UDUS Alumnus Wins Research Contest at US University

Muneer Yaqub, a graduate of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has emerged winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition at the University of Texas at Dallas, USA.

The final-year PhD student in Molecular and Cell Biology outshined 13 other finalists with his presentation titled “When Antibiotics Fail: Fighting 21st-Century Superbugs with 21st-Century Science.”

In the competition, Yaqub had just three minutes to explain his complex research in simple, engaging language. Impressing both the judges and audience with his clarity and relevance, he earned the top prize of $1,000. His research focuses on drug-resistant bacteria that are no longer responding to antibiotics.

The 3MT competition, originally developed by the University of Queensland in Australia, is held in universities worldwide. It challenges PhD students to communicate their research to a general audience, helping them sharpen their presentation and public speaking skills.

Before moving to the United States on a fully funded fellowship, Yaqub earned his Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the prestigious Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He has since built an outstanding academic record, winning over a dozen awards, including the Julia Williams Van Ness Merit Scholarship and the ASM Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship.

Beyond academics, he served as the first Graduate Student Representative in his department and pioneered the UTD Global Ambassadors Programme for international students. He has also presented his work at global science conferences such as ASM Microbe and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Yaqub is the author of “Greener Pasture,” a guidebook that helps students secure fully funded scholarships abroad. His win is a moment of pride for the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and a clear reminder that Nigerian students can excel anywhere in the world when given the opportunity."