Andrew Maust Wins 3-Minute Thesis Competition Breaking Down Non-Alcoholic Beer Research

Andrew Maust, a food science Ph.D. candidate, won the University of Arkansas’s 3-Minute Thesis competition in December 2024. His award was a $1,000 cash prize and a paid trip to Dallas to compete in the regional 3-Minute Thesis competition in March. (U of A System Division of Agriculture photo)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Andrew Maust, a Ph.D. student in the department of food science, recently won the University of Arkansas’s 3-Minute Thesis competition.

The 3-Minute Thesis competition challenges graduate students to present a simple and compelling speech about their research and its significance in just three minutes.

Maust presented his research thesis titled “Improving Non-Alcoholic Beer Quality Through Investigation of Production Methods, Flavor, and Safety.” He won a $1,000 cash prize and a trip to Dallas this March to compete in the regional competition.

Research to improve non-alcoholic beer has become a specialty for the food science department in its new Center for Beverage Innovation. Maust noted the importance of non-alcoholic beer research in light of the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent public health advisory linking alcohol consumption to risk of developing at least seven types of cancer.

“I think this frames the importance of our work with non-alcoholic beer, where the improvements in quality and flavor that we discover in our research might give consumers more options to turn to, to make healthier choices and reduce harm, without having to sacrifice as much of the social and ritual elements that they’re seeking,” Maust said.

The importance of scientific communication and the need to translate facts and research to the public is “more important than ever,” Maust added when offering thanks to the graduate program for providing the opportunity to share research with the university community.

“The 3MT competition was an impressive display of research and practical application to solve challenging problems,” said Umer Rahman, associate director of graduate student support. “Our students are the greatest assets for the University of Arkansas and its R1 mission to provide real world solutions to world’s greatest problems that can be implemented locally, nationally and internationally.”

An R1-rated university represents the highest rating from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for research-focused institutions.

Division of Agriculture prominence

Scott Lafontaine, Maust’s advisor and an assistant professor in food chemistry for the department of food science, noted that seven of the 10 finalists and all three winners of the competition were affiliated with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Alejandro Vasquez Marcano, a Ph.D. candidate in the department of entomology and plant pathology, won second place and $750 for a presentation on his thesis, “Controlling a Destructive Pest, Fall Armyworm, Using a Novel Plant Technique.” Marcano’s advisor is Rupesh Kariyat, associate professor of insect-plant interactions and chemical ecology in the same department.

Chetanjot Kaur Romana, a food science Ph.D. candidate, won the People’s Choice Award for her presentation on “Byte-sized Bites: Will 3D Food Printing Revolutionize Elderly Meals?” Her faculty advisor is Jamie I. Baum, associate professor of nutrition and director of the Division of Agriculture’s Center for Human Nutrition.

Lafontaine, Kariyat and Baum conduct research through the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and teach courses for Bumpers College. The experiment station is the research arm of the Division of Agriculture.

3-Minute Thesis Competition finalists

• Jessica Ayala, a master’s student during competition, department of entomology and plant pathology
• Manish Gautam, Ph.D. student, department of entomology and plant pathology
• Thomas McKean, graduate assistant, College of Engineering
• Kawsheha Muraleetharan, graduate research assistant, department of food science
• Khoshee O. Mohammed, Ph.D. candidate, International Education
• Harrison Smith, Ph.D. candidate, Environmental Dynamics, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
• Akwasi Tagoe, senior graduate assistant, department of agricultural education, communications and technology

“Having representatives from our state’s leading companies serve as judges for this competition demonstrates their investment in our students and the essential role the University of Arkansas plays in educating and preparing their future talent pool,” said Donna Katherine Graham, director of central Arkansas industry and community engagement. “Companies also understand that deepening their involvement on campus gives them a first look at some of our most promising students.”

The competition, which was devised by The University of Queensland in Australia, helps students learn how to communicate their academic and research endeavors in language appropriate to non-specialist audiences. Graduate students are tasked with presenting their research in a tight timeframe with only one presentation image.