Participants
Graduate students from all disciplines are encouraged to compete in the Queen's, Three Minute Thesis Competition held each year. As we approach each year's competition, details of our participants will be posted as they are confirmed (not in any particular order), highlighting their program and their research.
Victoria Cosby
Program/ Degree: History (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr. Jane Errington
Presentation: I Do Not Wish to Be Misunderstood: Women's Labour and Canada's Early Institutions
Colton Barr 
Program/Degree: Computing (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Gabor Fichtinger
Presentation: Equitable Healthcare through Intelligent Software: Improving Prostate Cancer Diagnosis in Senegal
Lydia Johnson
Program/Degree: Environmental Studies (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Diane Orihel
Presentation: Why Two Is Better Than One
Julia Hale
Program/Degree: Education (M.Ed)
Supervisor: Dr Kristy Timmins
Presentation: The "clumsy nerd" and other myths: coordination and learning
Kassandra Coyle
Program/Degree: Translational Medicine (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Mark Ormiston
Presentation: The Natural Killer Conundrum: How Our Immune System Affects Our Pulmonary Circulation
Navjit Gaurav
Program/Degree: Rehabilitation Science (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr. Heather Aldersey and Dr Beata Batorowicz
Presentation: What Goes Inside Designer's Mind?
Sindhura Thirumal 
Program/Degree: Computing (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Parvin Mousavi
Presentation: Seize the Data!
Emily Červenka
Program/Degree: Biology (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. diCenzo
Presentation: Goodbye to the Fossil Age: Microbes Making Chemicals From CO2
Ana Constantin
Program/Degree: Anatomical Sciences (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Leslie MacKenzie & Dr Craig Goldie
Presentation: Palliative Care Education: Dispelling myths with an infographic
Aida Mohammadi 
Program/Degree: Chemical Engineering (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr Aristides Docoslis and Dr Mark Daymond
Presentation: Membrane technology can be part of the zero-carbon solution?
Nisha Simon 
Program/Degree: Computing (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr. Christian Muise
Presentation: TattleTale: Telling Stories with Automated Planning
Richard Moulton 
Program/Degree: Electrical & Computer Engineering (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr Karen Rudie and Dr Steve Scott
Presentation: Thinking about Intelligence: How do we keep all the balls in the air?
Landon Montag
Program/Degree: Neuroscience (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Tim Salomons & Dr Etienne Bisson
Presentation: The Expectation Effect: a positive mindset leads to increased pain relief post-treatment
Madison Robertson
Program/Degree: Health Quality (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr. Rylan Egan
Presentation: “Till Death Do Us Part” – Supporting spouses separated in long-term care
Chloe Robinson
Program/Degree: Biology (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Diane Orihel
Presentation: A Hoppy Solution to Canada's Wastewater Problem
Zainab Gharib 
Program/Degree: Geography (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. George Bevan
Presentation: The Past, Present, & Future of Climate Change: How Looking Back Can Propel Us Forward
Amtul Haq Ayesha
Program/Degree: Computing (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Farhana Zulkernine
Presentation: Can your face reveal your heart rate and blood pressure?
Jane Mao
Program/Degree: Education (M.Ed)
Supervisor: Dr. Lee Airton
Presentation: Hurt by Healthcare
Thi Phi Phung Nguyen
Program/Degree: Chemistry(MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Amanda Bongers
Presentation: Can drawing help you learn Chemistry better?
Emily Červenka
Program/Degree: Biology (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. diCenzo
Presentation: Goodbye to the Fossil Age: Microbes Making Chemicals From CO2
Sindhura Thirumal
Program/Degree: Computing (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Parvin Mousavi
Presentation: Seize the Data!
Jane Mao
Program/Degree: Education (M.Ed)
Supervisor: Dr. Lee Airton
Presentation: Hurt by Healthcare
Colton Barr
Program/Degree: Computing (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Gabor Fichtinger
Presentation: Equitable Healthcare through Intelligent Software: Improving Prostate Cancer Diagnosis in Senegal
Landon Montag
Program/Degree: Neuroscience (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Tim Salomons & Dr Etienne Bisson
Presentation: The Expectation Effect: a positive mindset leads to increased pain relief post-treatment
Amtul Haq Ayesha
Program/Degree: Computing (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Farhana Zulkernine
Presentation: Can your face reveal your heart rate and blood pressure?
Lydia Johnson
Program/Degree: Environmental Studies (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr Diane Orihel
Presentation: Why Two Is Better Than One
Madison Robertson
Program/Degree: Health Quality (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr. Rylan Egan
Presentation: “Till Death Do Us Part” – Supporting spouses separated in long-term care
Chloe Robinson
Program/Degree: Biology (MSc)
Supervisor: Dr. Diane Orihel
Presentation: A Hoppy Solution to Canada's Wastewater Problem
Navjit Gaurav
Program/Degree: Rehabilitation Science (PhD)
Supervisor: Dr. Heather Aldersey and Dr Beata Batorowicz
Presentation: What Goes Inside Designer's Mind?
Judges
Susan Korba - Director, Student Academic Success Services
I feel very fortunate to be the inaugural director of Student Academic Success Services. I started working at the Writing Centre in 1996 when I was a graduate student at Queen’s; since then, I’ve marked countless student papers, supported students and faculty in writing appointments and workshops, and taught writing courses at Queen’s and the Royal Military College—even one via radio. I think that what we do at SASS is a really important part of helping students recognize their own abilities, enhance their skills, and move forward academically, professionally, and personally.
I most enjoy working with students from a variety of academic and cultural backgrounds and seeing them develop their skills and confidence, as well as partnering with so many passionate educators on campus, both faculty and staff.
James Ligthart - Manager, Communications, Office of Vice Principal (Research)
James Ligthart, Manager of Communications and Digital Content for the Vice-Principal Research at Queen’s University, is a communications expert with more than two decades of digital communication experience. Following his education in Radio Broadcasting at Loyalist College, James began his career with various roles in outreach – including general promotion, coordination of special events, and website development. In 2014, James joined Queen’s University as the Marketing and Communications coordinator for Athletics and Recreation, and in 2021 moved his talents into the world of research communications. In the 3MT contest, James is excited about applying his new-found interest in research with his passion for the delivery of engaging and accessible content.
Cathy Keates, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs 
Cathy Keates, Director Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs (and recently Director, Career Services and Experiential Learning) has been leading services and resources for student career development and experiential learning for over 20 years. Two recent projects, the Major Maps and the Queen’s Skills Cards, were recognized with national CACEE Innovation Awards. A 2017 research study ranked Queen’s Career Services as the second most impressive model of postsecondary career services in Canada.
Miguel Hahn - Head Career Counsellor, Career Services 
Miguel Hahn has worked at Queen’s Career Services for 8 years, with another 7 years of experience working at the University of Toronto Career Centre, and time between on other adventures including international development, farming, and the non-profit sector. He is currently adding to his training from his Bachelor of Education, and coursework in a Master’s of Counselling Psychology with a business certificate from St. Lawrence College.
His work is divided between offering direct service to students in the form of workshops and appointments, leading the career counselling team, and working on special projects such as the Major Maps, Grad Maps, and Majors Night. He is particularly excited to be a part of the 3MT as his work with graduate students often includes working to convey the value of complex research experiences to other audiences such as employers.
Kelly Blair-Matuk - Associate Director in the Office of the Vice-Principal (Research)
Kelly Blair-Matuk has spent her career in an academic setting, in a variety of different roles. Following her doctoral work in Psychology/Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, she returned to Queen’s University, her alma mater, to work in the Department of Biology as a researcher and lecturer. In 2008, she began work in the Office of the Vice-Principal (Research), where she fulfilled a variety of functions, including the coordination of national and international prize nominations for outstanding faculty, serving as a co-managing editor of the Queen’s research magazine (e) AFFECT, coordinating high-profile events and announcements, developing communications materials for internal and external partners, and assisting on special research initiatives. In her current role as Associate Director, she leads the development and implementation of various research initiatives of strategic importance for the university and provides high-level strategic and operational support for university-wide initiatives led by the Vice-Principal (Research), including policy development and strategic planning.
Mark Swartz - Copyright Manager, Queen's Library
Mark Swartz is the Copyright Manager in the Queen’s University Library and a Visiting Program Officer (VPO) at the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL). Mark is passionate about libraries and open access publishing. As a VPO at CARL, he has been engaged in a wide variety of policy issues, including privacy, copyright, and online harms/misinformation.
Bittu George, University Council 
Arts '95, Law '98, Kingston, ON, lawyer. Member, Law Society of Ontario. Law Student Society Rep to AMS Assembly 1996-98; Law '99 Orientation Administrative Co-chair; Member, Tricolour Award Selection Committee 1996-98; QMP participant 1991-95; Law '98 permanent year Vice President. Former city councillor and deputy mayor of Kingston. Former member, City of Kingston Planning Committee. Former Adjudicator, Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) and Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT); Former Director and Vice President, Kingston General Hospital Foundation. Former Director, University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. Former Director, Kingston Economic Development Corporation. Former Director and Secretary, Kingston Technology Exchange Centre (Queen's-Kingston partnership). Past President, Alumni Association - Kingston Branch. Director and First Vice-Chair, Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Director and President, Friends of the Penitentiary Museum. Former Vice President, Kingston Area Race Relations Association. Bylaw Review Chair, Frontenac Law Association. Former Co-chair, SOARB. Former Member, Principal's Undergraduate Orientation Review Working Group. Former Member, Senate SOARB Review Working Group. Queen’s University Councillor, current term to 2024.
Mark Green, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) 
Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Dr. Mark Green is the university's chief academic, budget, and operating officer. In these roles, Dr. Green is responsible for the development of the university’s budget and has oversight of academic affairs at Queen’s. Dr. Green works closely with the university’s senior leadership team to ensure operational planning is fully integrated across the university, aligns with the university’s strategic vision, and is supported by an appropriate allocation of resources.
Dr. Green completed a B.Sc. in Mathematics and Engineering at Queen’s in 1987 and a Ph.D. at Cambridge University in 1991. He joined the Civil Engineering department at Queen’s as a postdoctoral fellow in 1991 and as a Queen’s National Scholar in 1993 and became a full Professor in 2002. He served as Acting Associate Academic Dean, Acting Head, and Associate Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, and from 2018 until 2020 he was Vice-Dean (Graduate Studies and Recruitment) of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
Dr. Green is an internationally respected research scholar in structural engineering whose award-winning work focuses on enabling structures to withstand extreme conditions and on sustainable engineering technologies. He has won the Professional Engineers Ontario Medal for Research and Development and the Premier’s Research Excellence Award. He is a Fellow of the International Institute for FRP in Construction and the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering. He champions multidisciplinary approaches to academic endeavours, and he has been cross-appointed to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Faculty of Education.
Dr. Green is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and he is interested in encouraging and supporting diversity and inclusivity throughout the university. He was the co-chair of the Queen’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Task Force and an advisor to the Principal’s Implementation Committee on Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (PICRDI). He is also an advisor to the Dean of Engineering and Applied Science on the development of an Aboriginal Access to Engineering Initiative, and he has served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Council of Queen’s and as Chair of the First Nations Technical Institute.
Alistair MacLean (member of the Council of the Retirees Association of Queen’s 
Alistair MacLean was educated at the University of Aberdeen and Queen’s University where he gained his Ph.D. in 1969. After a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Edinburgh he was appointed to the Department of Psychology at Queen’s from which he retired in 2016 as a Professor Emeritus. He has taught at all levels in the Faculty of Arts and Science and the School of Medicine. His research interests are in the psychology and psychophysiology of sleep. He has served in a number of administrative positions including as Head of the Department of Psychology, Associate Dean and Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science, and President of the Canadian Sleep Society.
Results
Finals Results
Winner: Amtul Haq Ayesha (Computing)
Runner Up: Navjit Gaurav (Rehabilitation Science)
People's Choice - TBA
Heat 1 Results (top 4 plus 1 wildcard go through to the final)
First Place: Navjit Gaurav (Rehabilitation Science)
Second Place: Sindhura Thirumal (Computing)
Third Place: Tie between Emily Cervenka (Biology) and Colton Barr (Computing)
Heat 2 Results (top 4 plus 1 wildcard go through to the final)
First Place: Chloe Robinson (Biology)
Second Place: Madison Robertson (Health Quality)
Third Place: Jane Mao (Education)