Cothney Theresa Lasaracina

Hi! I’m Bruno, an undergraduate in Life Sciences Engineering at EPFL, and I am from Hungary, France, and Italy. I’m interested in many things, from Classical Rome and Greece to mountain bike, psychology, neuroscience, medicine, and engineering. I’m still exploring whether my path will lead more toward medicine or engineering, so if you have any thoughts or advice, I’d be very happy to hear from you!

Amylyn De Paz-De Paz is a student from western North Carolina and the daughter of immigrant pastors who instilled in her a deep commitment to service. From a young age, she has supported her community and led initiatives to expand access to education via tutoring programs, interpreting, and programming. At Duke University, she continues this work through her involvement with DukeEngage, Bass Connections, Duke Campus Farm, LangDorm, HelpDesk, Duke RAM, InventHers, Duke Mi Gente, and other programs. She is also a Coleman Family Ventures Fellow, an experience she is especially grateful for as it has allowed her to further develop her passion for a career in pediatrics and language access in healthcare settings. For Amylyn, Duke and the Laidlaw Scholars program are catalysts for meaningful impact in the communities she cares about. She is proud to represent individuals who share her identity and experiences. To learn more about Amylyn’s journey, explore Duke’s premier student blog, “Trinity in Four Acts,” which follows her path throughout Duke and beyond.

I'm a Law student at the University of Leeds. My interests lie between Law and politics, and I've acquired a lot of experience in these sectors over the years. My main goal is to work in public policy and within Human rights Law.

Mathematics researcher at EPFL, Laidlaw Scholar, and systems optimizer. I specialize in formalizing mathematics in Lean 4 (currently researching with Fields Medalist Prof. Maryna Viazovska) and building high-performance software. I don't just study systems; I look for their underlying logic to optimize them. My recent work ranges from deploying production software that uses Max-Plus algebra to reduce event logistics complexity to , to building decentralized parametric insurance on the blockchain and coding real-time cognitive analysis AI pipelines. With a background in local politics (former Town Councilor) and a certification in behavioral psychology (PCM), I am fascinated by the intersection of human behavior and pure logic. When I'm not writing proofs or coding, you can find me rowing or trying to teach Lean 4 to my grandmother.

Hi! My name is Anna, and I am rising junior at Duke University studying Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about learning how to evaluate policy and find my own evidence-based policy solutions for my future work as (hopefully!) a politician. I'm especially drawn to policy related to foreign policy, economic and social equity. I'm also interested in conducting research focused on the rise of the far-right and the developments in the society that enabled it. 

Hello, my name is Yara Alhajji. I’m a 3rd year dental student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in public health, paediatric dentistry, and community outreach. As someone with lived experience as a Syrian refugee, I’m deeply passionate about equity in healthcare access and using my platform to give back to underrepresented communities. Over the past few years, I’ve actively participated in several outreach programmes including OpenWide, Raised in Yorkshire, and Reach for Expense, all aimed at improving dental awareness and education across diverse populations. I’ve proudly been part of OpenWide for three consecutive years initially as the Primary School Representative, then as President, and currently serving as the Outreach Representative. The society works to bridge the gap between dental professionals and the wider community, delivering workshops for people of all ages. Through the society I’ve initiated a collaboration with Raised in Yorkshire, a long term outreach and research initiative exploring public understanding of dental health and shaping how we engage communities more meaningfully. Outside of dentistry, I’m an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking and challenging myself through physical activities. My background and personal journey continue to fuel my drive to advocate for inclusive healthcare and make a positive impact through both clinical practice and community-led research. Feel free to reach out to me on here or through my email dn23ya@leeds.ac.uk or through my Instagram account! 

Hey, I am an undergraduate student in Modern Foreign Languages (French) and International Relations. I am very interested in other languages and cultures and am interested in deepening my understanding as to how communities interact on a global scale.  My research project is titled 'Telling the Stories of Colonial Populations in the French Resistance through Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tours' and I will be working alongside my fellow scholar, Thomas O'Rourke, under the supervision of Professor Nina Wardleworth - contributing to the already pre-existing work of Nina and her previous scholars. This research project will aim to further shine a light on and commemorate French colonial citizens for their role in the French (Internal) Resistance. During my free time, I enjoy listening to music, spending time with friends, discussing topics, watching the TV, cooking and a bit of friendly competition! Please do not hesitate to get in touch, whether it be for educational reasons or simply for a chat. :)

Hello! I'm Thomas, a student of Modern Languages (French) and English at the University of Leeds. I have just carried out my Summer Research Period on Professor Nina Wardleworth's project: 'Telling the Stories of Colonial Populations in the French Resistance through Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tours'. Having completed this project, I am increasingly interested in a career in government or the civil service, particularly in areas related to culture, heritage, and social inclusion. As of now, I'm currently on my year abroad in the Loire-Atlantique, France, working as an English Language Assistant with the British Council. My other academic interests include language pedagogy, educational equity and French literature. Outside of my studies, I enjoy running, reading and travelling! Feel free to reach out if any of this resonates with your own research or interests :)

My name is Ishaan Jordan, and I am a student at Georgetown University pursuing a major in Government alongside a minor in Tech, Ethics, and Society. Driven by a passion for public service, leadership, and systemic change, my academic and extracurricular focus centers on how policy and emerging technologies intersect to shape a more equitable world. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, my primary objective is to conduct research that examines the ethical implications of technology in governance, specifically how algorithmic decision-making impacts civic trust. Furthermore, I am eager to immerse myself in Laidlaw’s leadership development track, refining the skills necessary to lead with integrity, empathy, and clarity. Outside of my academic commitments, I love to stay active and explore the city. I'm a huge fan of the NBA, and I love watching and playing just about any sport. Fitness is a core part of my daily routine, and you can usually find me training at the gym or unwinding by going on long walks to take in nature and clear my head. In my free time, I enjoy trying new coffee shops and restaurants. 

Hi~ My name is Galiya, I'm from Kazakhstan, currently based in Hong Kong. Love learning about different cultures and languages, so if you want to connect and discuss literally anything, hit me up on DMs :D Briefly about my interests and achievements: I am interested in AI ethics and learning science and have built a track record at the intersection of education and AI.  My experience spans teaching, admissions consulting, and content creation in international environments across Kazakhstan, South Korea, Italy, and Hong Kong. I am particularly interested in improving access to global education and how AI is reshaping the traditional forms of education. Currently, I am developing research through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, focusing on university-level assessment methods in the context of GenAI.

Supporting Laidlaw Scholars at the University of Leeds For more than ten years, I’ve managed the Laidlaw Programme at Leeds, guiding scholars through transformative research projects and leadership development. I’m committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where students from all backgrounds can explore their potential, challenge themselves, and grow as ethical leaders. I love working with scholars, academics, and partners across the global Laidlaw network to build a community that values curiosity, integrity, and positive change.

Hi everyone! I’m a first-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in biomedical engineering, particularly at the intersection of sustainability and healthcare. I’m also passionate about environmental and energy-related challenges, and I’m eager to explore how engineering and innovation can contribute to more sustainable systems. I’m looking forward to connecting with fellow scholars through the Laidlaw Scholars Network, exchanging ideas, and learning from people with diverse backgrounds and ambitions. 😊

Hia! I'm Bethan, but most people know me as Bea. I am going into my third year at the University of St Andrews studying Social Anthropology. My Laidlaw research project explores the power of the Pacific research methodology and cultural storytelling tool of talanoa within the sphere of Pacific climate change discourse. In order to make meaningful change happen on the terms of those most affected by climate change and with some of the greatest history of connections with the ocean, I examined how talanoa can be expanded to facilitate culturally appropriate collaboration and effective, meaningful climate change action.  The following summer, I took my learning to the Pacific for my Leadership in Action project working at Tiapapata Art Centre, Samoa. My work lended my passion for visual storytelling towards capturing and promoting the phenomenal, ever-developing projects that the art centre runs. As an educational and creative hub dedicated to fostering the continued transmission of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, my collaboration with them involved creating a new archival system to catalogue their cultural projects, being a photographer/videographer capturing events during my time there, and helping to both facilitate and then preserve their amazing work. __ More broadly, my interests lie in environmental and visual anthropology, overall aiming to understand and put into practice how visual storytelling can empower people in the face of climate change, and inspire audiences beyond academia to see how interconnected our world is - and the people within it. In bridging the intersection of human experiences and our physical environments, I hope to portray a future that highlights localised solutions to environmental challenges and to make this future more engaging and accessible to a wider audience through film. 

Hi! I'm a student in micro-engineering at EPFL, interested in nano-science. I love travelling, biking and film-making.

Hello! My name is Eoin; I am from Southampton in the UK with most of my family being from Ireland. I am currently studying neuroscience at University College London (UCL). It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to become a researcher and I am grateful to have been part of the Laidlaw Scholarship program to help me achieve my dreams.    I spent my first-year research project working at the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, under the supervision of Doctor Sarah White. My project investigated the Theory of the Mind as a potential cause of discrimination against individuals with depression. I used an eye-tracking paradigm on human participants as a measure of intergroup bias between depressed and non-depressed participants. The study concluded, contrary to expectations, that Theory of Mind was most implicated in discrimination of non-depressed subjects by depressed subjects.    For my second-year leadership in action project (LiA), I taught primary school children in Zambia while living with the family of the school's headteacher (Mercy Sakala). I chose this project as it was a chance to see the world and experience a different culture. Moreover, it gave me the privilege of teaching some of the most enthusiastic young learners I have ever known. I spent most of my time teaching and helping with the logistics of building a new library for the school. My time in Zambia was made much easier by the kindness of Mercy and her family who were more than accommodating to my needs.    At the moment I am studying in the third year of my Msci neuroscience degree while working on my dissertation. I am more than happy to discuss any topic, whether it regards neuroscience, biosciences more generally, psychology, Laidlaw, or anything you think is pertinent. I generally respond to emails within a day so please message me if you wish. :) 

Star Top Community School is an educational venture in Zambia aiming for academic excellence while building learners spiritually and morally. Responsibilities & Ideal Background Teaching-focused work that lets Scholars test and improve leadership through classroom practice. A good fit is someone ready to bring creativity, hard work, and perseverance to supporting children’s learning; strong personal growth is expected. LiA Champion Our LiA Champion is Cothney Lasaracina. Curious about this project but not sure where to start? Cothney can share candid insights from their experience—what the work involved, skills that proved useful, and pointers for exploring a good fit. Please contact them via the Laidlaw Scholars Network: https://laidlawscholars.network/users/cothney-theresa-lasaracina Organisation Contact Star Top Community School Email: mercymsakala@gmail.com

A current researcher with a diverse research background, industry experience and youth engagement portfolio. Interested in developing a career which combines teaching and research, whilst maintaining public engagement with STEM. Recently employed as a placement year student as an Inclusive Education Project Coordinator at the University of York with emphasis on Decolonising the Curriculum and Staff & Student Partnerships. Considered to be an interdisciplinary researcher with wide-ranging research interests, including: agricultural threats due to climate change, especially in international relations and geopolitics economics. AI implementation in driverless electric vehicles in stage 4 and stage 5 systems. Youth empowerment in sustainability and national/international challenges. Mental health in farmers and healthcare; Irish and Balkan history and ecology (particularly in relation to arable and pastoral farming); and sustainable rural practices.