Maria Wins 3MT

Friday, February 26, 2016

Zahra Maria of Dhaka, Bangladesh, hopes to one day become a researcher in a national laboratory in the United States. She recently took a step closer to that goal when she won the 3 Minute Thesis Competition at OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Working on her Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering, Maria presented her research project entitled, “Is Diabetes Breaking the Heart?”

Maria earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University.

“I wanted to bridge the gap between engineering and biology,” explained Maria. “Although I began research in mechanical engineering, my interest led me to work in Dr. Veronique Lacombe’s lab in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the veterinary center. I’m completing studies regarding the effect of diabetes on cardiovascular disease including both the mechanical and physiological aspects.”

The object of the competition is to hone the presenter’s skills to successfully describe his or her research in laymen’s terms in three minutes or less. A panel of three judges from outside the veterinary center selected first, second and third places while those attending the competition voted for the People’s Choice Award.

Maria received $300 for first place and the opportunity to vie for additional prize money in the university—wide competition to be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016. You can view her award winning presentation at 3 Minute Thesis Competition.