Hi everyone! My name is Beatrice Wharton-Hood and I am a Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering student from Trinity College Dublin. I am from Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to Dublin for university. I am super excited to be a part of the Laidlaw community and look forward to connecting with all of you!
My Summer 1 research project this summer delves into the world of nanomaterials and how they can be used to enhance and improve perovskite solar cells. This project aims to identify which nanomaterial is the champion in enhancing the cell's efficiency, stability and durability, as well as how it can help the cell be manufactured on a larger scale. Furthermore, the environmental and economic impacts of the material's inclusion will be analysed and discussed.
This summer, I am completing my LiA! I am currently working on a documentary that focuses on 2 organisations that are working together to deliver digital education in the Greater Bushbuckridge region of Mpumalanga, South Africa, and to create an economic and employment ecosystem within the area.
Apart from having a keen interest in sustainability and engineering, I am an avid sports fan, particularly tennis and field hockey!
Hi! I'm Lexie, an undergraduate psychology student at Durham University. I'm an aspiring clinical psychologist, with a particular interest in eating disorders, body image, and neurodivergence.
Hello! My name is Lily, and I’m pursuing a degree in psychology with a minor in music. My research is interdisciplinary in that it includes psychology, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral studies, and music. I’m studying how listening to emotionally-intense music impacts the later ventriloquism effect, which is a measure of multisensory binding between visual and auditory stimuli. Then, I will investigate if this effect changes when the visual stimulus is imagined using visual mental imagery.
My work is motivated by my deep interest in the interactions between visual mental imagery and mental health, specifically with flashbacks in post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the future, my goal is to get a PhD in clinical psychology to support mental health in developmental populations and continue research.
Hello! :) I'm Ravleen, a 2nd year Pharmacy student at UCL.
In the last year, I was introduced to pharmaceutics: a scientific basis for the formulation and manufacture of safe and effective medicines.
Even the most effective medicine doesn't work if the patient refuses to take it. A study found that 79% of children stated that the taste of medicine made them unwilling to take it. Moreover, children are commonly unable to swallow neutral tasting pills, which makes dosing them a challenge.
For my research project, I explored the development of child-friendly, palatable formulations called orodispersible films using a method called electrospinning. This involved hands-on laboratory work to develop prototype formulations at the UCL School of Pharmacy and interviews with paediatric, oncology patients at Great Ormand Street Hospital to improve the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea & vomiting.
Feel free to reach out!
Hello! I am Defne, a physics student at UCL interested in pursuing graduate studies in biophysics.
Hi! I'm terrible at writing bios so if you have any suggestions or are interested in discussing your own research, I'd be delighted to chat.
My name is Kimberly Gan, and I study Medical Innovation and Enterprise at UCL. For my summer Laidlaw Scholarship research project, I explored the development of orodispersible films designed to improve the treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in children. Based at the UCL School of Pharmacy and in collaboration with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London, my project combined hands on laboratory work with direct patient engagement.
Hello! My name is Rowena, I am an undergraduate at UCL studying Sustainable Built Environment, Energy and Resources. It is an honour to study at the QS ranking’s #1 university in the UK for sustainability and the Bartlett School which is the #1 faculty in the world for built environment studies.
I am passionate about sustainability and strive to combine academic research with real-world impact through quantitative and qualitative analysis, policy evaluations and environmental advocacy. My Laidlaw research builds on my previous work on Biodiversity Net Gain and its impact on sustainable housing of which a summary was published in the Harmony Journal in 2024. I am keen to pursue a meaningful career in sustainable finance consultancy.
In school I was recognised for my academic achievements with the International Gold Medal at Ireland’s Young Economist of the Year competition, a certificate of commendation from Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge in their economics essay competition and a feature on BBC Radio and ITV News at Reading Schools’ Model UN COP27.
Beyond academics, I am an active leader and environmental advocate. At UCL, I serve as a Green Impact Strategy Ambassador and Academic Representative, attending conferences, forums and committee meetings on a regular basis to ensure my peers’ voices are heard. I also love the performing arts, having directed and acted in multiple theatre productions as House Captain at school and playing the organ and singing in my church choir.
I thrive in dynamic, high-pressure environments and am always looking for opportunities to drive meaningful, sustainable change. My goal as a Laidlaw Scholar is to merge research, technology and policy to creative innovative solutions for our global future.
