Celine Lau is a rising sophomore at Georgetown University studying Neurobiology with a minor in Statistics on the pre-medical track. She is passionate about understanding how environmental and biological factors influence human health, particularly in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.
As a Laidlaw Scholar, Celine is investigating the relationship between environmental exposures, such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and student health outcomes. Her research explores how differences in air quality across regions may contribute to disparities in educational and cognitive outcomes, with a focus on developing a deeper understanding of environmental determinants of health.
Celine also conducts research in the laboratory of Dr. Priyanka Joshi at Georgetown University, where she studies metabolic pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. Her broader interests lie at the intersection of neuroscience, environmental health, and translational medicine, with the goal of contributing to research that improves prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of complex diseases.
Beyond research, Celine is involved in healthcare and community service initiatives, including EMT work, free clinic volunteering, and student organizations focused on music, bioethics, and Alzheimer’s awareness. She hopes to pursue a career as a physician-scientist, combining clinical care with research to address pressing challenges in human health.
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren, I am a rising junior at Tufts University studying Biomedical Engineering and Science, Technology, & Society. I am very interested in neuroscience research, especially neurodegenerative diseases. I am also very interested in learning about the neuroscience of addiction, and how medical research can be used for social good. In my free time, I enjoy reading, live music, and spending time with loved ones!
Hi! My name is Thai Hai An Phung, but I go by Ami. I am a second-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Toronto. I was born in Vietnam and have had the privilege of living in Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Ukraine, and the UK, where I recently graduated from boarding school.
I am passionate about energy, hydrogen, sustainability, materials science, and innovation, and I am especially interested in how engineering can contribute to scalable solutions for decarbonizing large industries. My research will be focused on evaluating mechanical performance and surface quality of novel carbon-mineralized cement!
Outside of academics, I love travelling, hiking, spending time in nature, exploring different cuisines, following motorsports, and trying new experiences. I am excited to be part of the Laidlaw Scholars Community so please feel free to reach out!
Hi, my name is Alex Kurian. I am a Mathematics and Economics major at NYU Abu Dhabi.
Hello!
My name is Mabinty. I'm a second year student studying French and Spanish at the University of Leeds. I'm currently a Laidlaw Scholar, part of the 2026 cohort. I'm from Croydon but grew up in the Netherlands for some years.
At the moment, I'm at the end of my second year and preparing for my research programme in Listening to Feminist Art Histories: Researching and Sharing Voices from the FAMH Oral History Archive with Dr Elspeth Mitchell.
I'm passionate about storytelling, whether it be through the medium of fictional tv shows and the cinematographic wonders of film or through the art of an honest and direct meditation and reflection of a life within a documentary. Additionally, I'm a passionate advocate of equity within the arts, media and education.
I also like to focus a lot of my academic pursuits and studies around learning about the experiences of marginalised groups within society.
I'm beyond excited to take part in the programme and see how it can develop me as a storyteller within the world!
Hi, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a sophomore from Nigeria at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar. I major in International Politics with minors in Africana Studies and a certificate in Energy Studies. I am also pursuing the French proficiency academic pathway.
My academic interests are deeply shaped by my experience growing up in Nigeria and center on Africa’s future, the place of identity, and the advancement of women and girls globally.
This summer, I will be researching how 'Y2K' Nollywood (the formative period of Nigeria’s film industry spanning the 1990s and early 2000s) influenced the women who contributed to and consumed it, across a representative social circle that includes actresses and women in the diaspora.
Hi! My name is Chloe Lee and I am a incoming sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Political Science and Human Rights with aspirations to eventually go to law school. I am interested in voting rights, international human rights, intersectional feminist theory, and the intersection between law and business!
This summer I will be conducting research on Asian American voter behavior and the barriers that shape civic engagement for the Asian American community in Queens, Texas, and Georgia. With the supervision of my mentor Professor Chen, I look forward to learning about the lived experiences and geographic comparisons that will help me understand how barriers influence eligible voters.
Hi! I love making new friends and creating things! My favourite things to create are stories -- through composing my own music, drawing or writing -- and organizations! Currently making a women in STEM society in my university and it's been a lot of fun :D Hit me up if we have any hobbies in common :) Still trying to figure out what I want to do in life
Pragyan is a junior majoring in Culture and Politics at Georgetown University in Qatar. He works as an Economics Peer Tutor at the Office of Academic Services, and also as a Research Assistant at the Energy Humanities Program, where he is currently developing an energy-themed board game. For his Laidlaw project, he is exploring the history of labor in the electricification of the Philippines. This project intersects energy history and colonial studies, exploring how US Colonialism shaped electricity during and after the US control of the Islands.
