Tahmid Latif’s winning research uses roach-bots
Tahmid Latif, under the advisement of Dr. Alper Bozkurt, placed second in The Graduate School’s inaugural 3 Minute Thesis competition, a test of both his engineering and communication skills.
Tahmid’s PhD research in the iBionicS Labuses Madagascar hissing cockroaches as search and rescue “roach-bots.” With electrodes implanted into the roach antennae and electronic backpack, Tahmid uses neurostimulation for remotely controlling the locomotion direction of the roach-bots and neural interface analysis for ensuring reliable control. Tahmid is exploring the possibility of employing a network of these roach-bots for search and rescue after natural disasters.
It takes years to complete research for a PhD dissertation, but the 10 finalists in the competition, including Tahmid, had three minutes to explain their work. According to Tahmid, “The beauty of the 3 Minute Thesis competition is that it compels you to get to the very basics of your research and to communicate that to a broader audience in a direct and succinct manner.”
The 3MT competition was started in 2008 at the University of Queensland, Australia, and has since spread to at least 170 universities in 17 countries around the world, challenging PhD students to sharpen their science communication skills.
The preliminary rounds of the NCSU version of the competition were Oct. 13-15. A field of 28 competitors, all PhD candidates who have completed their confirmation milestone, was narrowed to 10 finalists; five of the 10 were from the College of Engineering. In the finals on October 28, Tahmid Latif finished second and won a $750. prize.
Judges for the 3 Minute Thesis finals were, from NC State, Dr. Lindsay Zanno, assistant research professor, biological sciences; Dr. Rob Dunn, associate professor, biological sciences; and Dr. Dan Solomon, emeritus dean, College of Sciences. Others include Dr. Meredith Welch-Devine, interim assistant dean of The Graduate School, University of Georgia, and Dr. Steve Matson, dean of The Graduate School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Source: NC State News Article, “3-Minute Thesis Finalists Compete,” by Natalie Hampton.