Matthew Fackrell

Laidlaw Undergraduate Research Scholar, Durham University
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.
James Smith

Chemistry Student, University of Durham

An Undergraduate Chemist with interests in industrial chemistry and genetics. Outside of university I play the violin and pursue an interest in history.
Hannah Huysmans

Student, Durham University

I am an Anthropology student at Durham with a particular interest in global health. My research will focus on neonatal health and behaviour patterns of newborns, with a particular interest relating to the North-East. Outside of Anthropology I enjoy modern history, cooking and learning German.
Nikol Chen

Design, Research & Community Lead, Laidlaw Foundation

Hello! I am a multidisciplinary designer and have been with the Laidlaw Foundation for over five years, working to strengthen our global Scholar community and amplify the impact of our programmes. My work lives somewhere between design, education, and anthropology, usually with sticky notes involved. I studied Human Sciences as an undergrad and recently finished a Master’s in Anthropology, both at UCL.  Born and raised in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Outside of work? Probably in the ceramics studio or a yoga class. Big fan of nature and very small bugs.
Chhavi Sharma

Student, University of Hong Kong

Hi, I'm Chhavi! Brought up in India and Malaysia, I am now a penultimate year Computer & Cognitive Science student studying in Hong Kong. I am passionate about the field of Computer-Human Interaction and have demonstrated experience in Augmented Reality and complex Data Visualization. When I'm not working, you can find me dancing, traveling or maybe just drinking masala chai!
There are 25 annual Laidlaw Scholarships that provide funding to enable you to develop leadership and research skills through a range of personal development activities and two six week periods of project work throughout your time at Leeds.
The University of Oxford was a part of the Laidlaw Scholarship programme from 2016 to 2019. In 2020, Oxford's Saïd Business School became a partner of the Laidlaw Foundation's Women's Business Education Scholarship Programme. The Oxford SBS Laidlaw Scholars will be joining over 300 Laidlaw Scholars from Columbia Business School whom the Laidlaw Foundation has supported to earn their MBAs; and Scholars at London Business School where the Foundation launched a Women’s Movement in 2019.
The Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Program provides students with hands-on research experience to prepare them to serve as future leaders in their chosen fields. Tufts University is delighted to be able to offer first year students the opportunity to get involved in the university’s research, working with academic staff on questions of global significance. The Laidlaw Scholarship helps students develop and practise leadership skills in preparation for life after graduation. It enables undergraduates to become part of a network of high performing students from around the world.
This prestigious programme at UCL makes available 25 generous bursaries as part of its package of training and research opportunities. The Laidlaw Research and Leadership Programme aims to create the leaders of the future. It is open to ambitious high-performing first year undergraduate students in any discipline who have a desire to undertake research at a high level.
The Laidlaw Scholarship Programme in Research and Leadership is sponsored by a generous donation from The Rt Hon Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, an honorary graduate of the University. This exciting programme equips students with the skills and values to become the leaders of tomorrow in their chosen discipline and beyond University. Over two years Scholars complete a bespoke, intensive leadership training programme. In addition, they participate in two periods of research during which they work on designing, pursuing and reporting a research question in collaboration with an academic in their chosen School. This programme is open to undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study. Please see the Laidlaw website for more information at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/go/laidlaw
The University of Durham joined the Laidlaw Scholars Undergraduate Research & Leadership Programme in 2017. This visionary programme builds on Lord Laidlaw’s commitment to supporting undergraduate student development and education. It gives undergraduate students the research, leadership and networking skills they will need to achieve their academic and professional goals in the future.
Columbia University is delighted to offer two Laidlaw programmes to its students. The first is the Research and Leadership programme given by Columbia College to first year undergraduate students to allow them to get involved in the university’s research, working with academic staff on questions of global significance. The second is the Lord Irvine A.S. Laidlaw ’65 Scholarship at Columbia Business School, which provides crucial financial assistance to full-time female MBA students each year, giving them access to an unparalleled business education and network. To date, over 300 exceptional women have received Laidlaw Scholarships.
Wesley Wang

Graduate Student, MPhil in Sociology & Demography, University of Oxford

I am currently doing my MPhil in Sociology & Demography in the University of Oxford. My research interests lie in the intersection between genetics and social structures in the production of inequalities. 
Nicholas Bartlett

Assistant Professor, Barnard College, Columbia University

Rhys Anil Madden

PhD Student, The London School of Economics

I completed the Laidlaw Programme in Summer 2016 while studying for a degree in Social Anthropology, looking at Bemba pottery in the University of St Andrews ethnographic collections. This led to an interest in material culture which I followed up on through an MA in the Arts of Africa Oceania and the Americas at the Sainsbury Research Unit (UEA), as well as a number of volunteer and paid museum positions. In September 2019 I began a PhD in Anthropology at the London School of Economics. My project is entitled 'Ambivalence, uncertainty and doubt: Exploring responses to oil and flooding in an ‘Indo-Guyanese’ rural coastal village', and will draw on ~18 months ethnographic fieldwork taking place from 2021-2023.
James Hinch

Student, University of St Andrews

My Laidlaw research is focussing on Native American activism against the construction of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota, USA.
Eduardo Enamorado-Ibarra

Law Student, Durham University

Ellen Yang

Research Scholar, Durham University

An Education Studies students at Durham University. My research is based on the how digital literacies can affect the social wellbeing of the older generations. I am particularly interested in the education for the elderlies as I believe education can benefit all individuals, not just the younger generations.
Alice Lassman

Student at Durham University, Laidlaw

Economics scholar researching my own alternative to GDP!
Yordan Tsanov

Direct Marketing Client Services at EuroFinance, Durham University

Hello, Laidlaw community. I am a Durham University BA graduate in Anthropology and Archaeology. I was interested in understanding colonial imperialism in the post-socialist space. As an anthropologist I decided to research in particular Russian and Soviet practices of social governance of non-Russian people, therefore I explored ethnographically the various understandings of the ethnic identity of the contemporary Cossacks.