I became a Laidlaw Scholar in 2025 during the first year of my BSc in Physics & Chemistry at @Durham University, with interest in researching interdisciplinary solutions to anthropogenic climate change and pollution. In my first summer, I developed biosourced polymers for use in laundry detergents, producing a compound with promising performance compared to industry standards. For my Leadership in Action project, I partnered with @Under the Wave Organisation to assist data monitoring at a sea cucumber farm and support sustainable livelihoods in Zanzibar.

Hi! I'm Alina, a Biochemistry undergraduate fascinated by health sciences, my long-term goal is making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective. For my Laidlaw research, I stepped outside my home School of Biology into the School of Medicine to study direct-to-consumer health screening (think at-home genetic tests). These tests promise autonomy but risk misinformation, false positives, and overdiagnosis; so my work pushes for a shift from early diagnosis to optimal diagnosis, where a result is only useful if it's actually clinically actionable. For my Leadership in Action project, I co-led When Science Dances; using Scottish ceilidh dance to teach gravitational-wave physics to children in underserved communities across Glasgow and Shetland, in partnership with Science Ceilidh, Wild Skies Shetland, and the University of Glasgow's Institute for Gravitational Research. It was a joy to take something as abstract as spacetime and turn it into something kids could dance out and giggle through, and to watch the project grow from a Glasgow workshop series into a Shetland outreach programme along the way. Outside of "work hours", I'm always on the move. In uni I picked up judo, which has since become kind of my whole personality (big shout out to USTA Judo, I love you). I also absolutely love cycling; started as a way of coping with not having a car, ended as a full-blown addiction. Beyond sport, I've got a soft spot for anything creative: embroidery, crochet, photography, and losing hours to discovering electronic music. Basically: endlessly curious, always chasing whatever new thing has caught my eye.

Hi, my name is Sophie! I'm a second year Bsc Geography undergraduate at Durham University. My research project this summer is a pilot study investigating the effect of e-cigarette and cigarette exposure on prenatal development, focussing on upper facial movement. I hope to obtain an understanding of the potential implications to healthcare policymaking regarding maternal use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. I am driven to take action to improve the lives of others, and therefore motivated to understand the impact of maternal actions on the lives of the younger generations and actions that can prevent negative impacts. I really enjoy spending time outdoors, either walking or running. I also love to travel and explore new places! My favourite way to spend time with friends is to visit a café and have a good catch up over a coffee!

Hi there ! My name is Aminata and I am a second year Life Sciences Engineering Major at EPFL. I am passionate about harnessing scientific progress to better people’s lives, and I hope to focus my efforts on rehabilitative technologies. I am confident that scientific progress is to be driven by the desire to create meaningful change, and that the Laidlaw experience is a fantastic mixture of both. My interests include reading, watching roms-coms, and travelling. Do not hesitate to reach out and/or connect, I'd love to hear from you :)

Hey! I'm Abo. I'm in my final year of Biomedical Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. I'm specialising in Immunology and have a keen interest in the role of inflamation in neurodegenerative conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease. I got the fantastic opportunity to present my Summer 1 research at Columbia University in NYC this past November, and conducted my Summer 2 Leadership in Action Project in Boston!

Hi! I’m Serena, and I’m a bachelor student in Life Sciences Engineering at EPFL. Healthcare is one of my big passions, and the intersection between healthcare and technology, especially in neuroscience, is driving inspiring progress that I’m excited to explore throughout my research in the Laidlaw program. Outside of that, my favourite hobbies are reading, playing guitar and going on long walks/runs. Don’t hesitate to reach out and connect if you feel we have anything in common, I’m always happy to meet new people!

Hi! I’m Zach — a fifth-year medical student at Imperial College London, and an Honorary Clinical Research Fellow at the Royal Brompton Hospital, one of the world’s leading cardiothoracic centres. My work sits at the intersection of critical care medicine, health-services evaluation, and data-driven translational science. Through my Laidlaw project, EQUALISE, I built geospatial and temporal analyses of national ECMO referrals to investigate equity of access to extracorporeal life support across the UK — working alongside clinicians, NHS England commissioners, and regional networks to turn data into evidence that shapes service planning. The analytical pipelines were subsequently adopted by the National ECLS Service Evaluation. For my Leadership-in-Action project, I’m working as a Clinical & Scientific Fellow with the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN), helping design a federated, African-led real-world evidence platform. Back in the lab, my current research investigates gas-phase metabolomic signatures during cardiopulmonary bypass, working toward novel non-invasive diagnostics. Outside research, you’ll find me at bachata and salsa socials across London!

Hello :) My name is Ella, a second-year student at the University of Toronto! My research looks at how Chinese slash fiction is used by women to reflect real-life struggles and promote feminist awareness. I focus on why this genre—centered on queer male relationships—is chosen to express female experiences, and how censorship and cultural factors in China influence that decision. In the past, I have researched how coming-of-age narratives are portrayed in Western slash fiction. Outside of academia, I love to snowboard (in the winter) and ride my electric unicycle (in the summer). My favourite pastime is trying new foods and drinks while (sometimes) discussing how certain aspects of fanfiction reflect social justice issues. My (more normal) hobbies include reading—anything except mysteries—with a focus on Asian North American stories, listening to pop and classical music, and playing badminton. I will be studying English and East Asian Studies over the next three years!

Hello! My name is Viktoria, and I’m a third year student at University of Toronto pursuing a Human Biology major and double minor in Immunology and Physiology. In my research, I'm investigating how immune dysfunction contributes to Parkinson’s Disease (PD) pathogenesis, a condition that has immensely impacted my family. My work integrates computational transcriptomic analysis of patient data with experimental validation in a preclinical mouse model. This integrative approach aims to uncover immune-related biomarkers that could inform precision-based, disease-modifying immunomodulatory therapies that slow or prevent PD progression. My fascination with the immune system began with my own experience navigating everyday life with my anaphylactic allergies. Early exposure to the immune system’s complexity inspired my ongoing commitment to understanding how immune dysregulation underpins disease. PD is close to my heart, and I’m motivated to have my work contribute to better diagnostics and treatments for patients worldwide. Looking ahead, I aspire to pursue graduate studies; either an MSc or PhD in immunology, neuroscience, or biomedical sciences. I’m passionate about translating academic research into real-world solutions and hope to build a venture that leverages immune insights for targeted, accessible therapies. I’m also a language enthusiast; I love learning new languages and immersing myself in different cultures, and I believe cross-cultural communication is essential for global health innovation and leadership. When I’m not in the lab, you can find me studying in new cafes and trying new restaurants around Toronto, reading psychological thrillers or philosophical literature, hiking with my dog, or travelling abroad! The Laidlaw Scholars Programme has been an incredibly meaningful part of my academic journey thus far, empowering me to ask bold questions, build hands-on research skills, and connect with a vibrant community of change-makers. If you’re curious about Parkinson’s research, immunology/neuroscience/biotech, or just want to connect, feel free to reach out on my LinkedIn. I’d love to hear from you!

I am a penultimate year MMath Mathematics student at the University of St Andrews and a 2025 Leadership and Research Scholar. My summer 2025 research project was in Pure Mathematics, specifically Algebraic Graph Theory. I studied pseudo-similar vertices in graphs and digraphs using inverse semigroups. I completed my LiA in summer 2026 with the Timothy Smith Network, acting as an instructor in web design for the Boston Design Academy in Boston, USA.

Hi, I'm Anika! I’m a student at Duke University pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Public Policy. I’m passionate about exploring how emerging technology can be governed, developed, and deployed in a responsible and equitable manner. Outside of Duke, I lead the Center for Gender Equitable AI, a nonprofit I founded to address issues in the intersection of gender equity and AI.

Hello LSN! 👋 I'm Annie from the University of Toronto, and I am thrilled to be among the 2025 Laidlaw Scholars cohort! Program: Engineering Science (2T7) -- and in the upcoming fall I'm about to start my third year in aerospace engineering! Finally something interesting after two years of core courses 😵‍💫 Research Topic: gender bias in AI chatbots' responses & how to avoid such bias in AI development 🌟 Now the interests! Hobbies: climbing beginner (but really enjoys it) 🧗 | video editing 🎬 | journaling 📝 | hiking🚶‍♀️ Enjoys: musicals 🎵 | doctor who 📺 | Comic Con 🎨 Also, for any whovians out there, I am planning to build my first Dalek this summer! Full size, motorized Dalek that will turn up at Fan Expo Toronto this summer 👀 So if you're going too - just send me a message and let's hang out! ✌️

Hello! I was Laidlaw scholar in 2019, and I studied national, regional, and local identity in northern Tajikistan through the lens of women's fashion. For a year after graduating, I worked for the UN Mine Action Service which removes landmines from conflict and post-conflict regions. I then worked for the Laidlaw Foundation 2021-22 and completed a Master's Degree in Anthropology and Development Management at the London School of Economics. Now I'm working with the UN on innovative finance for biodiversity conservation, focusing on marine ecosystems. Please feel free to reach out on the network, on LinkedIn, or by email. I'm always happy to meet new people and chat.

Amanda Andersson