I am a 3rd year Midwifery student at Trinity College Dublin. For my research project, I am investigating women's views on the need for birth reflection clinics/services for women who have experienced a traumatic event during childbirth within the Irish maternity services.

Hello! I've been part of the Laidlaw Foundation for over 4 years, working on strengthening our global community and broadening our initiatives aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, reducing inequality, and cultivating a new generation of leaders. I'm currently completing a Masters in Anthropology & Professional Practice at UCL, delving into my passion for using ethnographic research and design thinkig to effect systemic change, particularly in the education sector. My journey in design has been diverse, beginning with graphic design, transitioning into UX/UI and service design, and now evolving into strategic design and innovation.  Originally from the vast steppes of Kazakhstan 🇰🇿, I pursued my undergraduate degree in Human Sciences at UCL. I'm an avid swimmer, an obsessive podcast listener, and a dancer with two left feet and a whole lot of spirit. Let's connect and chat—drop me a line and find me on LinkedIn! 💬👀

Joel was the Laidlaw Programme Coordinator for Trinity (2018 - 2024). In this role he managed leadership development activities, student coaching, programme design, and the day-to-day support of the Laidlaw Scholars. He is currently the Equality Officer (Acting) for Trinity.  Prior to joining the Careers Service, he worked in Trinity's Academic Registry as a Team Manager (Communications and Human Resources) with a focus on developing modern and inclusive support services for students and staff. He has previously worked with Trinity's Office of Global Relations to develop the Global Room and Campus Visit initiatives for international students. He is a founder and current Co-Chair of Trinity's LGBT+ Staff Network and is committed to Trinity's mission of fostering excellence by empowering accessibility and diversity in higher education. A graduate of Trinity, he holds a B.A. (Mod.) in English Studies, a Special Certificate in Academic Practice, and a nominal Master in Arts (Dubl.) from the university as well as a CIPD Diploma in Learning and Development (CIPD). 

Graduate of English Literature and History at Trinity College Dublin. Alumnus of the Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Programme (2019). My Laidlaw research explored the nature of borders and boundaries in the literature of Native American communities, with a particular focus on the work of contemporary author Leslie Marmon Silko. The project involved collaboration with leading scholars of Native American studies from across the United Kingdom and United States. I additionally wrote a final-year dissertation on Indigenous strategies of resistance to environmental injustice in the work of Silko.

Project title: An investigation of the efferent pathways of the amygdala in Major Depressive Disorder using high resolution, multimodal MRI