Second year Economics/Philosophy undergraduate at University of York. My Laidlaw project is exploring the ethical and socioeconomic implications of the metaverse. I am working part-time as a Student Ambassador conducting access and outreach programmes for disadvantaged students. I'm seeking summer internships and work experience in HR and applied philosophy sectors.
I am a Film and Television Production undergraduate from the University of York. Prior to undergraduate studies, I took a gap year as an intern for a TV production house for national broadcast in Singapore. I aspire to use my post-production skills to tell stories that make a positive impact.
Hello! My name is Batool and I am an Education and International Development MA Student at UCL.
For my summer research project, I co-produced a policy brief with student recommendations for sustainable futures in higher education which is addressed to policy makers in universities in the UK.
For my Leadership-in-Action project, I am conducting a similar research project with WWF-Pakistan. I am organising participatory workshops with university students from Lahore and plan to use this research for my undergraduate dissertation. If you have any questions about these projects, or about conducting a research-based LiA please do not hesitate to message me!
At UCL I was the President of the UCL Sign Language Society where I led a team of 9 other undergraduate students to organise sign language classes and events to raise awareness of deafness for a society which has over 200 student members. I am currently the Vice President of the Ahlulbayt Islamic Society committee, organising charity campaigns and faith-based awareness events on taking action for global issues.
Hi, I am a student at the University of Durham studying Theology and Religion. I was born in London, but am also from Poland.
I am passionate about my course, but for me, the most captivating aspects of my degree have included the areas such as biblical studies, and the anthropology/sociology of religion.
Beyond my course, I am also a passionate language learner currently learning French and biblical Greek.
My career aspirations are open to continuing further education, becoming a teacher or lawyer, or joining the civil service.
I am enthusiastic about the opportunities the Laidlaw Foundation provides and am excited to embark on this journey.
I'm Frederic, a first-year undergraduate on the six-year medicine programme (BA BM BCh) at the University of Oxford. Outside of medicine, I am an avid musician, playing violin with the Oxford University Philharmonia. This year, my research with the SDG Impact Lab partners with the recently established Leys Cricket Club to investigate participation of underrepresented groups in this community initiative.
Hey everyone - I'm Gitika, but I go by Aki, and I'm a former Laidlaw Scholar currently based at the University of St Andrews. I'm originally from California, but moved to Scotland to pursue my undergraduate studies in history and economics. My Laidlaw research focussed on the colonial and postcolonial histories of sexuality and gender in Asia, and particularly how it has impacted the current lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals based in India and Japan. Now, I am entering my final undergraduate year with an aim of pursuing postgraduate studies in social & economic history.
I'm eager to meet you all, so do reach out if you want to chat about research or just connect over a shared interest! Apart from my work in gender and sexuality history, I'm also keenly interested in archival history, colonial/postcolonial studies, and language / linguistics. Outside of academics, I'm often playing music, walking along the Fife coast with a hot cup of tea, writing, or watching Doctor Who with my friends.
Hi everyone! My name is Hannah and I’m the Marketing Manager at the Laidlaw Foundation.
I was previously a UCL Laidlaw Scholar in the 2022 cohort, where I studied English Language and Literature. It’s a real privilege to now work with the community as part of the Foundation team.
My role focuses on building and nurturing an engaged global Scholars network, creating events that strengthen connection, and shaping how we share the Foundation’s work and impact.
In my spare time, I love cooking new dishes, reading, going to the theatre, and café hopping around London.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out or connect with me on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to chat!
Matt DelSesto, PhD, is a sociologist with over ten years of experience in higher education and the nonprofit sector. He works in the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at Harvard, where he manages Harvard's Laidlaw Scholars program. He also, advises students on the risks and ethics of their research in coordination with the IRB, assists with management of URAF research grant applications, review and administration, and contributes to coordination of URAF programming. He is especially interested in working with students on ethically engaging with partners outside of academia to develop collaborative projects, communicating the broader societal implications and results of their research, or connecting research to social impact.
Outside of URAF, Matt has led collaborative research projects, developed community engaged learning programs at universities, consulted with nonprofit organizations on outreach initiatives, taught experiential learning courses on college campuses and in community-based settings, and worked to strengthen public engagement and accountability in city government. Matt’s writing appears in more than a dozen publications in academic journals and other outlets on topics including human relationships to the environment, crime prevention, design for social innovation, and community engaged learning. His book on the sociology of community engagement and applied research, Design and the Social Imagination (Bloomsbury, 2022), describes models for research and practice from the 20th century to the present.
Ellis Schroeder is a student at Harvard from Atlanta, Georgia, passionate about health equity. He is studying anthropology alongside art history, exploring how science and visual culture shape understandings of health, illness, and care.
Before Harvard, he led the nonprofit DermaTeens and various initiatives for skin cancer prevention and health equity across Atlanta, working with city government and public health officials to install IMPACT Melanoma sunscreen dispensers, promote access to preventative healthcare and sun safety, and educate youth on skin health. He advises the first National Skin Cancer Prevention Youth Council, an initiative he founded, and mentors youth across the country on public health community impact projects.
At Harvard, Ellis researches LGBTQ+ population health, eating disorder epidemiology, and medical sociology. Inspired to understand the growing mistrust in healthcare and science in a post-COVID-19 world, as a Laidlaw Scholar, he researches how LGBTQ+ young adults come to trust or distrust healthcare systems, using mixed methods to trace how real experiences shape engagement with care and impact health outcomes. Ellis hopes to pursue a career in medicine and public health leadership.
Hey, fellow Laidlaw scholars! I'm Maria Clara! I was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the US in 2025 to start my academic journey at Harvard University, where I am studying Economics and Political Science! As a MUN and debate kid during high school, I became passionate about studying and creating solutions for the world's issues early in life. I can say that I am a very impact-driven person: I love to lead teams and work with inspiring groups to think about problems and their possible innovative solutions.
As part of Harvard's inaugural cohort of Laidlaw Scholars, I am doing research in the area of development economics with a team of economists and political scientists. At Harvard, I also do research with the Government department, I am involved with the Brazilian community on campus, various MUN groups, conferences, and mentorship initiatives, serving as a Peer advising fellow for incoming first-year students, and helping to lead the first-year international program in our school!
One of my defining characteristics is that I am passionate about travelling, meeting new people, and hearing their stories. I have already visited many places in South Africa, Europe, and some in Asia! If you want to connect with a fellow Laidlaw scholar who wants to make a difference in this world, please reach out to me and let's connect! I am genuinely so happy to be part of this community! Please, have a look at my LinkedIn or email if you want to reach out and talk about bold ideas, projects, laidlaw, research, life, or anything:)
I am a rising sophomore at Harvard college pursuing a double concentration in Computer Science and English. For my research summer I worked at Harvard Kennedy School's Fandom and Social Connection Initiative, investigating how shared sports fandom can be used to mitigate the effects of social isolation. I am interested in the intersection of technology and social connection, and how we can use digital tools to create a more connected society.
Hi! I'm Mirari and I’m currently pursuing a double major in Anthropology and Chemistry. I’m particularly drawn to global health and social medicine, especially how structural barriers and stigma shape healthcare outcomes. I’m curious about how we can design more equitable systems of care that better serve marginalized communities.
I'm a second-year at Harvard College concentrating in Neuroscience with a secondary in Psychology, on a pre-med track. My research at Massachusetts General Hospital focuses on cerebrovascular diseases and the early detection of Alzheimer's Disease.
As a member of Harvard's inaugural Laidlaw Scholar cohort, I'm combining faculty-mentored independent research with leadership development through Oxford's Ethical Leadership Programme and an international Leadership-in-Action project — all in service of becoming a physician-leader who approaches healthcare with both scientific rigor and ethical grounding.
A core conviction of mine is that lifestyle and nutrition are underutilized tools in chronic disease prevention. I hold a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification from eCornell, serve as Treasurer of Harvard Undergraduate Plant-Based, and am a Fellow of Harvard's Food Literacy Project.
Outside academics, I'm a Board Member and Company Dancer with the Harvard Ballet Company, continuing a 13-year classical ballet background. I also founded Taylor Bears Inc., a DFW-based 501(c)(3) that donates teddy bears to children at Cook Children's Medical Center and supports pediatric cardiovascular units.
Looking forward to connecting with fellow Scholars who are thinking boldly about science, leadership, and meaningful impact.
I am a second-year student at Harvard College double concentrating in Chemistry and Economics, driven by a desire to explore how scientific innovation and economic structures must align to expand global access to medicine. This summer, as a member of Harvard's inaugural Laidlaw Scholar cohort, I am conducting faculty-mentored research in the Richard Liu Group, focusing on the design and synthesis of light-activated molecules (photocages) to improve the efficiency of drug delivery in water.
Through the Laidlaw program, I am combining this rigorous laboratory research with leadership development and an upcoming international Leadership-in-Action project, all to build a foundation for a career bridging the pharmaceutical, biotech, and finance sectors.
Beyond my research, I love exploring foreign languages, skiing, and traveling. I am also an avid sports fan and player, particularly when it comes to volleyball and soccer (football).
I look forward to connecting with fellow Scholars who are passionate about combining scientific discovery with leadership to drive real-world healthcare and economic solutions.