3MT competition this year,” Niyangoda said. “It is a great platform to communicate and highlight the importance of the research we conduct at KU to a generalist audience. It was a challenging yet delightful experience. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Office of Graduate Studies for giving me this valuable opportunity.”
Kalin Baca, doctoral student in chemical engineering, earned second place ($250) for her presentation, “Recycling Refrigerants to Reduce Global Warming.” Baca’s research is currently being tested on a pilot scale and will soon be commercialized by her startup company, Iconium Engineering Company.
“My research is on separating refrigerant mixtures into their components so that they can effectively be reused and recycled,” Baca said. “The 3MT competition was a great opportunity to meet graduate students in diffrent departments and learn about their amazing research. I enjoyed the challenge of quickly and concisely explaining my research, and its impact, which is a skill I know I will continue to use and develop.”