Law School PhD student wins international research competition

Miranda impressed the judges with her presentation on mind-reading neurotechnology and its implications for criminal justice.  We spoke with Miranda about her research and winning competition entry.

Tell me about your research and your entry to the 3MT competition.

My PhD research examines how emerging neurotechnologies challenge existing human rights.

Unlike a traditional lie detector test that measures things such as heart rate and breathing, these technologies decode brain activity. They can reveal your thoughts, intentions and whether you are telling the truth.

It sounds like science fiction, but it’s real. It’s even been used in a legal case in India.

My 3MT entry asked how we can harness the benefits of this emerging technology while safeguarding human rights like freedom of thought.

When I began my PhD in 2024, this was still a relatively new and niche area, but its importance has grown rapidly, with increasing academic and policy attention.

I’ve developed a legal framework to protect against the misuse of neurotechnology. I’ve examined which rights are at risk from neurotechnologies, how these rights can be adapted and what new rights might be needed.

What was it like to take part in the 3MT competition?

It was fun and rewarding to present my research in a way that anyone could understand.

Each competitor gives a short (maximum three minute) presentation about their research, with one presentation slide.

I wrote my script, designed the visual, and practised a lot. I also watched previous winning presentations to learn how others communicated complex ideas so effectively.

This helped me improve my own approach and it also introduced me to fascinating research areas I hadn’t come across before.

I had great support from my PhD supervisors Dr David Lawrence and Professor Shaun Pattinson as well as colleagues at Durham Law School, and the wider University. This made me feel very much part of a community, and it was an honour to represent that community in the competition.

What do you hope to do next?

I’ll keep developing my research on neurolaw, neuroethics, and neurorights.

A key part of my work is bringing non-Western perspectives into these discussions; I recently published a piece exploring how Taoist philosophy can inform the ethics of AI-integrated neurotechnology.

I hope to continue offering these broader insights to help shape a globally responsive discourse on emerging neurotechnologies.

I would also like to share my experience of the 3MT with future entrants and support others who are preparing for the competition.

Find out more:

• Find out more about the Matariki Three Minute Thesis competition, and watch the entry videos.
• We are a founding member of the Matariki Network of Universities, an international group of leading universities whose members promote excellence in research-led education, and a focus on transformative research across subjects.
• Our Law School is ranked 57th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 and third in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026.
• Visit our Law webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.  

Image details: Miranda Wang receiving the winner’s certificate from Professor Colin Bain, Pro-Vice-Chanellor (Research), alongside Dr Peter Whitton from our Durham Centre for Academic Development (far left) and Megan Olshefski from our International Office (right).