Hello everyone. My name is Samantha and I am junior in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. I am pursuing a major in International Politics and a minor in Cognitive Science. I am originally from Connecticut. In my free time, I enjoy reading realistic fiction novels and going on walks. For my research summer, my faculty mentored project was titled African American Resiliency in the British Caribbean and I conducted research under Professor Anita Gonzalez of the American American Studies Department at Georgetown. The project focused on Cat Island, one of the out islands in The Bahamas, and explored the culture of Cat Island by mapping the island’s foodways, music traditions, and histories. Research methods included conducting oral interviews with local residents of Cat Island and participating in cultural practices. Ultimately, the project examined how Bahamian culture reflects the resiliency of Black populations that have survived forced migration and enslavement in the Caribbean. For my Leadership-in-Action project, I worked at Yahad - in Unum in Paris, France. The nonprofit is dedicated to investigating mass atrocities through interviewing witnesses and examining the sites of mass graves. Currently, Yahad has ongoing investigations in Eastern Europe, Guatemala, Iraq, and Ukraine. Additionally, the organization prioritizes genocide education. My independent project is dedicated to creating a Holocaust education workshop in collaboration with a museum in South Africa.

Ana is a senior at Barnard College pursuing a combined major in religion and human rights. She is specifically interested in the relationship between religion and politics, law, and histories of empire. Her other passions include Arabic language study, vocal jazz, and coffee culture.

I was fortunate enough to conduct academic research under the supervision of Stephen Gethins,  Professor of Practice in International Relations at the University of St Andrews and now a sitting MP. Stephen introduced me to a truly fascinating yet often overlooked area of International Relations: sub-state and regional actors and their place in global politics, with a focus on Scotland in particular. Through this, I have developed an interest in Scotland's place in the world as a nation without an independent foreign office, but as a nation with extensive international influence and a powerful global diaspora. This topic formed the basis of my Laidlaw project, my undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation, and my PhD. I take a keen interested in other academic fields such as politics, history, and philosophy. Although an International Relations and Sociology student first and foremost, I had the opportunity of studying Ancient History and Classics alongside my degree for two years. If I were to ever win the lottery, you would find me endlessly cycling University, spending my remaining days studying Ancient History and Philosophy, Politics, Anthropology, Theology, Theoretical Physics and Maths, or whatever subject I develop an interest in down the line. Since leaving the University of St Andrews and the Laidlaw Programme, I completed an MRes degree at the University of Glasgow in Sociology and Research Methods. I received a scholarship for a PhD in Sociology at the University of Glasgow which I am completing part-time in addition to my role as Research Officer at Carers Trust Scotland - a charity supporting unpaid carers which I had previously volunteered for. My PhD is a continuation of my Scottish diaspora studies, seeking to reconcile the notion of 'civic Scottishness' with the Scottish identity of the lived diaspora.  

Incoming second-year student at Georgetown University, pursuing degrees in Economics & Government! I am conducting research on reinterpreting the Child Tax Credit (CTC) as an automatic stabilizer. Passionate about social policy, international affairs, and the intersection between the private and public sectors.  I'm living in the U.S. right now but I used to live in Singapore, Thailand, and Morocco so I consider each of those places my home. 

I am a 4th year History student from the University of St Andrews. I spent the past year studying and working abroad in Oslo and in Prague. My research analysed the words and phrases of key documents of 1910s Ireland, and used these to evaluate the wider ideologies of Nationalism and Unionism, particularly concerning individual experiences of the ideologies. My research proved the value of speeches and literature to the historian in uncovering wider society. Determined to build upon this research, I am currently creating a website. This will function as an online archive for speeches and literature and offer my research as an interpretation to aid in understanding. I hope that this will be an accessible and beneficial tool for those interested in Irish history. When I'm not reading, researching and writing about History, I run my own small-business, enjoy traveling, and have a passion for learning languages.  Feel free to connect here!

I'm an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto double majoring in Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Immunology as well as minoring in Creative Expression & Society. 

Hi there! I'm Oran, a final year student of International History and Politics. With the Laidlaw Foundation, I completed an independent research project on the history of an early international voluntary organisation in the summer of 2021. Also with the programme, I took part in the 'Youth and Community' project with ThinkPacific in the Fiji Islands in the summer of 2022.  All of this has enhanced my capacity for leadership in a globalising world. Please have a look through my profile to learn more about me and my work as a Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholar. 

Hi! My name is Claudia, and I’m an undergraduate philosophy student at TCD. My Laidlaw research project regards the public’s reaction to the Covid-19 related lockdown measures, with a view to providing some insight into the current socio-political zeitgeist. I’ll be doing this with the help of the work of political theorist & philosopher Hannah Arendt.

Hi👋🏾 I’m Pearls I am a final year Law student at the University of Leeds. I recently completed a placement year at The Walt Disney Company as a CPGP Contract Management Intern (hence the 'industrial' next to my degree title) My first-year research project looked at the way game-based learning could be incorporated into Multi-Academy Trusts (aka MATs) to improve the academic attainment and classroom engagement of GCSE-year black students. My Leadership-in-Action project was with MakeSense and focused on empowering minority communities within Mexico City.

Hello, I'm a first-year chemical engineering student at UCL. My research project for this programme looked into the economic feasibility of three different wastewater treatment solutions for organic matter removal and energy production. I also explored the environmental sustainability of these technologies through a self-assessed quantitative impact assessment.

Hi! My name is Lia, and I am in my final year at Cornell University. I'm majoring in Government and pursuing an independent major that combines politics, international studies, and sociology. My first-year Laidlaw project was focused on researching Russian political parties in the lead-up to the country's 2021 parliamentary elections. During my second summer, I traveled to Choma, Zambia through the Laidlaw centralized project with Columbia University.

Hello! I'm Eva, an history undergraduate from Durham University. My interests lie in uncovering often overlooked narratives within minority histories. My research project will focus on medieval race theories through the lens of the Hereford World Map.

Hello, my name is Michael. I'm the programme manager of an environmental NGO in the West of Ireland called Cuan Beo. My Laidlaw research investigated factors contributing to the transmission of avian influenza to farmed poultry. And I completed my Leadership in Action project with Think Pacific on the Environment & Sustainability programme in Rarabasaga, Fiji. I'm delighted to remain a part of the Laidlaw community and am as excited as ever to get to know many of you! My current research interests are in marine restoration, and community and political engagement.

I am a second year law student at Trinity College Dublin, conducting a research project on period poverty and how it impacts participation in education in Ireland. I currently work as a Policy and Advocacy Advisor at The Pad Project, and am especially interested in in social justice, access to education, gender equality, sustainability and human rights.

Hello! My name is Joe Linogao (he/him), and I am currently a Software Engineer at Akara Robotics and Engineering with Management graduate from Trinity College Dublin. I became a Laidlaw Scholar for TCD on April 2021 with my research proposal, "Automated Procedure for the Microbial Analysis of Contact Plates." I'll be honest, I just copied and pasted my LSAB bio because I'm lazy to switch the paragraph to first person lol "Joe is an Engineering with Management graduate from Trinity College Dublin, a Software Engineer at LegitFit and an active board member for the LSAB. His journey from mechanical engineering to full-stack software development highlights his adaptability and passion for technology, with his key interests being the startup and Software-as-a-Service space. Joe's love for creating simple solutions and fun experiences, video games and music drives his innovative approach. His past experiences include research with the Laidlaw Foundation and working as a computer vision engineer at the leading robotics startup from Trinity, Akara Robotics. An ambitious and fast learner, Joe also enjoys Dungeons and Dragons and has a strong presence in content creation, including music and digital media."

Hi, everyone! My name is Sarina Zhou, a Class of 2024 student at Cornell University! I am major in Economics and minor in Law and Society. The aim of my research is to implement the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Barbados, bridge the gap in understanding between legislators and their constituents, and improve the lives of those in disadvantaged and marginalized communities. I always seek opportunities to develop my skills and knowledge in various subject areas, particularly in the fields of law and business. I hope to pursue a career in immigration or corporate law in the future. Also, fun fact: I am an artist specializing in acrylic landscape painting and graphite portrait drawing! Please don't hesitate to connect with me! :)

I am an incoming MPhil candidate in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology at the University of Oxford. My Laidlaw research explores the Incan Empire's positive view of female homosexuality, exploring how their diverse understandings of gender influenced these views on sexuality. It also considered how La Conquista's use of a European lens and translation when documenting Incan civilisation resulted in the erasure of much of the sexual and gender diversity which existed throughout Incan Peru.  Show more

Hello! I am a multidisciplinary designer and have been with the Laidlaw Foundation for over five years, working to strengthen our global Scholar community and amplify the impact of our programmes. My work lives somewhere between design, education, and anthropology, usually with sticky notes involved. I studied Human Sciences as an undergrad and recently finished a Master’s in Anthropology, both at UCL.  Born and raised in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Outside of work? Probably in the ceramics studio or a yoga class. Big fan of nature and very small bugs.

Aspiring economist and researcher at Columbia with experience spearheading internationally recognized non-profits through collaborations with National Geographic, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank, UNICEF USA, and the Philippines Department of Education.