Tenth Annual Three Minute Thesis Competition

Research Assistant Professor in Orthopaedics, University at Buffalo
Winner of the 2023 3MT Competition

Haley Chizuk, PhD, ATC, is a Research Assistant Professor in Orthopaedics at the University at Buffalo and serves as an athletic trainer with UBMD Orthopaedics. She earned her doctoral degree from the University at Buffalo, where her training focused on concussion assessment, recovery and clinical outcomes. After completing her training, she has continued to advance this work as both a researcher and clinician.

Her research centers on improving the diagnosis, management and long-term outcomes of concussion. With specialized interests in aerobic exercise, epigenetics and the integration of fluid biomarkers into clinical care, Dr. Chizuk's work seeks to advance the scientific understanding of concussion physiology and inform evidence-based management strategies. Her research emphasizes translational approaches that bridge laboratory findings, clinical decision-making, and real-world patient care.

In her current role, Dr. Chizuk collaborates across disciplines to examine innovative approaches to concussion evaluation and recovery, to improve care for athletes and physically active individuals. In addition to her research and clinical responsibilities, she is committed to mentoring the next generation of clinicians and scientists, equipping trainees with the skills and critical thinking needed to advance healthcare and translational research.

Pianist, Scholar and Interdisciplinary Entrepreneur
Finalist of the 2017 3MT Competition

Dr. Antonella Di Giulio is a pianist, scholar and interdisciplinary entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of research, communication and innovation. She holds a PhD in Music Theory and Historical Musicology, and has taught, published and presented internationally on topics including cognition, performance psychology, semiotics, pedagogy and interdisciplinary methodologies.

Beyond academia, Dr. Di Giulio is the founder and executive leader of multiple education- and media-driven initiatives. She is the founder of MusicaIQ, a professional magazine and learning platform designed to bridge scholarly thinking with real-world application, and the Erie Niagara Conservatory of Music, a community-based organization focused on scalable, accessible arts education. Her work emphasizes systems-building, sustainable program design, and the translation of expertise into impact.

Dr. Di Giulio has extensive experience developing educational products, leading interdisciplinary teams, designing curricula, securing partnerships, and guiding projects from concept to execution. She works closely with students, educators, researchers and creative professionals to refine ideas, clarify value propositions and communicate complex concepts with precision and purpose. Her mentorship focuses on strategic thinking, clarity of messaging and the ability to articulate sophisticated work to diverse audiences.

A defining feature of Dr. Di Giulio's approach is her emphasis on clear communication as a leadership skill. She regularly coaches professionals on structuring ideas, simplifying without diluting meaning, and presenting research or creative work in ways that are compelling, accessible and actionable. Her work consistently bridges theory and practice, combining intellectual rigor with entrepreneurial execution.

Through her academic background and entrepreneurial leadership, Dr. Di Giulio brings a systems-oriented, outcome-driven perspective to education, research and professional development.

Postdoctoral Associate, University at Buffalo Department of Engineering Education
Third Place Winner of the 2022 3MT Competition

Dr. Danielle Vegas Lewis is currently a postdoctoral associate in UB's Department of Engineering Education. As a PhD candidate in UB's Graduate School of Education, she placed third in the 2022 3MT competition and found it to be the single-most impactful experience in learning how to succinctly explain the significance of her dissertation research. After graduating, she was the PRODiG Fellow at SUNY Fredonia where she taught sociology. Her research aims to disrupt the ways that social inequality in higher education is reproduced, to ultimately increase access and persistence of underrepresented students.

A native Buffalonian, she is committed to giving back to the Western New York community and has been recognized for her service to local organizations with Buffalo Business First's 30 under 30, Big Brothers, Big Sisters Women Who Move the City, and Buffalo Public School's Phenomenal Families awards. Go Bills!

Assistant Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology
Winner of the 2018 3MT Competition

Dr. Philip Odonkor is an assistant professor in the department of systems engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology and director of the Design Informatics Lab. A recipient of the 2024 NSF CAREER Award, his research explores how distributed energy systems can work together to make cities more sustainable, resilient and equitable. His work sits at the intersection of urban informatics, smart cities and socio-technical systems, using simulation to tackle complex, real-world problems.

He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering from UB in 2019, where he received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence and won UB's 2018 3MT competition. After graduation, Philip briefly headed west to work at Hitachi Big Data Labs in California, translating his academic research into industrial applications, before returning east to join the faculty at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Dr. Odonkor is the co-founder of Grid Discovery, an energy technology startup developing data-driven tools for microgrid feasibility assessment. His work has been published in leading journals and featured on the TEDx stage. Beyond research and teaching, he remains a proud UB alumn, an enthusiastic mentor, and, despire now living in Jets and Giants country, still a loyal Buffalo Bills fan.

Sr. Director of Research and Development, ACV
Winner of the 2017 3MT Competition

Dr. Philip Schneider graduated with his PhD in electrical engineering from the University at Buffalo and now leads the research and development team as a senior director at tech unicorn company ACV.

His research has proven highly beneficial and innovative to both the scientific and automotive community, as demonstrated by his 20+ publications and eight patents. His team was responsible for developing some of ACV's flagship technologies like the Virtual Life^TM, Audio Motor Profile (AMP) and APEX, and continues to push the boundaries in the automotive and AI tech space. He currently sits on Western New York's Invention Convention Board and plays an active role in the region's start-up community.