For Rajani Khanal, a PhD at Flinders University has been about more than conducting research – it’s been an opportunity to tackle a real-world health challenge, develop new skills and share her work with audiences beyond academia.
Now in the third year of her PhD with the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) Sleep Health Team, Rajani is investigating how sleep health, particularly obstructive sleep apnoea, affects physical function and independence in older adults. Her research explores whether improving sleep health could help reduce falls and mobility decline, supporting healthier ageing and improving quality of life for older Australians.
This year, Rajani also stepped onto the stage in the University’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, where Higher Degree by Research students explain years of research in just three minutes using language accessible to a general audience and just one PowerPoint slide. After progressing through the College heats, she represented the College of Medicine and Public Health (CMPH) at the University final and was awarded second place.
For Rajani, the competition was an opportunity to grow as both a researcher and communicator.
“I wanted to challenge myself to communicate complex research in a simple, engaging way,” she says. “As researchers, we often work in detail-heavy environments, so it was a chance to step back and think why our work matters and how to make it accessible to a broader audience.”
The experience reflects one of the many opportunities available to research students at Flinders – developing the confidence and communication skills needed to share research with industry, policymakers and the wider community.
Representing the CMPH was another highlight.
“It’s a privilege to represent CMPH and share the impactful work being done within the College,” Rajani says. “It also felt like an opportunity to showcase the importance of sleep health in public health and healthy ageing.”
Preparing for the competition involved refining her presentation through multiple practice sessions and seeking feedback from judges, mentors and colleagues. Support from the CMPH Higher Degree by Research team helped her strengthen both her message and presentation style, demonstrating the collaborative environment available to research students at Flinders.
Looking back, Rajani says the competition changed the way she thinks about research.
“The 3MT experience helped me see how individual pieces of research fit into a broader narrative. It highlighted the importance of communicating science clearly to diverse audiences.”
“It’s a rewarding experience that builds confidence and communication skills. Because the format is so concise, it pushes you to be precise and impactful, and the support and feedback throughout the process make it an incredibly valuable learning experience.”
Whether in the lab, presenting on stage or engaging with the community, Rajani’s journey demonstrates that a research degree at Flinders is about more than generating new knowledge. It’s about developing the skills, networks and confidence to translate research into real-world impact.