Graduate Division

Three Minute Thesis Competition showcases doctoral research

Shayla Brown — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:40:07 +0000

Three Minute Thesis Competition showcases doctoral research Shayla Brown Mon, 12/01/2025 - 10:40

In This Story

Rania Zaied, a fourth-year PhD student in �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Communication, has won first-place at the annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, an engaging event that showcases the innovative research of doctoral candidates. She will advance to the 2026 regional competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hosted by the Council of Southern Graduate Schools. 

3MT first place winner Rania Zaied (left) with Stephanie Bluth. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding.

The competition took place on November 7, 2025, and was organized by the Graduate Division of the Provost’s Office. The competition invites PhD students from various schools and colleges within the university to present their research in a concise and compelling format. 

Students from the College of Education and Human Development, College of Engineering and Computing, College of Humanities and Social Science, College of Public Health, and College of Science participated, presenting their chosen research topics with a single slide and a strict three-minute time limit. A panel of eight judges evaluated the presentations. 

This year, the doctoral candidates explored a diverse range of topics, including the integration of Gen-AI in K-12 classrooms and novel approaches to combating bacteria and biofilms. The competition concluded with the following winners: 

First Place: Rania Zaied (CHSS): “Decoding the Joke: Muslim Representations in Comedy and Their Impact on Internalized Anti-Muslim Racism.” 
Second Place: Mahmood Almosuli (COS): “Designer Phage: The Way to Beat Bacteria and Biofilms.” 
Third Place: Rooshna Mohsin (CPH): “Balancing the Risks: Dietary and Social Predictors of PFAs Exposure and Associated Health Outcomes in Hispanic Children.” 
People’s Choice: Oakley Thomas Hill (Carter School): “The Justice Languages of America.”

The winners of the 3MT competition. Photo by Eduardo Macedo/Office of University Branding.

Zaied had previously competed in a 3MT competition at James Madison University during her master’s studies and found it a rewarding experience.  

“It truly helped me share my research clearly with any audience in a way that was simple, and to the point, regardless of their background. So, I really wanted to do it again for my doctoral dissertation, and train myself to talk about my research simply and concisely,” Zaied explained. 

Zaied is conducting a qualitative study involving online interviews with Muslim audiences, utilizing thematic analysis to identify and interpret recurring themes in participants' experiences.

She attributes much of her success to the constructive feedback received from various resources at George �鶹��Ƶ, including workshops led by Graduate Professional and Career Development Program Coordinator Alyssa Bivins, preliminary round feedback from judges, and consultations with her mentor Melissa Broeckelman-Post and Communication Center staff.

“I also attended a practice session with Dr. Bivins and Makayla Johnson, who provided valuable feedback regarding clarity for a general audience, body language, and word choices in my speech,” said Zaied, who has a concentration in strategic communications.

With the support of George �鶹��Ƶ’s resources, Zaied polished her presentation through continuous practice and refinement.  

“Some feedback might have been small tweaks here and there, but all of it together truly brought my speech a long way from where it had started and really made a huge difference,” she said.  

“I’m very excited to move forward to the regional competition and represent �鶹��Ƶ there,” she said. 

Topics

Three Minute Thesis

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Graduate Division

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Students

George �鶹��Ƶ interns make a difference at biotech start-ups

Katarina Benson — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:54:21 +0000

George �鶹��Ƶ interns make a difference at biotech start-ups Katarina Benson Tue, 08/19/2025 - 12:54

This summer, �鶹��Ƶ graduate students rolled up their sleeves in busy labs, learned their way around unfamiliar equipment, and even played a part in moving clinical trials forward, working with start-ups and biotech companies in the recently established Innovation District anchored by the university’s Science and Technology Campus.

Biosciences PhD candidate Ahana Byne worked at Ceres Nanosciences for a second summer. Photo provided

It is part of a program George �鶹��Ƶ’s Graduate Division rolled out two years ago that puts students right in the thick of active research. They work side by side with scientists and get a firsthand look at how research projects come together. Each participating George �鶹��Ƶ research institute accepts around 10 applications. The Institute for Biohealth Innovation leveraged this opportunity to connect five PhD students with life science industry mentors.

Biosciences PhD candidate Ahana Byne returned to Ceres Nanosciences for her second summer, drawn back by the promise of its Nanotrap® technology to catch illnesses before symptoms appear. Ceres Nanosciences is a Manassas, Virginia-based company that’s licensed the university’s proprietary Nanotrap® particle technology and incorporated it into a range of diagnostic and research use products and workflows.

In the lab, Byne moved quickly from planning experiments to reviewing results and fixing problems, a pace far beyond what she was used to in academic research. “In academic settings, you’re usually focused on concocting new ideas and exploring them in depth,” said Byne. “In industry, it’s about clear processes and concrete results. Experiencing both has helped me see more clearly where I want to go next.”

Ben Lepene, Ceres Nanosciences director of research and development, served as Byne’s mentor. Lepene said Byne’s know-how and clear thinking helped the team gather data they rely on to support customers and answer questions about product performance. When asked for his best advice to Byne, Lepene said, “Keep good records and make sure results can be repeated, because in a commercial setting, consistency is everything.”

Ben Lepene, Ceres Nanosciences director of research and development, (left) served as PhD candidate Ahana Byne's mentor. Photo provided

At another Innovation District partner company, Virongy Biosciences, which develops virus-based research tools and diagnostics, bioscience doctoral student Lorreta Opoku spent her internship assembling and cloning alpha pseudoviruses for virology research. Progress came through careful and steady work, with small changes that moved the experiments ahead until the results fell into place.

“Successfully generating and validating my first batch of pseudoviruses was extremely satisfying,” said Opoku. Outside the lab, she spoke with clients, packed orders, and got them ready to send, which helped her learn the practical side of a research company.

At Tracked Biotechnologies LLC, kinesiology PhD student Ahmadreza Souri worked alongside mentor Michael Petr, the company’s CEO and chief scientist. They split their summer days between pilot clinical trials, grant proposals, and Institutional Review Board paperwork. That same brisk rhythm drives the company as it develops AI tools that let scientists, clinicians, and consumers explore human and animal behavior with speed and accuracy.

“Mentorship creates a strong foundation for aspiring professionals,” said Petr. “I make it a priority to teach mentees to the best of my ability and share how we approach commercialization in the context of research.”

Topics

Science and Technology Campus

�鶹��Ƶ’s Laurence Bray elected president of VCGS

Melanie Balog — Mon, 15 May 2023 13:58:29 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ’s Laurence Bray elected president of VCGS Melanie Balog Mon, 05/15/2023 - 09:58

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Laurence Bray, PhD

Laurence Bray, associate provost for graduate education and leader of the Graduate Division at �鶹��Ƶ, has been elected to serve as president of the Virginia Council of Graduate Schools (VCGS). Bray will succeed current VCGS president Jeannine Perry, dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Longwood University, on July 1, 2023.

Laurence Bray. Photo by Creative Services

Founded in 1999, VCGS is a consortium of colleges and universities that builds awareness of the benefits of post-graduate education for students across the commonwealth and for the citizens of Virginia who rely upon those benefits socially, professionally, and economically.

“Dr. Bray has made significant advancements in the future of graduate education and has been the engine that moved the creation of the Graduate Division forward,” said �鶹��Ƶ Provost and Executive President Mark R. Ginsberg. “Through the cultivation of relationships with administrators and faculty in all our colleges, she has managed to create seamless experiences across the full spectrum of our students. I am delighted Dr. Bray will be leading the Virginia Council of Graduate Schools and look forward to seeing how graduate education across the commonwealth will benefit from her energy, creativity and clarity in this new role.”

Bray’s vision of elevating graduate education, its visibility, and impact within the commonwealth and beyond aligns with VCGS’s strategic goals. During her presidency, Bray plans to be an advocate on behalf of member institutions for graduate policies, legislation, and funding that advances the mission of graduate education within Virginia. She also will develop possible solutions to mutual challenges in graduate education.

In addition, Bray will collaborate with other organizations, such as the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, and the Council of Graduate Schools, to exchange and disseminate information and promote mutually beneficial opportunities. Finally, she will place diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values in the Council’s decision-making, allocation of resources, and advocacy.

“I am honored and humbled to have been elected by my peers to serve as the new President of VCGS. This recognition will help elevate the impact and visibility of �鶹��Ƶ’s new Graduate Division and grow collaboration with other institutions and partners that promote graduate education,” Bray said.

Topics

Faculty and Staff News

Office of the Provost

Graduate Division

�鶹��Ƶ launches Graduate Division

Colleen Rich — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 19:39:38 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ launches Graduate Division Colleen Rich Tue, 03/07/2023 - 14:39

�鶹��Ƶ’s Office of the Provost celebrated the launch of the Graduate Division at a kick-off breakfast ceremony on Jan. 31.

�鶹��Ƶ’s Office of the Provost celebrated the launch of the Graduate Division at a kick-off breakfast ceremony on Jan. 31. Photo provided

The new Graduate Division, directed by Associate Provost Laurence Bray, plays a lead role in preparing well-rounded and diverse graduates to contribute to research productivity and workforce development.

Bray’s team will be responsible for building a robust foundation to maximize graduate student academic success (retention, degree completion, and time-to-degree), as well as fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion that serves both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation.

“The Graduate Division will help elevate �鶹��Ƶ graduate education in each college and school by increasing the visibility and impact of their graduate programs, coordinating efforts and sharing best practices, and maintaining a standard of integrity while recognizing the different needs of graduate programs,” Bray said.

The new division will take a multifaceted approach to creating nondiscipline-specific support structures to promote graduate student success, including a university-wide graduate student orientation available throughout the entire graduate journey. Other support structures will include financial assistance, training opportunities, and well-being programs with an emphasis on student belonging, community, and inclusion.

The division will also provide additional support for the academic units and central offices to offer and sustain flexible and multimodality educational, research, and professional opportunities for graduate students.

“The inception of the new Graduate Division is an important step in supporting graduate education programs and graduate students at �鶹��Ƶ,” said Provost Mark Ginsberg. “I am confident the Graduate Division will enhance the graduate student experience and ensure our graduate students are successful and prepared for careers across the professional spectrum while further elevating our nationally respected academic and research programs.”

This summer, in preparation for the Fall 2023 semester, the division will provide a new graduate student online onboarding module and graduate teaching training.

The online onboarding platform, hosted in �鶹��ƵLEAPS, is designed to welcome, inform, inspire, and prepare new incoming students for a more successful transition to graduate school by providing information from various student service areas available to assist each student throughout their graduate journey. It will also allow all new and current graduate teaching assistants and graduate lecturers to receive fundamental training to be effective and successful in the classroom.

A new Graduate Resource and Academic Development (GRAD) Center, currently under development, will provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows one location to access key resources and support for their success. This central location will enable the development and promotion of programs and experiences for students’ personal and professional growth, as well as assist in the navigation of various administrative services and consultations. The center will also foster collaboration across disciplines and offices to enhance the infrastructure that supports graduate education.

“We hope the Graduate Division will foster more partnerships and relationships, as well as alumni and community engagement,” Bray said. “We are definitely part of the �鶹��Ƶ story and as such we are part of the growth and change that is impacting our community.”

Topics

Campus News

Graduate Education

Graduate Division

Office of the Provost

Strategic Direction