Ariella Lang

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Columbia University
  • People
  • United States of America
Jeffrey Xiong

Undergraduate Student, Columbia University

I am a first-year student at Columbia University majoring in Biology and East Asian Studies. I was born in Canada but grew up with my grandparents in rural China much of my early childhood. I am very passionate about the intersection of science and society, with research interests in neuropsychiatric illness and modern Chinese politics.
Mrinalini Sisodia Wadhwa

2021-22 Laidlaw Scholar, Columbia University

I am an alumna of the 2021-22 Columbia Laidlaw Scholars cohort, and graduated from Columbia (CC'24) with majors in History and Mathematics. My Laidlaw research centered on the women's movement in early twentieth-century British India. My first summer focused on the Indian writer, educator, and activist Mahadevi Varma, and my second summer focused on networks of women from across the British empire attending the Oxford in the 1910s-30s at the Unstable Archives Project.
Matthew Fackrell

Laidlaw Undergraduate Research Scholar, Durham University

Anthropology and Sociology Undergraduate; from Bristol, UK. I am completing a research project on narrative transmission and reproduction, looking at how oral accounts of geological events are passed down accurately over generations. By understanding how narratives are constructed I am keen to explore interdisciplinary approaches, particularly between Anthropology, Linguistics, Computer-Human Interaction, and Cognition. Other interests include literature, art and photography, architecture, astronomy, and outdoor pursuits.
Paul Hanna

Multimedia Artist and Creative, YouTube

I'm a graduate of Columbia University ('23!), where I studied Film. I used to work at Google as a growth strategist, and at YouTube as a content strategist. My current work centers on multimedia and multidisciplinary art, blending media experiments, writing, and ongoing film projects. During the Laidlaw Fellowship, I examined Napoleon's influence on the political attitudes present in Le rouge et le noir by Stendhal and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. The following year, I worked in business development for Tortoise Media, a news publication based out of London. Feel free to reach out and connect!
Collins Mokua

Research Scholar, Columbia University

Looking for opportunities that will help me grow as a professional, intellectual, and individual. I am invested in Public Global Health and issues around capacity and policy building in Low and Middle Income Countries.
Christopher Cullen

Programme Manager, UCL

I work in UCL Education and Student Affairs at UCL as a Project Manager. Our office has responsibility for improvements in education and the student experience, including the integration of teaching and research. I have managed high profile projects including a Graduate Support Scheme and a Review of Postgraduate Education. I currently manage the day to day administration of the Laidlaw Programme.
Reuben Morris-Dyer

Art History and Film Undergraduate, University of St Andrews

Hello! I'm Reuben, an Art History and Film student researching 'The Sonic Body: Technology, Embodiment, Gender' with the University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. I am also a student filmmaker and illustrator, and host 'The Theory of Everything Podcast' for StAR Radio.
Kristoff E Smith

Student Fundraiser, Ruffalo Noel Levitz

Theatre major and visual artist at Columbia University.
Abijuru Antoinette

Student , University of Rwanda

I'm chemist undergraduate student from UR-CST .Currently, I am conducting a research on how humic acid can be extracted from compost materials which are disposed at landfills .Humic acid is known to be used as soil amendment in soil with low organic matter but also to improve both quality of soil and production from agriculture sector.
Sophie Catherine McNally

Student, University of York

Hi there! I'm a University of York undergraduate studying History. I'm really passionate about anything to do with History or Politics, and I love to learn about others' backgrounds, cultures and ways of life! I speak French to an intermediate level, and I compete in both rowing and other sports and societies like Model UN. I'm really easy going though so I'd be interested in whatever anyone else has to say/is passionate about :)) My research project is looking into whether popular culture divides or unites peoples and societies.
Joshua William Dexter

Chemistry Student, Durham University

About Me Currently about halfway through my Chemistry MChem at Durham University (graduate 2023) and I still love every second of it. I am conducting research into amide bond breaking and forming reactions, and similar mechanisms to try to solve fun and tricky synthetic issues (thanks to Laidlaw). Prior to a Chemistry degree, I worked as charity fundraiser/team leader for 7 years. I have personally raised over £1mil for various charities, and have a huge amount of leadership experience (training and management). I am super friendly, love to learn, happy teaching, and I am keen to make the most out the Laidlaw Foundation. So, feel free to get in touch about anything; whether you are looking to support, be supported, or just discuss. Always on the lookout for good research opportunities and ideas. Main interests include synthetic peptide,and organocatalytic chemistry. Nearing the point where I will start applying for doctoral candidate positions. So, if you think you can offer or direct me to a good fit, I would be very happy to hear from you. Laidlaw Research My planned Laidlaw research aimed to develop a series of trans-amidation reactions using azanides (amino, R2N- anions) to cleave/trans-amidate at amide bonds. During lockdown, these reactions were independently developed elsewhere. I am happy the reactions work, even if someone else got to do the work. Feel free to compare the proposed reactions in the research proposal, published on my profile, with the article they published. [M. Fairley, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 6500.] Due to Covid, the time spent familiarising myself with this very niche set of reactions afforded a sensible option with an easy transition into a literature review of novel reactions that could be used to solve the synthetic peptoid (R3N-amino acid molecules and polymers) formation issues when bulky/electron-withdrawing residuals on N are used. I had great fun trying to think my way around the problem and the lit. review was passed onto my supervisor and his team to (hopefully) produce literature worthy solutions. Happy to discuss, share findings and collaborate. Just, get in touch. Other Interests I was doing outreach work with children through the university pre-Covid and I am really looking forward to being able to help out again soon. I am a huge sci-fi nerd. I also run 2 student societies and organise events, socials, talks, etc. for each. Both societies have a broad range of aims with activities that support community inclusion, safeguarding, wellbeing and harm-reduction. Future Plans I made the tough choice to suspend my university studies for the 2020-21 academic year as I feel ensuring access to the full MChem experience is too important to miss. I have been taking the opportunity of spare time to engage with private study and develop some peripheral skills to compliment what I learnt in the first 2 years. I will start 3rd year in October.  My second summer with Laidlaw will now be in 2022 and I am hoping that international collaboration will be possible by then. Seeking doctoral training or relevant internship possibilities to start summer 2023. I am very comfortable being contacted to you are welcome to get in touch, and feel free to pass my details on. Research Interests - Innovation of synthetic mechanisms. - Peptides and peptidomimetics. - Organocatalysis.
Beatrice Shlansky

Student, Columbia University

Student at Columbia University studying history and economics with interests in music, photography and law.
Carolyn Martinez

Student , Columbia University

I am an open-minded and driven first-year student, excited to explore her interests in Public Health and Policy as well as Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies.
Ian Dorian Macleod

Student, Columbia University

Meghan Rose Forcellati

Laidlaw Scholar, Columbia University

I am a rising junior interested in evolutionary biology, vertebrate paleontology, and evolution. The majority of my interests and experience have been focusing on archosaurs, a group which among other animals includes birds, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and crocodiles. I would like to tackle larger questions such as how to identify species in fossil taxa through quantifying variation in living groups of organisms. I have been interning at the American Museum of Natural History in Ornithology and then in Vertebrate Paleontology over the past three years. I also participated in an independent research project studying a Spinosaurid maxilla from the Kem Kem beds of Morocco.
Anna Nuttle

student, Columbia University

Radhika Patel

Student, Columbia University

I am an undergraduate student at Columbia University on the pre-medical track and studying Medicine, Literature & Society and Business Management. Currently, I am a research assistant in the Salzman Lab at Columbia's Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute.