Trinity PhD candidate wins 2025 EU 3-Minute Thesis competition

Talented communicator Almudena Moreno Borrallo has won the final of the 2025 Three Minute Thesis competition, defeating 27 other competitors from a total of 19 countries.

Almudena, a PhD candidate at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Trinity, was one of just three speakers shortlisted for the live final which took place in the University of Bologna earlier today , alongside  Bianca Brandl (University of Graz) and Uffe Kjærgaard (Aarhus University).

Her research, which she presented live in just three minutes with a single supporting slide as a visual aid, focuses on stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems for the treatment and diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme.

With her presentation, called "Triggering Healing: Materials that outsmart Brain Cancer", Almudena had emerged victorious from the final of Trinity's internal 3MT competition, which took place in March.

"I can't believe I won," said Almudena after the competition. "It's been incredibly challenging and rewarding. Communicating complex research is not easy but it can be done and I am delighted to have had this experience."

Dean of Graduate Studies Martine Smith said: "We are very proud of Almudena whose PhD work is in the area of the most common brain cancer in adults. This competition showcases exciting and innovating research and promotes communication of the findings. The challenge of presenting complex research ideas and findings in three minutes is a big one, and Almudena excelled."

The finalists were chosen after an online vote among all Coimbra Group Universities, an association of long-established European multidisciplinary universities.

The Coimbra Group launched its 3MT Competition in 2017, as an initiative to advance the professional development of PhD candidates.

 Founded by The University of Queensland, Australia, 3MT cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

ENDS