Announcing the Winners of the 2026 OVC Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition
On April 1st, the 2026 OVC Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition brought together a diverse cross-section of student researchers, each showcasing their innovative work.
The 3MT® is an annual international competition in which graduate students present a plain language summary of their research to a panel of non-specialist judges, using one slide as a visual aid–a feat that they must complete just in three minutes.
The panel of judges for the 2026 OVC 3MT® competition had a difficult decision to make when considering which of the- presentations should be awarded the top two prizes.
We spoke with one of the judges, Dr. Alice Defarges, OVC Interim Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies. "What resonated most with me was the level of passion exhibited by all participants, shares Defarges “Their ability to convey the depth of their work with clarity and confidence reflected a high level of maturity.” shares Dr. Defarges.
This year’s OVC 3MT® competition consisted of six graduate student researchers. Congratulations to Saira Asif (PhD), Thoreau Colucci (MSc), Olivia Gibson (MSc), Fiona Mcllhargey (PhD), Ritu Verma (PhD), and Sarah Worfolk (PhD) for stepping outside their comfort zones, sharing their research, and honing their public speaking skills in such an inspiring way.
OVC 3MT® Competition Winners
First Place: Thoreau Colucci
Program: Master of Science in Population Medicine
Presentation Title: ‘Does Pain Control Actually Help Lambs Recover?’
Supervised by Drs. Charlotte Winder and Tracy Burnett, Colucci’s research examines growth and recovery outcomes for lambs when pain control is used during tail docking. His work provides important insights into how recovery is measured in animals and aims to improve animal welfare overall.
When asked about his experience in the 3MT® Colucci expressed his enjoyment of the process. “My favourite part was watching the other presentations and seeing the wide range of research happening across the OVC.”
Second Place: Sarah Worfolk
Program: Doctor of Philosophy in Pathobiology
Presentation Title: ‘A Trojan Horse for Canine Cancer Immunotherapy’
Supervised by Dr. Sam Workenhe, Worfolk studies the underlying mechanisms of cell death regulation in dogs. Her research aims to ultimately aid in the development of therapies that improve health for both animals and humans, by harnessing immunogenic apoptosis.
Similarly to Colucci, Worfolk conveyed that she enjoyed of the unique challenge of the 3MT® competition. “As both a speaker and audience member, the 3MT competition really highlighted the importance of making science accessible and meaningful beyond the scientific community.”
Passion that Inspires
The 2026 OVC 3MT® competition was a powerful demonstration of what drives the OVC forward each year–the innovation, drive, and dedication of our students. These presentations stand as a reminder of the passion that inspires students to conduct research with the OVC.
Colucci and Worfolk will go on to compete at the University of Guelph 3MT® competition finals, taking place on April 30th, 2026. We wish them the best of luck and thank them for being such strong representations of the OVC.
