Previous 3MT Competitions
2025 Event
JCU’s 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition once again proved that our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates can turn complex research into captivating stories. Hosted by Professor Andrew Mallett at the Bebegu Yumba campus and streamed to the JCU community on 20 August, the event was a masterclass in concise communication.
Judges Mr John Chandler, the Hon. Jan McLucas, and Professor Mitch Parsell faced the unenviable task of crowning a champion from an exceptionally talented field. The top honors went to Ms Varsha Vivek Balu, who swept both the Overall Winner and People’s Choice awards, while Ms Anna Wilson was named a very impressive Runner-Up.
The celebration only grew from there, as Varsha took her winning presentation to the national stage. Representing JCU with distinction, she went on to win the Innovative Research Universities (IRU) 3MT competition and was ultimately named the People’s Choice winner at the prestigious 2025 Asia-Pacific 3MT final.
Varsha Vivek Balu, College of Science and Engineering
Secrets in the Slime: Biomarkers in Fish Skin Mucus
Disease outbreaks are one of the largest disruptions in production systems and are responsible for large losses in the aquaculture industry. Currently, most commercial production environments only treat diseases when there is visual presentation or mortalities. Using advanced ‘omics’ approaches, this project aims to understand the drivers of parasite outbreaks, by investigating host animal health; pathogen population dynamics and abundances; and environmental factors such as water quality that might be drivers or indicators of disease outbreaks. This project will facilitate development of pathogen diagnostics that will allow farms to detect population changes, intervene early and potentially control these outbreaks.
Anna Wilson, College of Science and Engineering
A genetic roadmap for the selection of high-performing strains of Asparagopsis taxiformis in an aquaculture setting.
The red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis is a significant source of bromoform, particularly useful as a feed additive to reduce methane production in ruminants. Commercial cultivation of this species is essential to meet the global demand for biomass and successful production hinges on identifying and selecting high performing strains due to significant phenotypic differences between isolates. To improve the productivity of cultivation, this research will utilise DNA-barcoding and Genotype-by-Sequencing, to investigate the genetic diversity of A. taxiformis populations across Queensland and develop robust genotyping tools than can be used to inform seedstock selection. Laboratory experiments will explore genotype-by-environment interactions, integrating traditional phenotyping with transcriptomics and metabolomics to characterise commercially valuable traits. The research aims to provide a roadmap for selecting superior strains for commercialisation and establish a genetic foundation for future aquaculture legislation, ecological conservation, and regional biosecurity.
| Name | College | Title |
|---|---|---|
Janitha Iddagoda | James Cook University Singapore | Screams of Allergy vs Whispers of Tolerance Shellfish allergy affects millions globally and is often species-specific, making diagnosis especially challenging. In my research, patients with a history of shellfish allergy underwent oral food challenges with two prawn species. Some were tolerant, while others reacted to one or both. IgE antibodies, the immune system's "screams of allergy", could not figure out the reason. In contrast, IgG antibodies, the "whispers of tolerance," showed potential signs of protection. My research highlights the value of combining IgE and IgG profiling to improve diagnostic accuracy. This complementary approach may reduce reliance on risky food challenges and support safer, more precise allergy diagnosis. |
Michael Haan | College of Healthcare Sciences | Starting over twice; life after retirement migration Many retirees from the Global North move to Thailand seeking connection, affordability, and a fresh start. Yet they face major adjustments in language, culture, and daily routines. This study explores what happens when retirement and migration occur together, using a year-long, three-stage interview process with 15 participants. Early months prove critical, shaping long-term wellbeing. Some retirees build new routines, friendships, and purpose, while others struggle with isolation and uncertainty. Findings will inform pre-departure guidance, community programs, and occupational therapy approaches, supporting retirees to adapt successfully and thrive in their new environment. |
Francesca Earp | College of Medicine and Dentistry | Flat-Pack Development: When Theory Meets Reality There is often a gap between what we think should happen in theory and what actually happens in reality. In global development this can result in a gap between how development programs are planned and how they are delivered. In this three-minute thesis, Francesca reflects on the findings from her PhD project investigating the factors influencing gender-targeted development programming in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. She emphasises the importance of collaborating with target communities to identify problems and create effective, culturally relevant solutions that are not driven by Western theories or methodologies. |
| Matthew Connors | College of Science and Engineering | Have you seen this katydid? The Australian Phaneropterinae (Leaf Katydids) are diverse and abundant insects found across Australia, but their taxonomy and systematics are very poorly resolved. Many species and genera are yet to be described and almost nothing is known of their evolutionary history. This project will employ integrated taxonomy to delimit and taxonomically revise the Australian genera, and will use high-throughput DNA sequencing techniques to construct robust phylogenies of the Australian taxa. It will provide much-needed taxonomic clarity to a historically complex group, and will provide novel insights into their diversification and evolution in Australia. |
2024 event
JCU’s 2024 Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition marked an exciting return to live events after a five‑year hiatus. Held on Friday 30 August at the Sir George Kneipp Auditorium in Townsville and livestreamed to the JCU Ideas Lab in Cairns, the event brought together HDR candidates who captivated the audience with engaging three‑minute presentations about their research. Hosted by Associate Professor Joseph Moxon, the competition was judged by Ms Suzanne Wilson, Professor Stephan Riek, and Emeritus Professor Helene Marsh. Following the presentations, guests enjoyed refreshments and networking, celebrating the creativity and communication skills of JCU’s emerging researchers.
Robyn Pearce, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences
Bat Flies: Do they play the role of villain or hero in zoonotic disease transmission?
Bat flies are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites that live and feed on bats. Bats carry viruses that concern public health, such as the Australian Bat Lyssa Virus, Hendra virus and Nipah virus. Bat Flies could play an important role in maintaining and transmitting these viruses among bat populations. They could also be used for early detection of possible endemic or pandemic-causing pathogens. My project aims to identify what species of bat flies are in North Queensland and determine which viruses they carry. I will also identify if any of the viruses are linked to bat-related viruses that concern health authorities.
Jeffrey Ling, JCU Singapore
Can I Have a Blood Test, Please?
Scale Drop Disease Virus (SDDV) is an emerging virus affecting barramundi. It has been reported that it could result in 50 to 70% mortality. In an experimental viral challenge trial, it was found that barramundi infected with higher doses of the virus had higher antibody responses, compared to those infected with lower doses of the virus. However, prominent inflammation leading to extensive multi-focal splenic infarct were found in fish exposed with higher doses of virus. This may have contributed to secondary vibriosis in sampled fish. Future research could explore using potent anti-inflammatory medication to manage inflammatory response following SDDV infections.
Yashodha Hewage, College of Business, Law and Governance
Transparency Matters!
Quality business information disclosure is crucial as it significantly impacts the entire community. I am addressing this global issue by developing an index to measure the quality of corporate information in Sri Lanka's annual reports, covering financial, governance, operational, and social aspects. This index evaluates whether the information is relevant, truthful, understandable, comparative, and timely. Currently, no such comprehensive assessment exists in Sri Lanka or globally. Subsequently, I will analyse the impact of the quality of business information on Sri Lankan companies' value. To understand why reporting quality varies among firms, I will also collect data via a questionnaire.
| Name | College | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Carolyn Heward | College of Healthcare Sciences | Forging heroes: Unveiling the Transformational Journey of Military Identity |
| Francesca Earp | College of Medicine and Dentistry | Band-Aids, Helmets and Other Mistakes in Global Development |
| Samantha Saidi | College of Arts, Society and Education | Experiences of global talent migrants in Australia |
| Holly Farnan | College of Science and Engineering | Bee hotels: Helpful or harmful? |
2023 Event
The 2023 JCU 3MT Final was held on Friday 8 September 2023 via a Zoom Webinar, hosted by Associate Professor Victoria Kuttainen. The audience enjoyed ten 3MT video presentations with the runner up and winner announced by the JCU Chancellor, Professor Ngiare Brown.
Rhys Gillman
College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences
Sarah Jackson
College of Healthcare Sciences
Rural and remote stroke survivors driving their own recovery using technology
| Name | College | 3MT Title and Vimeo Link |
|---|---|---|
| Muhamad Ailf Bin Ibrahim | JCU Singapore | "Aren’t we family too?": Rethinking relationships and families in Singapore |
| Angelique Hoffmann | CSE | Solving the Christmas prawn mysteries: protecting festive delights and seafood joy |
| Sania Qureshi | CPHMVS | Artificial Intelligence Based Risk Prediction of Zoonotic Spillover |
| Ryley Dorney | CPHMVS | Patient-tailored Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Long-read Sequencing |
| Vinay Gangathimmaiah | CMD | Better value, fewer tests: A paradigm shift |
| Nicholas Bail | CSE | The importance of genetic factors to species' extinction and survival |
| Dominic Orih | CASE | Education…for life! |
| Febrio Lunardo | CSE | AI's Guess Who: Beating Cancer Motion at its Own Game |