Florence Cheung (She/Her)

Student , Georgetown University
  • People
  • United States of America
Daniel Caves-San José

Durham University - Studying International Relations, History and Theology. Student Librarian and Decolonisation Intern, Durham University

Hi, I'm Daniel Caves-San José! I'm originally from Spain but I've lived in the UK most of my life, now studying Combined Honours in Social Sciences (International Relations, History, and Theology) at Durham University. My passion is interlinking different disciplines together around explorations of the Middle East and North Africa, such as securitisation, virtual diplomacy, and the anthropology of Islam, which I hope to continue to develop further as I learn Arabic. My research project (and poster) were on water security in southeast Iraq, and the role of diplomatic relations with Iran, as well as the domestic political contexts of the two countries in causing environmental degradation, followed by an exploration of the socio-economic impacts this has on the traditionally isolated Marsh Arab population in the region. I'd really appreciate connecting on LinkedIn and sharing our experiences and ideas with one-another.
Kate Jang

Student, Columbia University

Hello! I am a rising sophomore interested in the intersection between health, environment, and advocacy. During Laidlaw, I am excited to research the impact of radiation on the Pacific Islands, specifically regarding contamination in local fruit and vegetation of Kiribati island. 
Claire Wu

Student Researcher, Cornell University

Hi! I am a junior at Cornell University pursuing an independent major of Interdisciplinary Studies (Education, Information Science, Psychology). Through Laidlaw, I am conducting research on the social-ecological impacts of Indonesia's capital relocation and am excited to explore the intersection between bioacoustics, Indigenous knowledge, and public education. Feel free to connect with me on here or on LinkedIn!
Ema Eguchi

Student, Georgetown University

Hello,  My name is Ema Eguchi and I am an undergraduate student at Georgetown University. I am studying Culture and Politics, with minors in Global Development and Journalism. My research for the Laidlaw Scholars Program is entitled The Role of the Australia Group in US Biosecurity Policy. I am excited to get to know you all and please feel free to let me know if you are also interested in the impact of international NGOs on governments, or broadly, any other topics of international affairs.  I love cooking, hot springs, and beaches! 
Marie Abboud

Student, Georgetown University

Kayla Kim

Knowledge Management and Learning Analyst, United Nations Development Programme

Hello! I was Laidlaw scholar in 2019, and I studied national, regional, and local identity in northern Tajikistan through the lens of women's fashion.  For a year after graduating, I worked for the UN Mine Action Service which removes landmines from conflict and post-conflict regions. I then worked for the Laidlaw Foundation 2021-22 and completed a Master's Degree in Anthropology and Development Management at the London School of Economics. Now I'm working with the UN on innovative finance for biodiversity conservation, focusing on marine ecosystems. Please feel free to reach out on the network, on LinkedIn, or by email. I'm always happy to meet new people and chat.
Colleen Dougherty

Assistant Director, Center for Research & Fellowships, Georgetown University

Colleen manages the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme at Georgetown University. Through her work, Colleen aims to increase accessibility in fellowships advising for all Georgetown students with a special focus on reflective practices intended to help students identify and develop personal and career goals. Prior to joining Georgetown University, Colleen served as the Assistant Director for Early Career Initiatives with NASPA- Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, where she managed professional development programs for undergraduate student, graduate student, and new professional members. Colleen holds a master’s degree in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine and bachelor’s degrees in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology from the University of Delaware.
Dung Tran

Student , Georgetown University

Dung Tran is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, majoring in International Politics with a concentration on foreign policy and international relations and a minor in government. He is a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts, and interned at the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is involved with the Laidlaw Scholars programme, the Georgetown Social Innovation and Public Service Fund, and the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues. A native of Hanoi, Vietnam, and growing up in New York City and Kuala Lumpur, Dung is passionate about the interdisciplinary human sciences and international relations, aspiring to pursue a career in the diplomatic service of his home country. His Laidlaw Scholars project examined the sui generis of Vietnamese Buddhism and its impacts on the development of contemporary Vietnamese shared identity.
Laura Montgomery

Student, Georgetown Center for Research and Fellowships

Hi! My name is Laura Montgomery, and I am a rising third year student from Ann Arbor, Michigan, attending Georgetown University. Currently, I am planning to major in Mathematics and to double-minor in Women and Gender Studies and French. My research project is Coding Gender: Exploring the Presence of Gender Stereotyping in ChatGPT. With its release in November 2022, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, causing many to speculate that this AI program’s capability will significantly impact not only America’s technological field, but also the functioning of America and its education system. My research will analyze ChatGPT through a gendered lens, examining the language of its generated responses and comparing its gender-biased levels to other AI technology. My investigation will primarily focus on ChatGPT’s language translation service and how it responds to transcribing gender-neutral English sentences into gendered languages.  When I'm not studying/working, I like to read, thrift, or take long walks and explore DC! I am super excited about participating in this program and undergoing research! Please do not hesitate to reach out, and I look forward to meeting all of you. Hoya Saxa!
Andrew Swank

Student, Georgetown University

Andy Feng

Student, Georgetown University

Hi everyone!  I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University double-majoring in Government and Justice and Peace Studies with a minor in Sociology. I am interested in labor advocacy and labor law. I hope to get a JD in Employment and Contract Law and work at a union-side employment firm or plaintiffs' firm. After law school, I hope to either work on the political side of major American unions or specialize in a subsector of labor law such as entertainment labor in Hollywood. On the side, I am an avid runner (both long-distance and short) and exclusively drink black Americanos!
Erica Hahn

Student, Georgetown University

Hi! My name is Erica Hahn, and I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in Biochemistry.  This summer, I will be working with Dr. Rodrigo Maillard from the Chemistry Department. The Maillard lab focuses on the mechanisms of regulation and signal transduction of Protein Kinase A (PKA) which is a family of proteins that works to phosphorylate other proteins in complex signaling pathways in cells. Because PKA is involved in many critical signaling pathways, it has been associated with many diseases including Carney Complex and Acrodysostosis, making it an important therapeutic drug target. My project over this summer would be to observe and detect the behavioral changes of PKA using FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) sensor that our lab developed. Specifically, I will  be observing the interaction between the catalytic subunit of PKA and smoothened protein in hedgehog signaling which has shown to regulate PKA activity, different from the traditional PKA regulator cAMP and regulatory subunit. This research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ben Myers from the University of Utah.  I am very excited to pursue this research opportunities and to connect with various scholars. Please do not hesitate to reach out! 
Alexandra Thalberg

Medical Student, University of Minnesota Medical School

My name is Alexandra and I'm part of the 2023 Laidlaw Scholar Cohort. I'm a recent graduate of Georgetown University, and am now beginning my medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I'm really interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms of hematologic malignancies, and am also passionate about global and public health.
Cynthia Lu

Student, Georgetown University

Hello! I'm Cynthia, a second-year at Georgetown University studying Regional and Comparative Studies with a concentration in Asia. I'm originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My research project centers around the role of contemporary minority ethnic music in the People’s Republic of China in constructing ethnic identity. I chose this project because studying contemporary music provides unique and living insight into the critically important cultural and political landscapes within the People’s Republic of China. When I'm not studying or working, I love knitting, reading, thrifting, and a long walk to explore D.C. — all while fueled by an americano, cold brew, or matcha if I'm feeling adventurous :)  Please feel free to send me a message if you want to chat! I would love to hear about you, your research project, and any knowledge you may have that could contribute to my work.
Omar Sbaih

Student, Georgetown University

Hello, my name is Omar Sbaih, and I am a rising junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am majoring in neurobiology with a minor in philosophy and cognitive science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am eager to engage with and learn from my fellow scholars, embracing the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge. I believe that the exchange of ideas and perspectives is vital in expanding our understanding of the world. By actively participating in this community, I hope to gain insights from diverse academic backgrounds and contribute my own unique insights to the collective learning experience. With access to such a profoundly diverse network, I am driven to explore the underlying principles of human cognition and consciousness through the lens of many different disciplines. I am particularly interested in investigating the ethical implications and societal impact of advancements in neuroscience, particularly the advancement of new pharmacological treatments for cognitive impairments.
Talia Zamir

Student, Georgetown University

Hello! My name is Talia Zamir and I'm a rising third-year at Georgetown University. I am studying Biology of Global Health intending to pursue a master's in Genetic Counseling following graduation. I hope to help expecting parents or adults with familial histories of hereditary cancer syndromes understand their risk and make informed health decisions for themselves and their families! I aim to contribute to policy regarding genetic safety and laws protecting individuals from genetic discrimination in the US. This summer, I am researching community resources for mothers surviving breast cancer or ovarian cancer in the Ashkenazi Jewish community, intending to expand my research to how community-based organizations can help other high-risk minority groups. My research builds upon my experience as a research assistant at a health behavior and cancer prevention lab at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center's Division of Population Science. A fun fact about me is that I'm from Salt Lake City, Utah which is the same place that all the high school musical movies were filmed!  Please don't hesitate to reach out, especially if it's to talk about policy/medical research or to connect over some of our shared interests :) !
Murphy Bonner

Student, Georgetown University

Hi, my name is Murphy Bonner and I am a rising third-year student at Georgetown University majoring in economics and government. I am passionate about the social sciences and their practical applications, specifically in areas of justice. My research focuses on the intersection of economics and sociology to understand the way in which individuals and governments place value on human lives. Writing is a personal passion of mine and I am motivated by a curiosity for the world around me. I love talking to people and learning their stories to help me better understand how I want to impact the world so feel free to send me a message or email me at @ mrb345@georgetown.edu.
Sabrina Isabel Gomez

Student, Georgetown University

Yariel Tejeda

Student, Georgetown University

Hi everyone! I am a rising junior at Georgetown University majoring in International Politics and minoring in Justice and Peace Studies. A fun fact about myself is that I always wanted to be a commercial pilot, and I still do. The research I will be delving into this summer will focus on analyzing educational textbooks in the Dominican Republic and how they perpetuate anti-Haitian sentiments. For context, the Dominican Republic and Haiti have strained relations, which has fostered concern within the Caribbean community and has prevented critical collaboration in times of need. The Dominican Republic recently announced a plan to nationalize educational books, closing educators’ access to independently published textbooks. I’ll analyze the historical context within public school textbooks and how they differ, weighing one’s socioeconomic status and the source of the textbooks. I’ll gauge the findings with real-life impacts on Haitian residents within the country and draw connections on the effects of education on exacerbating anti-Haitian sentiments in the country. I’m excited to embark on this journey to research and push beyond the conventional. I hope to plant a seed of knowledge that could transform the social landscape in the Dominican Republic and foster a culture of acceptance.
Andre Albrecht

Student, Georgetown University