Research on Refugees’ Access to Education Wins at 3MT Competition

Jessica Knight | April 19, 2019

Illuminating the Path to Higher Education for Adolescent Refugees

Hoff's research won first place at Texas State University’s 3MT competition
Meagan A. Hoff

Meagan A. Hoff, doctoral student in developmental education, explores the difficulties in refugees’ access to higher education. Previous educational research studies focused on children and adults, but few looked into adolescents. 

“I wanted to know how much she knew about the process, how to get those things accomplished,” Hoff said.

In Hoff’s work at GirlForward, a summer camp for refugee girls in Austin, one of her campers became the subject for her research. At age 19, the student was finishing high school. Hoff interviewed her monthly about her experiences and knowledge of higher education, noting that she had no problems accessing assistance in her learning. 

A particularly insightful moment came when her subject related an experience with a teacher. When she sought math help, the teacher commented that the problems were fifth grade level concepts. Hoff’s subject responded with “I didn’t arrive in fifth grade, I arrived in ninth grade!”

Underage refugees can go to an international school, where they age out at 21 rather than 18, but Hoff noted that attending an international school is ultimately detrimental to the refugees’ access to higher education. Hoff’s subject was moved from a regular high school and placed in an international school, so she lost the friends who had helped her navigate the school system.

“This was a pilot study,” Hoff said, explaining that she is at the beginning of her dissertation path, which focuses on academic literacy. 

Hoff advises future competitors to take an improv class to become comfortable standing in front of a big crowd. She also suggests practicing often and in different ways.

“If you get stuck,” she added, “you can keep going instead of getting hung up on that one way.”

Her research won first place at Texas State University’s 3MT competition, held on Tuesday, April 2. The 3MT is a competition for masters and doctoral students to present their research in three minutes. She will proceed to regional competitions held at the Council of Southern Graduate Schools conference in the spring of 2020.


Effects of Nitrite in Goldfish Olfactory Function

Martinez won runner-up in the 3MT competition
Melody Martinez

Melody Martinez, graduate student in aquatic resources, researches the effects of nitrites in goldfish. Nitrites enter the water supply through runoff.

“Toxins are typically really low, so they don’t kill animals, but they accumulate over time and we don’t know the long-term effects,” said Martinez.

She found that nonlethal doses manifested in decreased olfactory sensory ability, affecting how the fish detect food. 

“My goal is to find out what the potential effects are over time,” she added.  “Some effects are disturbing, but they’re also really interesting because it leads you to ask more questions and fall down the rabbit hole of research.”

Martinez originally wanted to go into marine sciences, a journey that starts at Texas State, the only university in Texas with an aquatic science program. 

“I was going to go and get my master’s in marine biology, but I fell in love with fish physiology and aquatic science and there’s so much more you can do. That’s why I stayed at Texas State.”

She has not decided if her future holds a Ph.D. or going into industry. Her advice for future 3MT competitors?

“Imagination,” she replied. “As scientists, we learn how to write a specific way to talk about our science to other scientists. You have to think about, how can I teach this to someone who may not even be interested in science and make then interested in science? It requires imagination.”

Martinez won runner-up in the 3MT competition, and will progress to regionals if Hoff cannot attend.


Telomere Shortening: a Human Aging Clock

Malla won the People’s Choice award at the 3MT.
Shubha Malla

Shubha Malla, a doctoral student from Nepal who is majoring in materials science, engineering and commercialization, shared her master’s research in biochemistry on the aging process at the cellular level. She received her M.S. in biochemistry from Texas State.

At the ends of chromosomes are structures called telomeres. Longer telomeres correlate to better health. However, telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomere health, stops being produced before birth. Telomere lengths shorten indefinitely with normal cell division until they fall off. When that happens, the cells stop dividing but the damage continues.

“The old cells are like a rotten apple,” Malla explains. “They secrete harmful chemicals, affecting the nearby cells. I studied these aged cells to understand the rate of cellular aging using yeast as a model system, because the genetic system of humans is similar to yeast.”

A key difference between yeast and humans is that yeast is “basically immortal.” Malla removed a gene responsible for producing the telomere-protecting enzyme in yeast and observed aging and deterioration of the affected cell. The gene and enzyme are critical to developing a supplement for better health as people age. Malla’s work will serve as a building block for future research on health, aging and longevity. 

 “Everyone should try the 3MT,” Malla said. “It will help you to communicate in a nonscientific way. It’ll boost up confidence and help with professional development.”

Malla won the People’s Choice award at the 3MT.

For more information, contact University Communications:

Jayme Blaschke, 512-245-2555

Sandy Pantlik, 512-245-2922