We are delighted to welcome seven brilliant new Members to the Advisory Board: Krithik, Tyler, Ashley, Bhadra, Maria, Amber, and Anjelica. Each of them brings thoughtful perspectives, diverse experiences, and fresh energy that will enrich the Board’s work in the year ahead.

We are also very pleased that three Members are continuing for another year: Sam, Veronika, and Lizzie. Their experience and ongoing commitment provide invaluable continuity and strength as the Board continues to evolve.

Finally, we would like to extend our deepest thanks to the Members concluding their terms: Trisha, Harrison, Armita, Joe, Ladajah, and Ernest. As founding Board Members who have served for two years, their dedication and care have helped shape the Board from its very beginning, leaving a lasting impact on the Laidlaw Scholars community. We are immensely grateful for everything they have contributed and will be sharing a summary of the Board’s impact over the past two years very soon.

Laidlaw Scholars Advisory Board 2026

In alphabetical order by surname

Samuel Acosta-Fernandez

University College London | 2024 Cohort

Sam is a BASc Arts and Sciences student, focusing on data science and computer simulations. Leaning into his interdisciplinary interests, his summer research explored ways to improve student satisfaction, partnering with UCL’s Department of Political Science to conduct a thematic analysis of emotional experiences in education under different teaching and assessment formats. As Chair and former President of the UCL Laidlaw Society, he has also dedicated himself to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for scholars through the organisation of social and academic events. Outside of university life, Sam enjoys his work as a sommelier, exploring new destinations abroad, and listening to live music.

Krithik Ashokkumar

Georgetown University | 2025 Cohort

Krithik is majoring in Biology on the pre-medical track. His academic interests center on clinical ethics, migrant health, and cultural barriers to care. As a Laidlaw Scholar, he developed an advisory protocol to guide the ethical use of pathogen genomic data in public health surveillance. Working with the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics, he assists in ethics consultations at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and is helping expand the School of Medicine’s Mind, Body, Wellness course to the undergraduate pre-medical curriculum. Committed to fostering global dialogue in healthcare, Krithik is also a Georgetown Global Health Institute Fellow, Global Health Governance as Public Service Scholar, and Doyle Dialogue Fellow.

Tyler Carriaga

University of Toronto | 2024 Cohort

Tyler is a final-year student at the University of Toronto, where he studies Architecture, Public Policy, and Human Geography. Drawing from his multidisciplinary and multicultural background as an American-born, Vietnam-raised Filipino, he approaches questions of place, identity, and community with a global perspective. His Laidlaw projects include research on ethnic enclave development in Seattle and program development in an urban poor community in Metro Manila. A writer, designer, and wanderer, Tyler strives to continually develop his personal and technical skills in the pursuit of co-creating healthier, more sustainable, and just communities.

Ashley Gutierrez-Torres

Duke University | 2025 Cohort

Ashley is a second-year student, pursuing a double major in Public Policy and Global Health with a minor in Medical Sociology. Combining her interests in youth, creating accessible solutions, and advocacy, her Laidlaw research in Berlin analyzed Germany’s societal connection to green spaces to determine how similar benefits can improve American climate-based policies. She aspires to continue addressing societal challenges through policy and research, building on her work analyzing health inequities in maternal and mental health. Outside of Laidlaw, Ashley serves as an Executive Member on multiple advocacy-driven campus organizations and spends her time dancing Mexican Folklorico, baking, and enjoying matcha.

Lizzie Hall

Durham University | 2024 Cohort

Lizzie is a final-year Biological Science student focusing on biomedicine. Her Laidlaw research project explored the prevalence and impact of hustle culture within university sports, aiming to improve student-athletes’ health and mental wellbeing. She is currently continuing to research with Durham University’s Department of Sociology and Team Durham. For her Leadership in Action project, Lizzie worked with Cambridge Global Health Partnerships, a charity that facilitates sustainable and ethical healthcare partnerships between the East of England and low- & middle-income countries. Outside of academics, Lizzie spends most of her time training for rowing and triathlon, watching old rom-coms, and browsing charity shops. 

Bhadra Panicker

Trinity College Dublin | 2025 Cohort

A Law and Business student, Bhadra is deeply passionate about advancing the rights of oppressed groups within the legal system. As a Laidlaw Scholar, her research examined miscarriages of justice in infanticide cases across jurisdictions through a feminist lens to identify the biases and systemic failings that caused them. Beyond academia, Bhadra enjoys working with the college community: her roles include Clinics Researcher with Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC) Trinity, and Head Mentor for Arts, Humanities and Law in Trinity's Student 2 Student Mentoring Programme. In her free time, she can often be found in one of Dublin's many thrift shops or crocheting a new pair of mittens on the bus.

Maria Ramadan

University of Leeds | 2024 Cohort

Maria is a third‑year Biology student currently completing a placement year in digital marketing. She aims to pursue a career at the intersection of sustainability and engineering biology, with a particular interest in developing equitable solutions for global health inequalities. Her Laidlaw research focused on treating neurodegenerative disorders using epigenetic modification. A strong advocate for sustainability and equitable access to technology, Maria is a self-taught coder who has contributed to local sustainability initiatives and shared her perspective as a panellist at multiple conferences. In her free time, Maria can often be found climbing, volunteering at her local community garden, or engrossed in a good book!

Veronika Wannack

EPFL | 2024 Cohort