Hello! I'm Cate, a second-year undergraduate student originally from Connecticut in the US, and I study English and Political Science at Brown University (and maybe also French!). I'm interested in immigration, human rights, social movements, US constitutional law, and comparative law, and—as you might have already guessed—I'm considering going into the legal field after undergrad.
In 2025, I'm entering my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, and I'm excited to be participating in a research project called "In the Wake of George Floyd." This project is about documenting current and past protests across Rhode Island in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd and writing about them in the context of social movements, racism, and police violence in the state of Rhode Island and throughout the country.
My name is Tara Lago, and I am a Rabi Scholar and Laidlaw Scholar at Columbia University pursuing a major in neuroscience and behavior with a concentration in chemistry. With more than 3 years of research related to social science, depression, animal behavior, and computational neuroscience, I aim to study and apply the basic neural mechanisms that underlie human health.
I am passionate about helping my community, inside and outside of the lab. Whether that be creating inclusive programs for my first-year residents as a Resident Advisor or advocating for the freedom to read with the New York and Brooklyn Public Library, I seek to create supportive spaces that encourage intellectual, emotional, and social growth. After my undergraduate education, I plan to work in academic medicine, with the ambition of obtaining an MD-PhD in the future.
Hello! I've directed the Laidlaw Scholars Program at Brown University since 2023. I care deeply about lifting up the next generation of leaders, change-makers, and engaged scholars to create a more just and equitable world. My PhD is in U.S. History and Gender Studies with a focus on families, childhood and youth. Send me a message if you'd like to connect!
My Clifton Strengths are: Achiever, Relator, Strategic, Learner, Individualization