Three CEAT graduate students shine in university-wide Three Minute Thesis competition

Three CEAT graduate students shine in university-wide Three Minute Thesis competition

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Media Contact: Tanner Holubar | Communications Specialist | 405-744-2065 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology graduate students Vishesh Bhadariya, Bunty Tomar and Suman Poudel rose to the top during the CEAT portion of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition hosted by the OSU Graduate College.

They competed first against their CEAT peers, then took part in the universitywide portion of the competition.

Poudel's thesis was then selected as the overall winner for the university, competing against students from several different colleges at OSU.

The competition challenged students to present their research and its real-world impact to a wide range of audience members in just three minutes while only using a single slide. A panel of professionals and community leaders served as judges, and audience members had the chance to select their favorite presentation through the People's Choice Award.

Poudel, a master's student in civil and environmental engineering from Nepal, earned first place with his presentation, "Quantifying the Contribution of Wind-borne Debris Impact to Structural Failure through Multi-scale Modeling of Transmission Infrastructure." His research aims to understand how debris impacts transmission structures during high winds and other weather abnormalities, helping improve the strength of infrastructure systems.

When getting ready for the competition, these graduate students were hard at work managing their research within the eyes of the public, with Poudel saying that the preparation "felt like a constant balancing act between my researcher's mindset and my public speaker's instinct."

Tomar, a mechanical engineering Ph.D. student from New Delhi, India, took second place along with the People's Choice Award with his presentation, "When Electricity Heals Instead of Hurts." His research focuses on using stray electrical current in electric vehicles to repair worn gears and bearings, potentially extending the lifespan of electric vehicle parts. Tomar hopes that his research will benefit society, helping a new age of automotive technology overcome the challenges of the future. This is Tomar's second time placing in the competition and he has also been named a finalist for the Graduate Excellence in Materials Science Award in the Basic Science Division by the American Ceramic Society.

Bhadariya, a petroleum engineering Ph.D. student from Jaipur, India, earned third place with his presentation, titled "Recycling the Renewable." His research addresses the growing challenge of discarded wind turbine blades by recycling waste fiberglass into fine fibers for use in oil well cement formulations. This sustainable approach enhances cement strength, durability and crack resistance while reducing waste from renewable energy materials.

Competitors were actively tackling how to include the technical details of their research while still presenting them to a group of non-specialists within the three-minute time limit. These competitions have also aided students in their preparation for their future, helping to refine public speaking skills and simplify complex ideas while delivering them with confidence.

"3MT drives me toward more people-oriented research, ensuring my work is focused on creating practical solutions that contribute to the betterment of society and this world," Tomar said.

This is the type of competition that allows students to get real-world feedback on their research, something that is invaluable as they work toward their full-time careers.

The competition originated at the University of Queensland in 2008 and has since spread to more than 85 countries. The OSU Graduate College hosts the 3MT competition annually. To learn more, visit the Graduate College website.

Story By: Henry Spoering | [email protected]