North Columbus News

Andrew Mitchell, a graduate student at The Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy, has advanced his cancer research by winning the university-wide Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This event challenges students to present their research in just three minutes and was held at the Ohio Union.

Mary Stromberger, dean of the Graduate School, highlighted the importance of 3MT for developing communication skills and fostering a vibrant research culture. “It’s a way for students to practice telling the story of their research in a way that’s easy for others to understand and to share how their research will benefit society,” she said.

Mitchell's presentation, "Molecular Glue: A New Way to Stick it to Cancer," earned him first place and a $500 prize. His work explores innovative methods for targeting cancer cells. He used an analogy involving Pac-Man to explain his hypotheses. “I use an analogy to Pac-Man to explain how current therapeutics — which are inhibitors — work,” he said.

Kerry Rogers, an associate professor of hematology who mentored Mitchell, emphasized the importance of making research accessible. “I think this skillset to be able to make your research accessible to more people is extremely important,” Rogers stated.

Xinyue Fan won second place with her presentation on natural alternatives to synthetic dyes, receiving a $400 prize. Dina Eissa won the People’s Choice award and a $500 prize for her work on quantum mechanics.

The event was organized by Karin Jordan from the Graduate School and judged by Isis Bara Costa, Ellen Patricia, and Joseph Walter. Mitchell will represent Ohio State at the regional thesis competition this spring.