When I joined the Laidlaw Scholarship, I expected research experience. What I discovered was a deeper education in leadership, collaboration, and global citizenship. Over two years I managed to work in the Electronic and Photonic Nanodevices Group under Dr. Stephanie Adeyemo and the Stranks Group, give a talk on my findings, present at the Laidlaw Conference in Leeds, and deliver a game design project in Boston —all experiences that reshaped how I think about responsibility and impact.

Research and Responsibility

My first summer project focused on perovskite solar cells, where I measured the impact of bending on efficiency of a perovskite - which is of importance as flexible perovskites can be attached to curved surfaces hence changing their properties. 

I was lucky to work within a very collaborative research group that encouraged me to present results regularly, which accelerated the pace and quality of my simulations. To obtain experimental data, I reached across departments and received valuable support from the Stranks Group. Above all, the guidance of Dr. Claire Barlow was instrumental in shaping the project and enabling me to complete the work.

Presenting my poster at the Laidlaw Scholars Conference in Leeds was a highlight of the month. It was both challenging and enjoyable to explain my work to peers from different disciplines, and the experience showed me the importance of sharing ideas clearly. Dr. Claire Barlow helped me a lot to adapt material from an earlier talk into a format suitable for the conference.

Workshops and Ethical Leadership

The year-round Laidlaw workshops were invaluable. Sessions on ethical leadership, communication, and global engagement provided a framework that I drew on repeatedly. They helped me think more intentionally about the values that underpin leadership—and to apply those values whether I was analysing lab results, presenting research, or teaching in Boston.

Leadership in Action in Boston

My second summer took me far outside my comfort zone. Volunteering with the Timothy Smith Network, I designed and delivered a course in Unreal Engine 5, where students built a looping escape maze game that reset every 20 seconds. It was a bold idea: take a professional-grade game engine and make it accessible, creative, and fun for high school students.

Day one showed me that my syllabus wouldn’t work as planned. Some students needed more guidance, others raced ahead. Each evening I rebuilt the material, eventually producing a huge slide deck that supported both beginners and advanced learners. By the end, every student had built and presented a working game.

This experience taught me more about leadership than any textbook could. It meant adapting constantly, creating space for students to succeed, and letting go of perfection in favour of progress. It also showed me the importance of shared leadership—working with fellow Scholars, interns, and project leaders to deliver something greater than any of us could have achieved alone.

Global Citizenship in Practice

Through Leeds and Boston, I came to understand what it means to act as a global citizen. In Leeds, I joined an international conversation on research. In Boston, I adapted quickly to a new cultural and educational environment while adjusting my teaching approach to meet unfamiliar challenges. These experiences sharpened my adaptability, communication, and cross-cultural collaboration—skills essential in both research and industry.

Looking Forward

As I move beyond the Scholarship, I hope to apply what I’ve learned in ways that create real impact.

• As a leader, I aim to bring clarity, adaptability, and accountability to projects, ensuring both technical precision and effective teamwork.
• As an engineer, I hope to bridge research and practice—turning ideas, simulations, and experiments into applications that matter.
• As a professional, I look forward to working across cultures and disciplines, staying open to new challenges, learning quickly, and contributing wherever I can.
  
  

Acknowledgements

I am especially grateful to Dr. Claire Barlow, whose guidance and encouragement were crucial at every stage—from research and conference preparation to my Leadership in Action project. Without her support, I would not have had the confidence to present at Newnham, attend the Leeds conference, or step into the challenge of teaching in Boston.

Also thankful to Dr. Stephanie Adeyemo, Electronic and Photonic Nanodevices Group, Electronic Materials and Device Spectroscopy Group, Laidlaw Foundation, TSN, and scholars for their collaboration along the way!