Finalists have been determined for the University of Arkansas Graduate School's third-annual Three Minute Thesis competition. The finalists will compete in a university-wide final at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2 in the Graduate Education Building auditorium.

Finalists were determined in preliminary heats held in each academic college last week. The first place winners earned $300 and a spot in the Feb. 2 contest. The runners up took home $100.

All members of the campus community are invited to attend the final. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite presentation. The winner of the university-wide final will earn $750 and a trip to a regional Three Minute Thesis competition, while the People's Choice winner will earn $500.

Preliminary heat winners are:

First Place

• Dennis Nicuh Lozada, doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs; his adviser is Esten Mason.
• Arley Ward, doctoral student in history, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; his adviser is Michael Pierce.
• Malachi Nichols, doctoral student in education policy, College of Education and Health Professions; his adviser is Gema Zamarro.
• Edidiong Udofia, doctoral student in mechanical engineering, College of Engineering; his adviser is Wenchao Zhou.
• Sarah Chewning, master's student in animal science, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; her adviser is Jiangchao Zhao.
• Dinesh Hasija, doctoral student in management, Sam M. Walton College of Business; his adviser is Alan Ellstrand.

Second Place

• Ellen Czaplinski, doctoral student in space and planetary science, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs; her adviser is Vincent Chevrier.
• Mahsa Lotfi-Marchoubeh, doctoral student in chemistry, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; her adviser is Ingrid Fritsch.
• M. Danish Shakeel, doctoral student in education policy, College of Education and Health Professions; his adviser is Robert Maranto.
• Megan Laughlin, doctoral student in biomedical engineering, College of Engineering; her adviser is Morten Jensen.
• Stephen Robertson, doctoral student in entomology, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; his adviser is Ashley Dowling.