Defne Nihal Ertugrul

Student, Imperial College London
  • United Kingdom
Lina Aoubala

Medical Student, University of Cambridge

Currently a third year medical student at the University of Cambridge intercalating pathology.  I have a passion for immunological and metabolic based disease and researching into the scientific basis of these.  My project was titled 'Exploring Autoimmune Features in Type 2 Diabetes: A study on Autoantibody Prevalence' and followed a wet and dry lab based project looking into the possibility of GLP1 autoantibodies in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 
Lily O'Sullivan

Student, Cambridge University

Sonia Long

Student in Electronics and Computer Engineering, Imperial College London

Hakam Mohamed Fazeel

Student in Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London

I'm currently studying Mechanical Engineering MEng at Imperial College London. My research summer explored recent advancements in the automotive industry and consisted of attending symposiums, visiting leading automotive testing and research sites in China along with iteratively simulating hot stamping to optimise the sustainability and cost of each part produced. I have built a deep appreciation for the automotive industry, especially for their drive towards long-term sustainability and emphasis on passenger safety. 
Rizlane Ouslimani

Student , University of Leeds

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. 😊
Defne D. Aydin

Physics Student , UCL

Hello! I am Defne, a physics student at UCL interested in pursuing graduate studies in biophysics. 
Kateryna Bubenok-Honchar

Student, Imperial College London

Chengyun(Tina) Wang

Laidlaw Scholar, Imperial College London

Phoebe Matthew

Undergraduate Student, Columbia University

Hi everyone! My name is Phoebe Matthew, and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University majoring in Neuroscience & Behavior and possibly minoring in Computer Science. My research this summer in the Siegelbaum Lab at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute explores the role of the ventral CA1 excitatory neurons in the hippocampus, which are known to receive signals from the CA2 region that is heavily implicated in social memory, in valence associated social memory. This type of memory is not only the recognition of a familiar individual but also the memory of how that individual made you feel. Social memory is impaired in several neuropsychiatric disorders, and it is essential to understand how the mechanism behind it to inform possible therapeutics. Beyond the lab, I am a volunteer at a local memory care facility through Brain Exercise Initiative, a writer for Grey Matters (campus neuroscience journal), and involved in Columbia Synapse (traumatic brain injury advocacy group). I also recently got certified as an EMT. I am passionate about brain health advocacy/awareness, science communication, and service. In my free time, I enjoy painting, crafting, reading, and playing the ukulele. I would love to meet everyone, so please do not hesitate to reach out!   
Hazel Ann Gusi Abdon

Student, Cornell University

INCAE’s social impact research division promotes ethical, sustainable leadership informed by current development challenges. The ALSALUS partnership aims to increase breast-cancer screening for rural women in Costa Rica. Responsibilities & Ideal Background Qualitative, research-oriented work tailored to interests, with strong supervisor support and an independent work environment. A good fit is social, outgoing, and hard-working—able to self-manage deadlines. Work is likely more qualitative than quantitative; communication, research, and language skills are valuable. LiA Champion Our LiA Champion is Katherine Ward. Curious about this project but not sure where to start? They 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/katherine-ward Organisation Contact INCAE – Social Impact / ALSALUS Email: ignacio.sanchez@incae.edu
Claire Zhang Hannick

Student, University of Leeds

Claire Madzura

Medical Student, Imperial College London

Hi! I'm a 4th year medical student at Imperial College London. I'm interested in how cross-sector parternships can improve health and well-being (SDG3) for all.
Alsade Daley

Student, University of Toronto

Hi there! I'm a first-year international student at the University of Toronto, studying computer science. I grew up in Jamaica, and I love learning about other cultures. Feel free to reach out; I'm always happy to talk. 
Raaga Ritika Devabaktuni

Medical Student, Imperial College London

Georgina Sánchez

Product Manager, GetAgent

👋 Hi there, my name is Georgina. I am a Laidlaw Alumni and a graduate from University College London. It's a pleasure to meet you!
Sophia Brady (Previously: Waseem Khan)

Undergraduate, Durham University

Hi! I'm Sophia, an aspiring scientist and philomath. I love learning about everything and anything and delight in spending time with people who are passionate about the things they love! I am really interested and curious about how we can use chemistry to improve processes and products to help society. For example, my research project is looking into the possibility of turning struvite, a mineral which is a by-product of waste-water treatment processes into slow-release nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers, which would be a green source nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers and help achieve goals of zero-waste.  If you are researching something similar or are interested in learning more about the project, please reach out! I am super happy to talk about the project and meet other who are doing something similar and possibly collaborate! 
Paris Choi

Student, Durham University

Hello! I’m a Philosophy student at Durham University, with academic interests in applied ethics, decision-making and sustainability. My broader aim is to use interdisciplinary research to drive measurable, socially meaningful change. My summer research explored barriers to public transport adoption, with a view toward long-term policy implementation. This project combined behavioural science, psychology, urban planning, and design to contribute to more sustainable and inclusive transport policies. For my LiA, I will be travelling to Kerala for the central CraftHER project, where I will undertake four consulting projects with local female-led businesses and a research project. 
Elisabeth Cooke

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student, Durham University

Hi! I'm Lizzie, a second-year Biological Sciences student at Durham University. Deeply passionate about advocating for and taking action to maintain environmental health and sustainability, I aim to contribute meaningfully to these efforts by expanding my understanding of such challenges and collaborating with like-minded individuals who share a dedication to environmental conservation.   I have a particular interest in conservation strategies that focus on umbrella species, such as the macaw, where protecting one species can generate wider ecological benefits for entire ecosystems. This interest has been deepened through my current summer placement with the Macaw Recovery Network in Costa Rica, where I am contributing to species recovery and environmental education. My work includes practical conservation tasks at the breeding centre and reserve, supporting welfare and maintenance, developing resources for volunteers, and collaborating with staff and community members to strengthen outreach programs. Alongside this, I am documenting activities and recommendations to create a volunteer guide, ensuring future interns and volunteers can contribute effectively. These experiences are helping me explore how conservation initiatives can balance ecological impact with community engagement, while also testing and developing my leadership capacities and character. In my free time, I actively participate in environmental volunteer work and love to do anything creative, from painting to crocheting and reading. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly dog walking, and practising karate with my university club.
Summi Ng

Undergraduate, Durham University

Hi there! I'm an incoming 3rd year BSc Psychology student at Durham University. The question "why does sad music help us feel better sometimes?" sums up my first year research project. I investigated how international students interact with music to make themselves feel better in different contexts. It is important to investigate cross-culturally as our world becomes more globalised. Moreover, I believe music can transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, as it seems to have such a profound effect on everyone, regardless of where they’re from. Not only may music connect us all, but it can also connect us with ourselves. For my Leadership-in Action I worked on Body & Soul Charity's You Are Not Alone (YANA) research project: Evaluating the longitudinal effectiveness of Group Dialectic Behavioural Therapy and ongoing trauma-informed community support for young people aged 16-35 at high risk of suicide. I formed a data management framework to automate data entry with R and made the corresponding tutorials for research volunteers. Ultimately, my involvement in mental health research builds onto my future career aspirations; I aim to be a Clinical Psychologist while encouraging the integration of arts and culture into mental health interventions. I'm deeply interested in the interdisciplinary nature of music and psychology; however, I’m also excited to hear how other academic disciplines may interact and merge. Likewise, I enjoy multiple hobbies like playing the piano and ukulele, singing, cooking, crocheting, and reading. I think being a nerd about your interests is really cool, so if you’re like-minded, I’d love to chat with you!