Event Details
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. (EST)
Location: Ehmer Theater - John Lewis Student Center | 351 Ferst Dr. NW
Watch online: Watch via Zoom
Master of Ceremonies: Jeff Garbers, Quadrant-i, Office of Commercialization
- Admission is free.
- Open to the Georgia Tech community.
- Family, friends, and guests are welcome to attend.
- Tickets not required.
2026 Finalists
Listed in alphabetical order
| Full Name | Degree Level | Field of Study |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Asiamah | PhD | Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Rosemary Barrass | PhD | Machine Learning |
| Hyuck Choi | PhD | Chemical Engineering |
| Joe Domaleski | Masters | OMS - Analytics |
| Makayla Garner | PhD | Bioengineering |
| Paul Horton | PhD | Machine Learning |
| Shreya Kothari | PhD | Biological Sciences |
| Jinchu Li | Masters | Computer Science |
| Himadri Pandey | PhD | Machine Learning |
| Shehan Parmar | PhD | Chemistry |
| Morgan Polk | PhD | Chemistry |
| Hari Sridhara | PhD | Materials Science & Engineering |
2026 Judges
Sourabh Jha
Principal of Corporate Strategy at HP Inc.
Sourabh earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech and in 2018 placed third in the 3MT competition.
Sourabh Jha is currently Principal of Corporate Strategy at HP Inc. Sourabh has a comprehensive experience in strategic planning, digital transformation, GTM strategy and operational excellence. Before joining HP, Sourabh was the principal strategist to CEO of Ricoh and a senior Consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Sourabh holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and placed in the 2018 3MT competition.
Kristina Torres
Associate Vice Chancellor of Leadership Communications, University System of Georgia
Kristina Torres joined the University System of Georgia in 2017. She leads a team responsible for shaping and executing the system’s overall strategic communications. A seasoned leader, writer and editor, Kristina brings a wealth of expertise in crafting compelling narratives, refining messaging and ensuring clarity and impact across a range of communications. Her work plays a vital role in advancing USG’s mission, engaging key stakeholders and elevating the institution’s voice on a broader stage.
A Colorado native, Kristina graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Péralte Paul
Director of Communications, Enterprise Innovation Institute
Péralte Paul has been with the Georgia Institute of Technology since 2014. He has more than 20 years media and communications experience as a reporter and writer for various news outlets. With a deep curiosity about place and culture, Péralte is an avid bicyclist who has explored routes spanning 13 countries in Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania. Paul is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in journalism.
Shawn Yeager
Principal, Quadrant-i
Shawn is a senior strategic business development and operational executive with a passion for building from scratch, leveraging what exists, and dreaming up what needs to be. Throughout his career he has identified new market opportunities and created whole new categories of solutions to meet them. He loves the analysis and execution of growth opportunities and in playing a central role in effectuating those strategic plans. Shawn is a graduate of UCLA with Honors, and holds both a JD and MBA from UC Davis.
Awards
- PhD Winner: $2,000 research travel grant
- PhD Runner Up: $1,500 research travel grant
- PhD 2nd Runner Up: $1,000 research travel grant
- Master’s Winner: $1,000 research travel grant
- People's Choice Award: The audience and online viewers vote for their favorite; the winner will receive a $500 research travel grant.