Bonjour ! I'm from the most beautiful city in the world (in my opinion!), the City of Light, Paris.
I'm currently a first-year Bachelor's student in Physics at EPFL, in Lausanne, Switzerland. I want to help push science forward by working in a cutting-edge scientific field later on: nuclear fusion is one that particularly excites me.
I'm doing my research internship in a particle physics laboratory. The experiment I'm working on aims to discover new particles, which would be a major step forward for physics.
For my Leadership-in-Action project, I don't have a precise idea yet, but I'd love to contribute to something in environmental protection or education, two causes I care deeply about.
Outside my studies, I'm passionate about art and museums, especially literature and opera, as well as sport, particularly climbing and skiing, and I follow politics closely.
Feel free to reach out if you'd like to swap book recommendations or chat about physics, art or politics!
Anushka is a third-year student at Duke University in North Carolina, USA studying chemistry, medical sociology, and global health. She's passionate about leveraging scientific techniques in order to advance health equity, especially for rural and underserved populations.
Her 2026 Laidlaw research summer was at the University of Leeds' Department for Nuclear and Chemical Engineering and about addressing the public health challenge of fluoride-contaminated drinking water in Tanzania by developing a novel, sustainable ion-exchange model to selectively remove fluoride from groundwater.
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.
GitHub : github.com/jeremydigard
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, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a sophomore from Nigeria at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar. I major in International Politics with minors in Africana Studies and a certificate in Energy Studies. I am also pursuing the French proficiency academic pathway.
My academic interests are deeply shaped by my experience growing up in Nigeria and center on Africa’s future, the place of identity, and the advancement of women and girls globally.
This summer, I will be researching how 'Y2K' Nollywood (the formative period of Nigeria’s film industry spanning the 1990s and early 2000s) influenced the women who contributed to and consumed it, across a representative social circle that includes actresses and women in the diaspora.
Chemical engineering student at EPFL
Hi there! I’m Tommaso (with two Ms!) and I’m a 3rd year bachelor student in Physics at EPFL.
Beyond Physics, I have a deep passion about journalism and current events, along with history of arts and its way of crafting societies. I enjoy spending time in nature, especially when it comes to mountain sports like rock climbing or skiing. I've also practiced track and field for many years, and I currently enjoy going for a run along the lake!
Happy to chat anytime about any topic!
Hi everyone!
I am a Laidlaw Scholar at EPFL, where I study civil engineering. I am especially interested in sustainable development, and in the long run I would like to work on something that makes a city, or the nature around it, better to live in.
Outside of my studies, if you are asking me to come along, I will probably say yes, whether it is a sport I have never tried, a place to visit, a play, a museum, or just hanging out. On quieter days I read, I draw, and I go running near the lake.
I am always happy to talk to anyone, so feel free to reach out!
Hi everyone, I'm Dan-Thi and I am the Laidlaw Program Manager at EPFL. I've been working for more than 10 years in the higher education industry and I love all aspects related to my work, but especially the interactions with the students, helping and seeing them grow personally and professionally.
I've lived in fast-paced environments in Asia (Hong Kong, Japan) and I'm now based in Lausanne, Switzerland. I enjoy travelling and always looks for discovering new cultures!
Please get in touch if you want to discuss about anything regarding food, sport and travel, or if you want to have more information about EPFL and studying there! :o)
Hi! My name is Ashley, and I am a third year student at Duke University studying Public Policy and Global Health with a Markets and Managment Certificate. I am passionate about advancing ethical, evidence-based solutions at the intersection of health and compliance. I also find interest in conducting research focused on ethical research practices that better serve underrepresented communities. My experiences across public health, compliance, and policy have shaped my interest in using policy to promote social responsibility, sustainability and health equity.
Bhadra Panicker
Law Student & Laidlaw Scholars' Advisory Board Member, Trinity College Dublin
Hello! I'm a third year Biology student at the University of Leeds and I'm part of the 2024 Scholars cohort. I've just finished an industrial placement working in digital marketing, looking to build expertise in the sustainable health & tech space.
I have been trying to figure people out for a long time and I thought what better way than to explore the wonders of neuroscience in my first year research project!?
I'm currenly on my LiA with the Timothy Smith Network in Boston, USA. I'm looking forward to working with students of all ages to teach and inspire them about the intersections of biology and technology.
I'm also a member of the 2026 Undergraduate Laidlaw Advisory Board, where I hope to provide strategic advice and improvements to the Laidlaw programme to ensure future scholars can thrive.
If you want to chat about books, the economic/political state of the world right now, or just life - feel free to drop me a message! :)
Amber is a Bachelor of Psychology student at The University of Hong Kong. As a Laidlaw Scholar from the 2024 cohort, she completed her research project, titled “Reading Through Gaming in Primary School,” at the University of Leeds and volunteered with the Red Cross in Taiwan (Pingtung County) during her second summer.
Hello! I'm Tyler Carriaga, a recipient of a full-ride merit scholarship at the University of Toronto, where I'm pursuing a Masters in Geography. Drawing from my multidisciplinary and multicultural background as an American-born, Vietnam-raised Filipino, I approach questions of place, identity, and community with a global perspective. My Laidlaw projects include research on ethnic enclave development in Seattle and program development in an urban poor community in Metro Manila. As a writer, designer, and urban wanderer, I strive to continually evolve my personal and technical skills in the pursuit of co-creating healthier, more sustainable, and just communities.
Hi! I'm Amanda, a third year Neuroscience student and Laidlaw alum from UCL. I'm Swedish-Persian and grew up in Sweden before moving to London for uni. These days, alongside my studies, I work for the Foundation as a Marketing Assistant.
For my first year research project, I worked on optimising alginate hydrogels for 3D astrocyte culture systems. In simpler terms, I was figuring out the best way to prepare a jelly-like scaffolds so that star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes could grow in three dimensions rather than flat on a dish. This matters because 3D environments mimic the brain more realistically, which could help researchers develop better treatments for neurological disorders!
For my Leadership-in-Action project, I co-created Beyond the Books, a resource designed to help students from underrepresented backgrounds navigate the unwritten rules of university life, from internships and networking to professional opportunities that aren't always obvious if you're the first in your family to go to uni.
Always happy to connect, whether you want to chat about neuroscience, widening access, the Laidlaw experience, or just say hello! One of my favourite things about this community is getting to meet people from different universities and backgrounds, so please do reach out! 🌟
Amy is the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme. She works with universities, NGO’s, government departments, businesses and charity partners to manage and develop programmes which further the Laidlaw Foundation’s purpose – to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented and to develop a new generation of diverse and ethical leaders.
Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation, Amy spent 9 years leading the US-UK Fulbright Scholarship Programme, working with students, academics, professionals, and teachers across every discipline. She has gained 15+ years working within Higher Education and is passionate about cultural exchange and the benefits it can bring to impactful research and solving global challenges. Prior to this, she led faculty-led programmes hosting US students in the UK and managed a busy student services. She studied American Studies at Sheffield University and University of Pittsburgh.