Hi! My name is Rishika Singh and I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown University majoring in Human Science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am investigating how socioeconomic and demographic factors, including income, insurance status, educational attainment, employment, race, and ethnicity, influence healthcare seeking behavior and symptom severity among patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Beyond research, I love being active and spending time with my friends. I also love food and my favorite cuisine is Thai food. Feel free to reach out here or at rs2298@georgetown.edu!

Hi! My name is Maghai, and I am a rising junior at Georgetown University in Qatar studying International Politics. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am conducting research on civilian perceptions of UN peacekeeping withdrawal in South Sudan and how local communities experience security and international intervention. Growing up through conflict and displacement has shaped my interest in community-centered policy, accountability, and research that elevates local perspectives in global decision-making.

Hi! My name is Leslie and I am currently at student at Georgetown University in Qatar, majoring in International Economics. I am passionate about many subject areas including African Politico-Economy, Climate Change, Mental Health and many more! This summer, with the help of Prof Mendenhall from GU and Dr. Bosire from Aga Khan University in Kenya, I will be conducting research that explores ways in which climate related events like flooding affect the wellbeing of residents of informal settlements in Kibera, Kenya. 

Hi! My name is Ella Shi and I'm from Seattle, Washington. I am a current sophomore at Georgetown University studying Human Science. Outside of academics, I love journaling, scrapbooking, painting pottery, and really anything involving creativity!

Hi! My name is Delphine Armand and I am a junior at Georgetown University. I am currently on the pre-med track studying Global Health and Theology with a concentration in Religion, Politics, and the Common Good. I am originally from Boston, Massachusetts, although I am currently in the process of moving to Rochester, Minnesota. I am an avid thrifter, reader, drawer, and music-listener.   My Laidlaw research project aims to analyze the reality of pluralistic religious freedoms within the carceral system. Specifically, I am interested in exploring the association between social, political, and economic identity and religious complaint filings under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) passed in 2000. This idea draws on my experiences as a religious studies student and a creative writing tutor at the Alexandria Detention Center.    My hope is that this project will thoughtfully evaluate the barriers to religious pluralism within the carceral system, encouraging future advocacy and litigation to create more equitable and inclusive institutions. Additionally, I’d like to learn more about litigation and policy, allowing me to develop my professional identity and explore the world of criminology and law. Finally, I would not be taking full advantage of the Laidlaw Scholars Programme if I did not connect with its broad network of students, mentors, and alumni. I am looking forward to meeting and learning from these passionate individuals for the rest of my academic career. I am so excited and grateful to be a part of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars Cohort!

Hello! This is April Cheng from Taiwan, studying International Political Economy in Georgetown University. I am interested in international development and has internship experience in Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Kenya. 

Hi, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a rising 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 Abdur, and I am a rising junior at Georgetown studying Government and Philosophy on a pre-law track. I enjoy and feel fulfilled doing work related to prison policy reform. For hobbies, I love cooking, hiking, biking, working on fashion, and playing poker. 

My name is Tuqa Alibadi and I am an undergraduate student at Georgetown University, majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am passionate about researching the effects of digital suppression on civil rights in America, with a specific focus on the pro-Palestine movement. My work aims to uncover how digital censorship impacts free speech and advocacy in today's digital landscape. On a pre-law track, I aspire to use my academic background and research findings to advocate for justice and develop equitable policy solutions in the realm of international human rights.

Hi! My name is Ishya, and I'm an incoming sophomore at Georgetown University studying International Economics in the School of Foreign Service. I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and I love trying new restaurants (especially Tex-Mex!). This summer, I'm researching the political and economic factors that influence whether countries adopt Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). DPI refers to foundational digital systems, such as digital identity programs, digital payment platforms, and secure data-sharing frameworks, that enable governments to deliver public and private services more efficiently. Through my project, I'm exploring why some countries successfully implement these systems while others face barriers, and how factors like governance, institutional capacity, economic development, and political priorities shape the adoption of digital public infrastructure around the world.

Hi, I’m Isabella! I am a rising third year student at Georgetown University studying American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies with a research focus on sexual violence, Christian nationalism, and gender policy. I am an educator and advocate for sexual violence prevention at both a cultural and legislative level.  This summer, I will be working with Dr. Nadia Brown and a fellow scholar to understand the occurrence and effects of violence against local-level women politicians. I am particularly interested in the influence of digital abuse involving AI and the effect that sexual harassment has on women’s political participation.  Please feel free to reach out! Email: ibw9@georgetown.edu

Ilena is a rising junior at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business majoring in International Political Economy and Business, with a concentration in Sustainable Business and a minor in French. She is interested in how finance can be reimagined to better support sustainable and inclusive economic development. This summer, she is conducting research on Capital for Climate by developing a case study of its funding model to examine how innovative financing mechanisms can advance economic and social development while overcoming limitations of traditional development finance. Her work aims to inform practitioners and contribute to emerging conversations on designing next-generation funding architectures for sustainable development.

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. 

Hi!  My name is Nuthi Ganesh.  I am a junior studying Culture and Politics in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  My research explores how children in refugee-like situations adjust to American schools and how these children experience and negotiate their role as cultural intermediaries in schools.  I am curious about how this role shapes refugee children into advocates for human rights, especially for their right to education. My hobbies are journaling, playing violin, watching cooking/baking shows, and backpacking.  I am originally from Maine but I've lived briefly in India and France.

I am a rising junior at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, studying International Economics with a minor in history. I am interested in South Asian history, nationalism, and the economic history of capitalism and development.