Hello! I recently graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology Research from the University of Toronto. I’m passionate about youth mental health and how humour can be used to support resilience after adversity. My Summer 1 research project explored the relationship between childhood adversity, aggression, and self-regulation — deepening my understanding of the psychological impacts of early trauma. In Summer 2, I led a Leadership-in-Action project at SOS Children’s Villages in Cape Town, where I designed and facilitated a comedy-based mental health program for teens. That experience led me to found HaHaHelps — an organization that uses improv comedy to support youth mental health through accessible, community-led workshops. I am currently conducting a feasibility study of the program in South Africa as part of my master’s dissertation in Psychology at the University of Cape Town, with plans to expand to more communities globally. Please feel free to connect :) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younessrobert-tahiri Email: youness@hahahelps.org

2026 Laidlaw Scholar and student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Interested in the intersection of Public Health and International Relations and examining how political and cultural disparities translate to medicine and healthcare access. Honoured to join this talented network of skilled individuals. Feel free to reach out, I'd love to connect!   

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, I am Linh Khanh Pham, a Vietnamese student and an incoming third year studying Financial Economics and Mathematics at the University of Toronto as I believe that the best way to answer questions is through numbers. That is what brought me to research, and what keeps me going.  When I am not buried in problem sets, you will probably find me baking something (probably matcha flavored and convincing everyone around me that it belongs in everything :D)

Hi! My name is Sofia, and I am going into my third year at the University of Toronto double-majoring in Neuroscience and Philosophy. I am originally from Helsinki, Finland, but I have moved around throughout my life, living in California and, most recently, Toronto, Canada.  My academic interests include neurodegenerative diseases, stem cells,  philosophy, and building healthier communities through translational research. I love rock climbing, cooking, trying different cuisines, reading, biking, and exploring new cities. 

Hello! My name is Alexander Wayne and I am a second year Philosophy and English student at the University of Toronto, Victoria College. My research focuses on autotheoretical transgender pornography and legislative studies, focusing on highlighting trans stories in our own voices. I am so excited to be apart of the Laidlaw Scholars Network and can't wait to get to know people - please feel free to reach out! 

Hi everyone, my name is Jayden! I'm entering my third-year at the University of Toronto, studying Environmental Health and Disease. My research and academic interests lie within digital health and emerging technologies, and this summer, I'll be researching AI implementation in healthcare.  I also love to read, talk about music, and go for drives! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone! 

Hello! My name is Payton Bonang and I am a student in Trinity College at the University of Toronto, St. George. I am pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree (HBA) with a major in Environmental Studies, a Certificate in Sustainable Pathways, and a double minor in Urban Studies and Forest Conservation.

I am a third-year student at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, pursuing a double major in Economics and Public Policy with a focus in Data Analytics and a Certificate in Business Fundamentals. My academic interests lie at the intersection of economic analysis and policy work, and I have had the opportunity to explore this through internships at KPMG, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the Ministry of Transportation Ontario. As a Laidlaw Scholar, my research investigates whether individual-level gender bias predicts sound-symbolic gender judgments in names -- a project that sits at the intersection of linguistics, social science, and gender equity. Through this experience, I hope to deepen both my qualitative and quantitative research skills while building a global network of scholars and practitioners working on meaningful problems. Beyond academia, I am someone who loves getting to know people, new experiences, and a good challenge -- whether that is exploring a new city, trying a new cuisine, or pushing myself into unfamiliar territory. I believe the best ideas come from diverse perspectives and lived experiences, and I am always looking to grow -- as a researcher, a leader, and a person. I would love to connect over coffee, lunch, or even a quick message -- if any of this resonates with you, let's catch up!

Hello! I'm a third-year architecture student at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto, pursuing additional majors in Religious Studies through the Department for Religion and Jewish Studies through the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies. My research is focused on the critical role of design in history and its relationship to contemporary applications of design for state control. I am incredibly passionate about the future of design and how new frontiers can be assessed by analyzing the past.

Hey! I’m Samuel Kamalendran, a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto (Mississauga), where I major in Political Science and minor in English and Classics. My research project is titled “In the Valley of the Shadow of Death: Evaluating the Protection Afforded to Vulnerable Canadians by Bill C-7” and will explore whether Canada’s assisted-dying legal framework sufficiently protects the disabled, mentally ill, and those in poverty. I was first introduced to this topic through a term research paper in a Canadian Political Science course, and quickly became very engaged in the subject. What truly stood out to me about this subject was the intellectual conflict underpinning the debate about the Bill’s provisions. I was fascinated by the justifications both sides offered—all of which contained some measure of truth—and the simultaneous inability of scholars to come to a clear consensus. I was also very drawn to the real-life stories of individuals who interacted with MAiD—every one of which spoke directly to the implications of any law that intersected law, medicine, and the ethics of self-autonomy. Furthermore, as an aspiring legal professional, I am especially interested in diving into the legal and parliamentary cases that drove the development of assisted-dying forward, and performing a comparative analysis of international jurisdictions to decipher key lessons which can answer questions about the effectiveness of MAiD frameworks. In my free time, I enjoy working out, creating music on the piano and drums, and exploring local rivers, lakes, and trails with my brothers. I’m also active in journalism at my university, interested in AI and business, and passionate about serving my peers through my work with my school’s International Centre and my upcoming roles on various committees and boards. I’m sincerely looking forward to learning more about you all and your research projects! I would love to connect with y’all via LinkedIn, email (at samuel.kamalendran@mail.utoronto.ca), and/or through the Scholars network. I hope everyone has a fun, relaxing, and productive summer! :)

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. 

Hello! My name is Nadine, and I am a first-year Genetics student at the University of Leeds. I am interested in pursuing a career in research and global health, with a particular focus on cardiovascular science and immunology. I am passionate about addressing pressing global health challenges through impactful solutions that improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. I strongly believe that healthcare should be accessible to all communities worldwide, and I am committed to contributing to this goal. Through my leadership and medical communications experience, I have developed strong interpersonal and organizational skills, and I am now eager to expand into more lab-based roles where I can contribute directly to improving patient care and advancing scientific research. This summer, I will be joining a research team at the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, where we will investigate a novel molecular pathway involved in the progression of cardiovascular disease in individuals with insulin resistance. This opportunity will allow me to deepen my understanding of translational research and its potential to improve health outcomes. Although still early in my journey, I am excited to begin my Leadership-in-Action project and explore how meaningful research can be applied to real-world health challenges. The Middle East faces a particularly high incidence of cardiovascular disease, with heart disease accounting for approximately one in three deaths annually and occurring, on average, at least a decade earlier than in many Western countries. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I hope to use my platform to contribute to tackling this growing crisis and promoting more equitable global healthcare outcomes.

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.

Hi! My name is Thai Hai An Phung, but I go by Ami. I am a second-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Toronto. I was born in Vietnam and have had the privilege of living in Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Ukraine, and the UK, where I recently graduated from boarding school. I am passionate about energy, hydrogen, sustainability, materials science, and innovation, and I am especially interested in how engineering can contribute to scalable solutions for decarbonizing large industries. My research will be focused on evaluating mechanical performance and surface quality of novel carbon-mineralized cement! Outside of academics, I love travelling, hiking, spending time in nature, exploring different cuisines, following motorsports, and trying new experiences. I am excited to be part of the Laidlaw Scholars Community so please feel free to reach out!

Hello, my name is Rebecca Liu, and I am a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. I am pursuing a double major in Public Health and Peace, Conflict, and Justice, with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. For my Laidlaw research, I am examining global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plans (NAPs) through a gender-inclusive and gender transformative perspective. The goal of my research is to understand how NAPs can be improved to better address the AMR global health crisis for marginalized groups of gender and sexuality.

Hi! I'm Leora and I'm a member of the 2026 cohort at UofT. I'm going into my third year, double majoring in Peace, Conflict and Justice and Women and Gender Studies. My research interests are piqued in many different areas, but most strongly in global affairs, structural violence, peace-building, reproductive justice, and transnational feminism.  In my free-time I like to read, create new playlists, and browse vintage fashion markets.

Hello everyone!  My name is Lila Sparks and I am going into my third year at the University of Toronto, where I am pursuing a double major in International Relations and Peace, Conflict & Justice studies! This summer I am researching the social and ecological impacts that data centres have on indigenous communities in Canada. I'm so excited to learn from you all:)  

Hi everyone,  My name is Aron Pechy and I am a second-year student at the University of Toronto, originally from Budapest, Hungary. I am planning to pursue a double major in Public Policy and Peace, Conflict and Justice with a minor in Sexual Diversity Studies.   My research project is titled Regulating LGBTQ Visibility through Child Protection and Media Law: A Comparative Doctrinal Analysis of Russia, Hungary and Bulgaria under EU Legal Frameworks. My academic interests are mainly centred around policy, law and governance with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ legal advocacy. In my free time, I enjoy running, hiking, travelling and visiting modern art galleries.  I am always happy to connect; feel free to reach me on any of my socials!