Skip to main content

PVM Graduate Student is Finalist in Three Minute Thesis Competition

Dr. Maggie O'Haire, PVM assistant professor of human-animal interaction, with Kerri Rodriguez, human-animal interaction graduate student in PVM’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, and her dog Hendrix.
Kerri Rodriguez (left), human-animal interaction graduate student in PVM’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, and her dog, Hendrix, pictured with her mentor, Dr. Maggie O’Haire, PVM associate professor of human-animal interaction.

Congratulations to Kerri Rodriguez, graduate student of human-animal interaction in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, who is one of ten finalists in the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition at Purdue.  Developed by The University of Queensland, 3MT is a research communication competition designed to enhance academic, presentation, and research communication skills and support the development of students’ capacities to effectively explain their research in language appropriate to an intelligent but nonspecialist audience.

Purdue holds its annual 3MT competition each spring as a celebration of the discoveries made by graduate students and to allow the broader community to learn about ongoing research at Purdue.  It is free and open to the public. 

The Final 3MT Competition will be this Tuesday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m., in the Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center.  Cash prizes will be awarded to three winners, including the “People’s Choice Award” recipient, who will be selected by audience members using clickers.  The other award selections will be made by a panel of judges.  Evaluations are based on communication style, comprehension, and engagement.  The winners will be announced at the conclusion of the program, which will be followed by a reception sponsored by the Purdue University President’s Council.

In addition to Kerri, the other finalists who will be making presentations are:

  • Megan LaFollette, Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture
  • Jacob Pecenka, Entomology, College of
    Agriculture
  • Erin Sorlien, Biochemistry, College of
    Agriculture
  • Punyashloka Debashis, Electrical and Computer
    Engineering, College of Engineering
  • Mohamadreza Moini, Civil Engineering, College of
    Engineering
  • Mychaela Coyne, Health Sciences, College of
    Health and Human Sciences
  • Svetlana Beilfuss, Economics, Krannert School of
    Management
  • Nivedita Shetty, Industrial and Physical Pharmacy
    (IPPH), College of Pharmacy
  • Mingding Wang, Chemistry, College of Science

Currently enrolled graduate students in all disciplines at Purdue University are eligible to participate in 3MT.  The research presented must have been conducted at Purdue University, not from a previous degree, and should be in the final stages.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

DVM and Veterinary Technology students gain job opportunity insights at fall PVM Career Fair

Purdue Veterinary Medicine's Fall Career Fair brought veterinary and veterinary technology students together with employers on October 30 at the Purdue Memorial Union. Students explored career opportunities, internships and externships while meeting representatives from veterinary practices and organizations.

In Memory: Dr. Mary Beth Leininger (PU DVM ’67)

Purdue Veterinary Medicine remembers Dr. Mary Beth Leininger (DVM 1967), who died November 6, 2026, at age 83. The first woman elected president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, she spent nearly three decades in private practice and held leadership positions in veterinary medicine, industry and education.

“Paws Up” for Kayla Fuqua – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Kayla Fuqua, the day-shift Emergency and Critical Care receptionist at our veterinary hospital, is this week's Paws Up honoree. A colleague recognized her for supporting clients, coworkers and veterinary students, answering questions and helping her department during busy shifts.

MMAS Symposium at Purdue provides hands-on learning about Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species

More than 80 participants joined Purdue Veterinary Medicine's 2026 Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species Symposium on October 31 and November 1. Organized by the Exotic Animal Club, the two-day event combined presentations on exotic animal medicine with hands-on training in parrot handling, rabbit examinations, avian clinical pathology and other specialized topics.

Costumed characters boost Halloween spirits in Lynn Hall

Halloween brought Minions, the Lorax, Super Mario Bros. characters and plenty of other costumes to Purdue Veterinary Medicine. Students, faculty and staff celebrated with costume contests, trick-or-treating and a Halloween dessert competition in Lynn Hall, the Reed ADDL and the Veterinary Hospital.