When Brittney Knott, a doctoral student in the Graduate Biomedical Sciences’ (GBS)  Immunology theme, stepped onto the stage for UAB’s 2025 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, she wasn’t just sharing her research—she was embracing a challenge she had long wanted to take on: communicating science beyond the lab.

“Since deciding to pursue a career in research, I’ve always wanted to be a scientist who can talk about my work to the public,” Knott said. “The majority of my audiences so far have been my colleagues at UAB or other scientists at conferences, so I wanted to challenge myself to communicate my research to the public.”

That challenge paid off as her presentation titled “New Life After Transplantation - How Immunosuppression Shapes Pregnancy” earned her first place in this year’s 3MT competition. Created by the University of Queensland, the 3MT competition provides doctoral and select master’s students with the opportunity to showcase their research in just three minutes, using language suitable for a non-specialist audience.

Knott’s research focuses on understanding how immune cells in the uterus develop and function across various contexts, including the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and organ transplantation. Her work has the potential to shed light on conditions such as pre-eclampsia, pre-term labor and fetal growth restriction, offering insight into how a better understanding of the immune system could improve maternal and fetal health.

Through the 3MT experience, Knott discovered something unexpected about herself: a genuine joy in sharing her research with the public.

“I found that I really enjoy talking about my research to others, especially to a lay audience,” she said. “It’s rewarding and invites curiosity. Those conversations help me think about my work in new ways, so I can improve and expand it.”

Since 2016, UAB’s 3MT competition continues to highlight the depth and diversity of research being done across campus.

“Through the years, the UAB Three Minute Thesis competitors have continually impressed me,” said Interim Graduate School Dean David Schneider, PhD. “They all do important, but very complex research. Through practice and planning, they find a way to distill that work down, relaying their key findings and the impact of their work to a lay audience.

“I applaud all of the competitors and I encourage others to participate in the years ahead. Communicating your work to people outside of your discipline is a critically important skill; not to mention fun!”

Knott will take the stage again next year in Baton Rouge, LA, representing UAB at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools’ (CSGS) regional 3MT competition where she will compete against top presenters from 200 graduate schools across 15 states.

“I’m excited to see all the different topics and meet other researchers,” she said. “At UAB, the camaraderie among contestants made the competition so fun and engaging. I’m looking forward to that same spirit at regionals.”