3MT final winners announced

A Biomedical Science PhD candidate is Griffith University’s 2017 Three Minute Thesis(3MT) Champion.

Heidi Walkdenwon the judges over with her presentation encapsulating her research work into how bacteria penetrates the brain’s Central Nervous System by invading peripheral nerves.

A PhD candidate in Neuroscience and Microbiology, Heidi impressed the judging panel with her ability to distill a complex body of research and outcomes into a coherent and understandable three minute summation.

Senior DVC (Research) Professor Ned Pankurst with 3MT winner Heidi Walkden and Judges Chair Professor Sue Berners-Price

“I was really stunned at winning because there was so many great presentations and incredible research being articulated.”

Working with both Menzies Health Institute of Queensland and Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Heidi completed her undergraduate with honors degree in Biomedical Science at QUT before moving to Griffith to finish her doctorate.

Director of Griffith’s Graduate Research School Dr Sharon Saunderspraised all thirteen finalists saying the competition is now an integral part of the Graduate School’s calendar

“The Three Minute Thesis is a great way for Griffith to showcase the remarkable work our Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates are doing.

“The calibre of presentations was fantastic and to describe your research in just three years to a lay audience is a tremendous skill,” Dr Saunders said.

Griffith Business School PhD candidate Api Movono was runner up with his presentation: “Tourism destinations as complex adaptive systems.”

Heidi will represent Griffith at the annual Asia-Pacific 3MT finals to be held at the University of Queensland at the end of September.