Hi! I'm Leo and I study Civil Engineering at University College London. My research project focused on integrating location-based datasets - one of the best ways to understand spatial matters and, thus, develop better decisions and policies. This is crucial to creating smarter and more sustainable cities, a topic I'm really interested in. I am passionate about improving infrastructure and addressing inequality, particularly social-environmental sustainability in urbanism and transportation. I aim to continue working in this field and collaborating with NGOs, so feel free to reach out if our interests align!

Hello, everyone! I’m Kathleen, a Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine. As a goal-driven student, I have a keen interest in conducting literature and experimental scientific research in areas such as bioinformatics, oncology, stem cells, genetics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. I am passionate about deepening my understanding of these fields and contributing to advancements in medicine and biomedical innovation.

Hi! I’m Poline, an engineering undergrad at the University of Cambridge. I am passionate about semiconductors and turning cars into sun-powered wonders. To do this, I’m exploring flexible perovskite solar cells that get attached to the curves of car roofs—think solar panels that bend instead of break! By tweaking their chemistry, we keep them efficient even when bent 🚗🌞

Hello :)  My name is Alixe Kirbihler and I am a 2023 Laidlaw scholar. I am currently a third-year Life Sciences engineering bachelor student at EPFL & an exchange student at KTH in Stockholm. I am really interested in neurosciences, the biomedical field and, more generally, anything related to engineering.  Confirmed enthusiast of any outdoors activities, I am willing to discuss with you about any subjects, should it be STEM or climbing-hiking-skiing-diving related ;)  My research during 2023’s summer focused on characterising a novel D.Melanogaster mutant that perturbs synapse arborisation. It took place in Professor McCabe’s laboratory (for more information: https://www.epfl.ch/labs/mccabelab/research/).  My leadership in action last summer consisted of developing and implementing projects aimed at supporting emerging local cooperatives, women’s entrepreneurial initiatives, educational excellence, and improving the employability and mental health of young people. I am really glad to be part of this community that gathers such inspiring and dedicated scholars and can’t wait to meet you !

Hello! I am Yuka Atsuchi. I am from Japan and studying Natural Sciences (Biosciences, Geography and Earth Sciences) at Durham University. My strong passion is to create a more sustainable environment for both humans and wildlife. I am specialising in environmental issues and climate change through interdisciplinary approaches in Natural Sciences with strong research and field skills from work experience.  My main focus in research and future aspiration is "empirical and effective implementation of rewilding conservation projects to various landscapes". For my first-year summer project, I am going to evaluate and create a plan for Durham University Wildland to initiate reintroduction projects. Then I would like to spread the knowledge and conservation practices to other countries such as Japan. About myself... I was bone in Japan and I lived in Yokohama until High School in Japan. After winning a scholarship from the Japanese Foundation, I started studying in the UK in sixth-form.  I am a big fun of wildlife and adventure to wider nature! I enjoy trail running, bird watching, gardening & Allotment, hiking and horse riding.  I would like to expand my network and share thoughts with you! LinkedIn Yuka Atsuchi

Reese Taylor is an intended philosophy major with a focus on human rights or race and ethnicity studies on a pre-law track. At the LaidLaw Institute, she aims to initiate research into the historical and contemporary impact of "self-help" rhetoric on Black communities, aspiring to unveil persistent oppression and advocate for meaningful change.

Hi everyone! My name is Zoe (she/her). I am from Co.Louth, Ireland. I'm in my second year studying Medicine at Trinity College Dublin. My Laidlaw research project is about exploiting the relationship between LPS and capsule for therapeutic benefit against E.coli UTI in sepsis. Sepsis has a mortality rate of 1 in 5 and the majority of sepsis infections originate in the urinary tract (from UTIs). I hope with this research to expand the available therapies for sepsis infections derived from UTIs. In my free time, I like to run, play gaelic football, and I also volunteer with Streetdoctors and Dublin Homeless Awareness. One thing about me that surprises people is that I'm slightly married to my Google calendar.  I'd love to connect with someone who is doing research in similar areas and is open to a collaboration! But also I'd love to connect with anyone and am so excited to meet new people! :)

Hello! I'm Lizzie, a second year Biological Science student at Durham University currently focussing on biomedicine, genetics, and biochemistry. I have been extremely involved in sports during school and my degree, which inspired my first year research project. I conducted interviews with current student athletes studying and competing at top UK universities to explore hustle culture within university sports and its impact on student athletes.  My Laidlaw scholarship has been a great experience so far and has provided me many opportunities. Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback of the scholarship!

Hello! I am Mairéad, a PPE student at Durham University. I am really interested in social justice and how human rights are upheld/fail to be upheld. I have aspirations to work in the international human rights sector. I am excited to hear about other people's research and looking forward to being part of the 2024 cohort of research and leadership scholars!  Outside of academics, I'm quite involved in some charity and activist work, particularly around the protection of refugee rights. I'm also big into netball and currently my college's club captain :)

My project involved investigating the effects of methylphenidate on a Parkinson's disease model in Drosophila melanogaster. Broadly speaking, my academic interests include the molecular mechanisms of addiction, and how we can use biochemical and genetic techniques to investigate this.

My name is Ruby Palin. I am a second-year undergraduate student at Durham University studying BSc Biological Sciences. This is my favourite quote from a biologist... “The known is finite, the unknown is infinite; intellectually we stand on an islet in the midst of an illimitable ocean of inexplicability…our business in every generation is to reclaim a little more land” –Thomas Henry Huxley, Evolutionary biologist.

I am an American Expat working at Durham University in the Leadership Framework where I serve as an Assistant Manager. In my role I oversee our Emerging Leadership programmes and am the programme manager for the Durham University Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme. I am passionate about creating an inclusive sense of belonging for students, student leadership development, harm reduction, and helping students identify their version of success.  I have worked in higher education for the last six years in a variety of functional areas including identity-based advocacy, orientation, transition and retention, fraternity and sorority life, and leadership development. I have a B.A. from Willamette University in American Ethnic Studies and History and a M.S. in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Texas A&M University (Gig 'em!).  I like to spend my free time fly-fishing, hiking, watching anything in the Star Wars universe, reading, browsing record stores, going to concerts, and finding the best cappuccino in NE England!

Hi there! I’m Maisy and I’m a second year Sociology student at Durham University. I’m passionate about working to make the education system a more accessible and equal environment. 

Hello! I'm Edie, currently a Geography student at Durham University, with aspirations to enter into the sustainable agriculture and environment world once I graduate. I'm really interested in how we can marry together the developing needs of humanity in a time of climate change and planetary uncertainty. 

Hello all! I did my Laidlaw Programme at Durham University between 2019-2021. My research project focused on evaluating the immigration and asylum system of the EU through a case study of the 2015 immigration crisis. Following the completion of my undergraduate LLB degree I moved to London to pursue my postgraduate LLM study at Queen Mary University of London.