Graduate students will battle to win the University of Arkansas Three Minute Thesis competition in today's university-wide final.

The contest is at 2:30 p.m. today, Nov. 19, in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences building room 107E.

The students booked their spot in the final by winning contests in their academic colleges last week. In addition to earning a place in the final, the first-place finishers won $300. The runners up took home $100.

The winner of today's contest will earn $750 and a trip to a regional Three Minute Thesis event. All members of the campus community are invited to today's final. Attendees can vote for their favorite presentation. The People's Choice winner will earn $500.

Preliminary heat winners are:

First Place

• Rinalda Proko, doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs; her adviser is Martin Egan
• Woodrow Gilbertson, doctoral student in physics, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; his adviser is Bret Lehmer
• Elise Swanson, doctoral student in education policy, College of Education and Health Professions, her adviser is Gema Zamarro
• America Sotero, master's student in biological engineering, College of Engineering; her adviser is Yanbin Li
• Aubree Hawley, doctoral student in food science, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; her adviser is Jamie Baum
• Jacqueline Tilton, doctoral student in management, Sam M. Walton College of Business; her adviser is Jennifer Kish-Gephart

Second Place

• Melissa Chanderban, doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs; her adviser is Dan Lessner
• Mahsa Lotfi-Marchoubeh, doctoral student in chemistry, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; her adviser is Ingrid Fritsch
• Hawraa Alzouwain, doctoral student in curriculum and instruction, College of Education and Health Professions; her adviser is Felicia Lincoln
• Edidiong Udofia, doctoral student in mechancial engineering, College of Engineering; his adviser is Wenchao Zhou
• Tracy Hawk, master's student in plant pathology, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; her adviser is Travis Faske