Contact the NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
Three Minute Research Presentation (3MRP)
Save the Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Further details will be available soon!
For more information please see the 3MRP Information document. Please direct any questions to 3MRP@nau.edu. We look forward to seeing you then!
For Contestants
3MRP Deadlines & Timelines Accordion Closed
| Deadline Date | Description |
|---|---|
| By January 30th | Please review the 3MRP Resource Guide and Checklist by January 30th. This information will be posted to the 3MRP webpage in December 2025 and include information about the event, rules, and tips for success. |
| January 31st- February 19th | Prepare slide - Suggested preparation: • Review Judging Criteria, Rules, Evaluation Form, and Additional Resources on the • Meet with Cline Research Librarian to discuss research and presentation • Create 3MRP slide • Practice and consider recording a 3MRP Presentation (Similar to presenting in the preliminary heats & final competition e.g., standing (if possible); dressed professionally; no prompts (notecards, etc.) or reading of material) |
| By February 20th | Submit Preliminary Heat slide to 3MRP@nau.edu and sign up for Preliminary Heat date/time (link will be provided) |
| March 3rd and 4th | Preliminary Heat Competition (15-minute increments) via Zoom (link to be provided) Suggested preparation: • Practice 3MRP Presentation Standing (if possible) in preparation for final 3MRP competition; dressed professionally; NO reading or use of prompts/notecards (participant will be disqualified) • Solicit feedback from peers on presentation and slide |
| March 6th | Notification of finalists to students’ NAU email |
| March 9th - March 13th | Spring Break |
| By March 20th | Finalists - submit bio, professional headshot, and final 3MRP slide to 3MRP@nau.edu |
| March 7th - April 7th | Prepare for the finals - Suggested preparation for finalists: • Practice finalized 3MRP Presentation • Solicit feedback from mentors and peers |
| Thursday, April 9th 3:00pm - 4:30pm | Final 3MRP Presentations at NAU-Ashurst Auditorium (other students, finalists' guests, faculty members, administrators and community members are all invited to attend). Finalists arrive at 2:30pm. |
Information Accordion Closed
We are looking for students who have made progress on their project, research, creative work, etc., and can prepare a presentation that addresses the scope, significance, and impact of their work. Presenting preliminary data, pilot study data and preliminary results is fine; results do not necessarily need to be conclusive.
Additionally, NAU’s Office of Graduate & Professional Studies offers robust training and formal practice sessions for Northern Arizona University graduate students participating in the event. We work with you through training sessions, practice sessions, librarian support, and library resources so that you will be fully prepared and polished before you participate in the event.
Training resources Accordion Closed
Criteria, and training presentation
- 3MRP Judges Evaluation Criteria
- Research Assistance from Research Librarians
- The Studios
- Reserve Equipment
Presentation examples
Helpful hints and tips
The 3-Minute Research Presentation (3MRP) Competition provides an opportunity for NAU graduate students to present their thesis, dissertation, capstone research, scholarship, and/or creative work to an intelligent, non-specialist audience in just three minutes. This professional development opportunity is designed to increase and improve graduate students’ communication skills, as well as their capacity to effectively present research, scholarship, or creative work.
Past Competitions
Please direct any questions to 3MRP@nau.edu!
Spring 2025 Finalists Accordion Closed
| Name | Topic | Slide (Click on image for recording) |
|---|---|---|
| Hayley Yaglom | Microbial Populations and Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns Amongst Zoo-Housed Animals and their Caretakers |  |
| Laura Nicholson | Fungal Fears for Food Forests |  |
| Megan Meyer | Non-Diet Approaches to Self-Care in the Perinatal Period |  |
| Kelly Kendro | What Does it Mean to be Bilingual? |  |
| Samuel Hopkins | Improving Mobility of Individuals with Cerebral Palsy with a Smart Ankle Brace |  |
| Courtney Finkbeiner | Trauma-Informed Care in Physical Therapy: Practical Applications in DPT Curricula |  |
| Phoenix Eskridge-Aldama | Power Over Power: How Arizona's Energy Grid is Titled Against Change |  |
| Tyler Centner | Blink and You’ll Miss it: How Eye Movements Reveal Brain Injuries |  |
| Ivory Bacy | Microbial Trophic Complexity in the Rhizosphere |  |
Spring 2023 Winners Accordion Closed
Congratulations to this spring’s 3MRP winners! All final presentations can be viewed on the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies’ YouTube channel. Additionally, The NAU Review has posted great coverage on this year’s 3MRP finals.