Guleer Shahab to Represent VCU at the 3MT National Conference.jpg)
During the graduate school orientation, Guleer Shahab, a 3rd year PhD student in the Healthcare and Research Policy program, learned about the Three Minute Thesis, also called 3MT. The concept is simple. Students have three minutes and one static slide to discuss their research with a non-specialist audience. The competition began at the University of Queensland in Australia in 2008. Since then, it has grown to include universities worldwide, including VCU.
This fall, twenty graduate students from various disciplines came together for the preliminary round of competition. Half the students moved to the final round in October, where Guleer was deemed the VCU winner. Her research focuses on advancing cancer health equity. Specifically, Guleer is investigating the diversification of health systems data to include the SouthWest Asian and North African (SWANA) community in cancer equity research. She hopes this work will elucidate the true state of cancer disparities and allow policymakers to better advocate for culturally inclusive equity solutions. Guleer believes, “Sharing my research in layperson language is incredibly important for equitable dissemination of findings -- even in an academic setting.” Guleer will indeed continue to spread her message as she represents VCU at the 2024 Conference of Southern Graduate Schools competition being held in South Carolina this March. In the meantime, she will refine her three-minute presentation and hopes other VCU students will consider entering the competition next year. She advises participants, “Use your thesis or dissertation work when entering the 3MT competition because it provides an opportunity to revisit your research goals and intentions and the overall message you hope to convey with your work.”