Hi! I am Aimaan. I am Year 2 MEng Chemical Engineering in University of Leeds. During my leisure, I am listening to music, watching films and writing. My recent project is submitting poetry collection book called Naskhah Seorang Kera, in translation, Letter by Humbled for publication. I also have travelled to more than 10 countries across Europe within my first academic year in Leeds. I am keen to pursue PhD in circular economy aspects of pharmaceutical industry after graduation. I am also passionate in working in pharmaceutical industry applying my experience from university to actively participate in Research and Development (R&D) sector. I have been involving in variety of projects; academic and extra curricular activities since high school. Currently, I am School Representative in School of Chemical and Process Engineering (SCAPE) bridging communication gap between students and academic staff by collecting feedbacks, raising concerns, facilitating interdisciplinary discussion and hosting events. I am also former assistant secretary for Malaysian-government sponsored student society called JPA Scholars Association (JASA) that aims to mitigate circumstances experienced by JPA Scholars across UK and build collaboration among international connection to bridge perspective gap. I am also active organising committee of Malaysian Student Community Leeds (MSCL) where I am be able to expand my networking with Malaysian permanent residence and other Malaysian students in Leeds to get provide cultural space exactly the same as what happened in Malaysia!

Hey! It's so nice to connect with you. I'm a Business Management with Marketing Student at the University of Leeds and in the 2025/2026 Laidlaw Scholar Network. My research project is 'Exploring Student Perceptions and Experiences of Experiential Learning at the University of Leeds', and I'm so excited to be a part of this programme! I'm extremely passionate about leadership, creative problem-solving and driving impact through everything I do. Alongside my studies, I'm a highly productive individual who balances multiple part-time jobs such as being a Marketing Executive, Podcast Director for Women in Leadership Society and a Social Sciences Student Ambassador. I also love creating content around personal growth, student life and career development and utilise my platform (on TikTok and Youtube) to connect, inspire and share value. As an extrovert, I love spreading positivity both in person and online and look forward to getting to know you!

Hello! I'm Eleanor, currently an undergraduate student of French and German at the University of Leeds and a 2025 Laidlaw Scholar.  My research project focuses on 'Telling the stories of Colonial Populations in the French Resistance through podcasts'. This forms part of Professor Wardleworth's larger ongoing research project to identify members of the French Internal Resistance in WW2 who were from the French Empire, in an effort to diversify and decolonise knowledge about this period. I am fascinated by the global impact of colonialism and inter-colonial perspectives, and aim to work in the politicial field in the future. I am incredibly excited to bring my interests alive through this project. Outside of academia, I love to hike, travel and meet new people.  Feel free to get in touch!

Hi! I'm passionate about using the elegant and sometimes insane theories in physics and using them to contribute to healthcare. Currently I'm looking at a career treating cancer by using targeted ionizing radiation to skilfully shrink tumours. I'm fascinated at how physics can be used to harness the beautiful complexity of nature to transform lives. I sincerely hope I have a long career of contributing to this effort in any way I can, from being a clinical scientist to conducting own my research to helping other researchers receive patents for their work. The title of my Laidlaw research project is 'Evaluating Current Methods for Enhancing Clinical Computer Tomography Imaging Using Contrast Agents'. This beautifully ties my expertise with improving patient outcomes and innovation within healthcare. Another aspect of my journey so far has been navigating pursuing higher education in physics as a Muslim woman. Although challenging at times, I've learnt of ways to overcome my fear of failure and imposter syndrome, and I would love to help others to do the same. Whether I create a small group or kickstart a network, I'm not too sure, but if you've ever been in the same position please reach out! Who knows where it could lead us and who else we could help :) As for my hobbies and interests, that list is extensive and everchanging, but my current fixation is gardening. Nothing can quite describe the joy you feel after seeing a tiny dot you nurtured for 3 months turn into prolific blooms. If anyone would like to collaborate or just say hi then please do! 

Hi! I’m Katya, a third-year English and French student at the University of Leeds and part of the 2025/26 Laidlaw Scholar cohort, currently completing a year abroad at the University of Montreal.   My research project topic this summer was titled ‘Distinctiveness in the Poetry Activity of the Leeds City Region’. I worked in partnership with the National Poetry Centre to conduct interviews with key stakeholders in the poetry scene, which allowed me to draw conclusions about the levels of connectivity and accessibility of poetry in Leeds. I’m originally from Russia but moved to Slovenia for political reasons when I was 15 and then to the UK at 19, so I’ve had a fair share of adapting to new places. Moving countries meant leaving behind everything I knew, including eight years of acrobatic gymnastics, but it also helped me become more open to change. Currently on a year abroad in Canada, I see each new chapter as a chance to grow, connect, and tell meaningful stories. Outside of uni, you’ll probably find me at the gym (a post-acrobatics obsession), with my nose in a book, or planning my next trip—I’ve been to 34 countries so far and don’t plan on slowing down!

Hello! I'm Fraser, a first-year biochemistry student at the University of Leeds. My main passion is biochemistry, but my interests extend across science and philosophy. I am ever-curious and love to learn and debate with my friends. The research project I will be embarking on this summer is titled: "Reimagining Electrophysiology Teaching for Neuroscience Undergraduates through a Design-Thinking Approach." I chose this project because I understand the importance of proper education in understanding and advancing science. The ineffectual education of complex scientific themes, like the brain, leads to misconceptions among the scientific community and the wider public. This can inhibit the advancements of science and impair related practices, such as the care of individuals suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. In my free time, I love playing sports. My favourites include rugby, football and tennis, but I am always eager to try something new. I also enjoy listening to music, doing resistance training at the gym, playing my bass guitar, and being in nature. Feel free to drop me a message or email me at zrwh2552@leeds.ac.uk to discuss research, university, or just to say hi. :)

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.  

Hello hello, I am a 3rd year undergrad at Trinity Hall, Cambridge studying manufacturing engineering. I am hugely passionate about sustainability and what changes can we make to the built environment to reduce our impact and preserve our world for generations to come. From our mobility to our dwellings, our food, and our clothes I am fascinated by the changes we can make to tackle the climate crisis and leave the world in a better place than we found it. (It would also help if BP didn't dump countless barrels of oil in the sea too, I guess). We urgently need to set about fixing the damage that has been done to our environment, promote social mobility, bring greater circularity into our economic thinking, and strengthen our democratic institutions while restoring public trust in our processes. Simultaneously we could also do with just trying to relax a little bit. I think about otters a lot. Not like an unreasonable amount, but it makes me smile when I do and it gets me through the day. I have a dog called Rufus. He's a very cheeky boy and I love him dearly even though he has gotten very good at stealing food off unsuspecting picnicers who believe he's just coming to say hi and get some strokes. Please do drop me a message if you would like some photos.

Hello! I’m Trisha, a fourth-year student at Cornell University from Texas, USA. I’m majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a dual focus on food systems and wildlife conservation, and minoring in International Relations. My interests in combining my enduring passions for writing and wildlife conservation have driven me to explore multiple perspectives on highly-controversial issues such as trophy hunting, retaliatory animal killings, and illegal wildlife crime. Thus, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar and as a member of the Morally Contested Conservation team, I wrote a literature review on the interconnectedness of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts in East and southern Africa. In June and July 2024, I furthered this research by traveling to the University of Oxford and to the Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. I will be returning to Oxford and Burunge in June and July 2025 to report my results.  As an aspiring environmental policymaker and journalist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. At Cornell, I am an Institute of Politics and Global Affairs Scholar, through which I interact with policymakers monthly to discuss pervasive issues in international politics. I also speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate environmental issues across continents and cultures.  For fun, I love to turn even the most mundane materials into recycled art, spend hours on end working through jigsaw puzzles, and go for runs while listening to podcasts. And as a diehard foodie who loves to travel, I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit or new recipes to try!  The Laidlaw Scholars Program has been an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I’ve made, as well as the research and language skills I’ve begun to develop, have encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions or feedback about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trb238@cornell.edu. I hope we can meet in person someday!

Hi! Having previously been a Laidlaw Undergraduate Scholar studying English Literature at UCL, I am now the Marketing Manager of the Laidlaw Foundation.  My research looked at collaborative and innovative practices in academic publishing, and community building is something I built a passion for during my Leadership in Action. Feel free to reach out or connect with me!

A graduate of Cambridge University, Susanna’s professional experience includes over 15 years in senior leadership roles in international B2B and learning businesses. Susanna began her career at the Institute for International Research (IIR) where she first worked with Lord Laidlaw, rising to Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). When IIR, which was the world’s largest organiser of commercial conferences, was acquired by Informa plc in 2005 Susanna was appointed CMO of the enlarged group and also led the public company’s investor relations programmes. She subsequently joined Emap Ltd as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer and CEO of Emap Networks, that group’s conferences business. Later she became CEO of the fashion industry forecaster WGSN and was latterly Group Content and Marketing Partner of the leading strategy consultancy Brunswick Group. A German-American raised and educated in the UK and a committed internationalist, Susanna has been involved in globally trading businesses throughout her career, directing activity in the Americas, across continental Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Susanna has been extensively involved with education and professional development over many years. She was Head of Group Training and led the commercial acquisition and integration of a portfolio of corporate training businesses whilst at IIR; and created learning academies at both Informa and Emap. She believes experiencing and appreciating different cultures promotes better global understanding, creativity and leadership. She is passionate about the power of education to transform lives; and believes that we need to develop a new generation of diverse leaders who are curious, bold and devoted to decency, truthfulness, and innovation. Susanna is committed to diversity not only as a societal imperative but as a critical component of commercial success. As an advisor to the trustees of the Foundation, Susanna first learnt about its purpose and programmes before becoming its Chief Executive responsible for the Laidlaw Schools Trust, the Laidlaw Scholars and its other education programmes. Susanna read English and Philosophy at Newnham College, University of Cambridge. She has five half blues in swimming and water polo; and played netball and rowed for Newnham.