Hi! My name is Daohui and I am a first-year Mathematics and Physics student at Durham University (2026). I look forward to being part of the 2026 cohort with my project about prevention and mitigation strategies of future global outbreaks by simulating and analysing the effects of COVID-19! I am particularly interested in applied mathematics and I believe that as the world becomes more and more interconnected, simulatory data will become increasingly important and impactful on global health. After the recent pandemic, there is undoubtedly still work to do in field of epidemiology, which is what I hope to contribute to.
Hello there!
I'm a history major at Columbia University. I spent 14 years as a border-crossing student, living in mainland China and commuting to Hong Kong every day. I spent my high school years in Houston, Texas. My primary focus is transnational Asian history, though I am also broadly interested in philosophy, IR, and political theory.
I spent my freshman year at Rice and transferred to Columbia as a sophomore. I'm currently a rising junior.
I speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. I am currently unsuccessfully acquiring Japanese and French.
Hi everyone! I’m a first-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Leeds with a strong interest in biomedical engineering, particularly at the intersection of sustainability and healthcare. I’m also passionate about environmental and energy-related challenges, and I’m eager to explore how engineering and innovation can contribute to more sustainable systems. I’m looking forward to connecting with fellow scholars through the Laidlaw Scholars Network, exchanging ideas, and learning from people with diverse backgrounds and ambitions. 😊
Hi! I'm Radiyat, a Biomedical Sciences student at the University of Leeds. I'm extremely interested in healthcare inequality and what it compromises, patient advocacy, and improving experiences within the UK healthcare system.
My research focuses on Catgorical thinking (the tendecy to make assumptions based on race, diagnosis, or racial stereotypes) as an issue in the treatment and lived experience of those with Sickle Cell Disease within the UK healthcare systems and wider society. I aim to centre the voices of patients themselves, exploring how bias, misunderstanding, and systemic inequalities can affect pain management, trust in healthcare professionals, and access to quality care.
Outside of research. I love staying active through badminton and going out on walks/hiking with freinds. I enjoy playing videogames and discussing politics 😊!
Please reach out to me If you'd like to talk about health equity, and ensuring underrepresented communities are genuinely heard within medical research and policy discussions. Or even to speak about new videogames or places to walk!
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.
My research project topic in 2025 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 enabled me to draw conclusions about the levels of connectivity and accessibility in Leeds's poetry scene.
In the second year of the programme, I completed my LiA in Auckland, New Zealand, volunteering as a Community Engagement and Media Intern at Youth Arts New Zealand to amplify youth creativity through storytelling and community engagement. After that, I spent a month working as an Events and Marketing Intern at the Laidlaw Foundation.
I’m originally from Russia but moved to Slovenia for political reasons when I was 15, then to the UK at 19, and just completed an academic year abroad in Canada, 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. 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 36 countries so far and don’t plan on slowing down!
Hi! My name is Naziba and I am from Bangladesh, but currently in Hong Kong for my undergraduate studies at The University of Hong Kong where I study Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Besides my academics, I am a very passionate teacher who enjoys making high school science feel more interesting and less taxing. I also love watching movies with my cats and taking nature walks with my friends.
I am excited to start my Laidlaw research journey this year under the Faculty of Health and Medicine at University of Leeds . I am really looking forward to making friends in the Laidlaw community so feel free to reach out in my DMs if you wish to connect!
I am currently the Associate Director and Senior Lecturer of the Common Core, the interdisciplinary curriculum at the University of Hong Kong. As a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I am passionate about creative leadership and administration of higher education that expands both students' and teachers' capacities. My research is focused on Education Futures in the university and pre-tertiary context, exploring transdisciplinary learning, innovative curriculum and pedagogies, international and comparative education, and artificial intelligence in education.
Prior to academia, I worked in business banking, corporate learning and development, and leadership and performance consulting. I also co-founded and led a luxury goods distribution start-up, scaling it into a HK$300 million turnover business upon exit.
Hey! My name is Eva, and I’m a third-year Bachelor’s student in Life Sciences. I’m doing my Bachelor’s in Switzerland, but I’m originally from France. This year, I’m also on exchange in the Netherlands. I’m passionate about neuroscience and cancer research, and I would love to pursue a career that has a meaningful impact and helps people. In my free time, I have a lot of hobbies, as I’m always up for trying something new. I particularly love playing the piano, running, and watercolor painting.
Hi everyone! My name is Anna and I'm part of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars cohort at Trinity College Dublin, where I study Mathematics with a minor in Statistics.
For my research project, I'll be exploring a question that is becoming more important as AI develops: who is better at predicting the future, humans or algorithms? I'll be comparing forecasts from machine learning models with those from prediction markets, where collective human judgement is turned into live probabilities. After the 2024 US elections, prediction markets rapidly gained attention for correctly predicting the outcome before many traditional forecasts. At the same time, AI is making data-driven forecasting more powerful than ever. Through quantitative analysis, I'm curious to see whether the best predictions come from human insight, algorithmic pattern recognition, or perhaps a combination of both.
More broadly, I am interested in using mathematics to better understand and solve real-world problems like this one. I'm especially drawn to the way it combines logic with creativity, allowing us to approach challenges from different angles and develop efficient and innovative solutions.
Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss research or simply chat!
Hi! This is Avian, a second-year student of History at the University of Hong Kong. My research centres around identity and sense of belonging in urban colonial societies, specifically the arbitrary distinction between the “Colonials” and the “Governed,” and those that laid somewhere in between. Outside of the archive, I am a diligent in-class Tetris gamer, amateur banjolele player, and most importantly, a lifelong book hoarder. Please feel the most welcome to reach out anytime!
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.
Hello! I am a first year undergraduate student at Durham University studying Modern European Languages and Cultures, including advanced Spanish and ab initio Italian.
I believe that the intersection between languages and culture, politics and peacebuilding is hugely important in a multicultural but increasingly divided world. I am therefore passionate about using my skills for good, especially through my research project into ethical and compassionate immigration policy.
I'm really excited to work alongside the 2026 scholars!
Welcome!! You can call me either Cothney or Coco. After a superb study year abroad experience in France, I came back passionate and driven to push beyond preconceived limits.
I am deeply curious, therefore I love researching.. In my first summer as a scholar, I focused on 'Mapping colonial subjects from the French Resistance'. While doing the research, I had cross cultural experiences between France and the UK.
During my LIA period, I have partnered with 'Star Top Community School', to teach in a local community school in Lusaka, Zambia; I acted as their LIA Champion from Summer 2025 till Summer 2026 .
I recently accomplished graduating from the University of Leeds. Glory be to God for it!
Ask me more if you would like to. Particularly If you are into sports, spirituality, nature, and travelling don't hesitate to reach out!
Hello, I'm Katarina, an incoming second year Physics student at Durham University. I've enjoyed my time so far in the 2026 cohort with my project about mitigating the effects of light pollution. My dream LiA placement would involve immersion in nature, traditional craftsmanship and driving sustainable fashion. I hope to find something like this!
I aim to continue studying Physics to PhD level, and am particularly interested in either researching sustainable technology or developing aviation systems. My passion for public speaking shapes my goal of driving scientific communication globally as a vessel for change.
My interests beyond academia include electric guitar, fashion and sewing, boxing, and reading, as I've been fortunate enough to study an English Literature module this year.
Hi, I'm Carys a second year studying Medicine at the University of Cambridge.
My interests mainly lie in public health, preventive medicine and infectious diseases, however I find all aspects of clinical and community healthcare interesting. I am interested in potential research into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other pressing global issues, and seeing how we can ensure access to appropriate healthcare systemically by reducing inequalities.
This summer I completed my Leadership in Action project with the Red Hen Project in Cambridge - a charity dedicated to helping children and families facing hardship. The charity hopes to expand to a deprived region in Cambridge and I evaluated the current services available for children, and where the charity can create the most long standing impact. The project focussed on preventative measures to ensure children can live happier and healthier lives by reducing barriers they may face. This project solidified my current hope to work in paediatrics or public health.
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!
I am currently studying an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at the University of Leeds. I have a particular interest in Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease
Over the past few years I've contributed to healthcare environments through volunteering in a variety of settings including an NHS hospital and non-profit Hospice. This work has inspired my long term goal of a career in either Medicine or Clinical Science.
Over the summer I will be carrying out a research project under the supervision of Dr Amanda MacCannell Investigating whether we can reliable manipulate fat cells into burning energy instead of storing it as fat, this would offer a genuinely novel approach to treating obesity, heart disease, and metabolic conditions.
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