Catarina de A. Mello da Costa (She/Her)

Student, Barnard College
  • People
  • United States of America
Shehar Bano

Intern , Laidlaw

Madelyn

Student Researcher, Barnard College

A. Johnson

Student, Barnard College

I am a third-year student at Barnard College majoring in American Studies and WGSS. My research aims to explore the impact of anti-trans legislation on internal migration within the United States.
Anusha Wangnoo

Student, Research Assistant, Writer, Barnard College, Columbia University

Lucia Santos

History Student, Barnard College

I am a rising senior at Barnard studying history, concentrating on the history of empires and colonialism with specific interest in food history. I research how people, culture, and the environment interact through food.
Peter Vojnits

Laidlaw Scholar Alumnus, Durham Unviersity

Hello all! I did my Laidlaw Programme at Durham University between 2019-2021. My research project focused on evaluating the immigration and asylum system of the EU through a case study of the 2015 immigration crisis. Following the completion of my undergraduate LLB degree I moved to London to pursue my postgraduate LLM study at Queen Mary University of London.
Prachi Roy

Art History Student, Barnard College

I am a senior at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Art History. My research interests include South Asian Art, Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century European Art, and Clothing. 
Fahitza Quessa

Researcher, Laidlaw

Sana Punjani

Laidlaw Scholar, Barnard College

Amy (Shay) Stulman

Researcher , Barnard College of Columbia University

Madeleine Martin

Urban Studies & Economics Student, Barnard College

Hi! I'm Madeleine, a rising junior at Barnard College, majoring in Urban Studies and Economics. In my first summer, I conducted quantitative and spatial research on housing inequity in Morningside Heights, utilizing statistical software and GIS tools to analyze data and spatial patterns, to better inform policy decisions. In my second summer, I am volunteering with Bybi, an urban beekeeping organization based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Bybi focuses on creating sustainable urban environments through beekeeping, local partnerships, and urban apiaries. 🇩🇰🐝🌿🌈🚲🍎⭐️
Noel Ullom

Research Scholar, Barnard College, Columbia University

Hi everyone! My name is Noel Ullom and I am a student at Barnard College studying Political Science and Theatre. While I am more generally fascinated by the fields of political theory, metaphysics, and theatre, I am interested in researching the influence of contrasting philosophies around free will on the queer liberation movement in Italy for my Laidlaw project. I would love to connect with you all!
Emily Lu

Student, Barnard College

Spencer Davimos

Student, Barnard College

Hi! My name is Spencer Davimos, and I am a rising junior at Barnard College. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, I am conducting research on the transfer pipeline from community college to 4-year college within the City University of New York (CUNY). I am hoping to particularly center the experiences and perspectives of students of color to open up a wider conversation about increasing equity in postsecondary education access. 
Alice Bai

Student, Barnard College

I am a 3rd year at Barnard College of Columbia University, studying History with a concentration in East Asia alongside a minor in Education Studies. My current Laidlaw research project focuses on the historical identity formation of Chinese Cuban diasporic communities, through the use of visual and textual archival analysis. I am passionate about equity and representation in academia, public engagement with historical education, and immigration and refugee justice. Generally, my research interests include migration and diaspora, gender and sexuality, postcolonial studies, and pedagogy.
Gabrielle Hrung

Student, Barnard College, Columbia University

Hello! I’m Gabrielle, a student at Barnard College in New York City. I’m studying Comparative Literature (English and German) and Music (Ethnomusicology), and I’m also a classical violist and pianist. I’m passionate about the historic overlap between literature and music, particularly 19th- and 20th-century program music, ballets, and operas. For my first Laidlaw summer, my interest in adaptation theory drove me to explore how Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet narrative moved across genres and mediums, with a specific focus on works by Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, Prokofiev, and Gounod. My interest in the transmission of cultural and musical knowledge led me to Berlin, Germany for my second Laidlaw summer, where I also spent my exchange year. I worked as a piano teacher at an organization that supports and empowers migrants and refugees in Berlin. I’m also interested in literary translation, archival practices, and engaged pedagogy, and I hope to continue exploring archives, libraries, and museums as sites of cultural memory. 
Sophia Medzoyan

Student, Barnard College

Բարեւ ձեզ! I'm a Class of 2027 student at Barnard College of Columbia University in NYC. I am pursuing a combined major in Gender Studies and Human Rights with a concentration in Asian Diasporas and Asian American Studies, focusing on Armenia and the Levant Last year, I researched how Artsakhtsi women navigated decisions related to their reproductive and maternal health throughout the 2023 blockade and displacement. This summer, I am interning with the Women's Support Center in Yerevan, Armenia—the country's leading DV center and one of the most prominent advocates fighting for systemic change by combatting gender-based violence, myths and taboos regarding DV, and patriarchal structures in Armenia.
Emily Shami Sher

Student, Barnard College

I am a computer science and sociology student at Barnard College. I am particularly interested in the intersection of these subjects, researching how surveillance technologies affect specific communities throughout New York City. I want to explore the ways that surveillance technologies affect community members' perceptions of safety, trust, and belonging. 
Estella Moster

Student, Barnard College

Zala Bhan

Student, Barnard College of Columbia University

My name is Zala Bhan, and I’m a Laidlaw Scholar at Barnard College studying Applied Mathematics with an interest in biostatistics. For me, the Laidlaw program is a tribute to my cultural roots as a Kashmiri Pandit (KP), the ethnic minority of Kashmir, and an effort to preserve and give voice to a history that’s often overlooked. In my first summer, I explored whether a truth and reconciliation framework could offer a path for the reintegration of KPs following their forced exodus of over 300,000 people in 1990. Through case studies of the South African TRC, Bosnia’s post-war efforts, and Chile’s reconciliation process, I examined what healing, accountability, and return may look like in the context of Kashmir. For my LiA, I’m building an oral history archive to preserve the memories and voices of those who lived through the exodus, alongside personal artifacts and memorabilia. This archive aims to preserve lived experiences, support future research, and spark conversations about justice, memory, and belonging. I hope to continue this work long after the summer ends, deepening the archive and expanding its reach.