Hannah Watton (She/Her)

Marketing Manager, Laidlaw Foundation
Andre Robert Ignoffo

Student , Columbia University

Sarvesh Prabhu

Student, Cornell University

Shurong Zhao

Undergraduate student, University of Hong Kong

Katarina Spasojevic

participant , Laidlaw Scholars

Hi! My name is Katarina, and I am studying Environment and Sustainability at Cornell University. I am particularly interested in international research on the interconnections between environmental justice, natural systems, and social well-being. During my free time, I like to play violin in chamber music and orchestras, and play board games. 
Aima Raza

Student, Cornell University

I’m curious about how people’s values — faith, fairness, and community — shape the way societies work. Studying Industrial and Labor Relations helps me understand systems, while my interest in religious studies and sustainability keeps me focused on the human side of change. Through Laidlaw, I’m exploring how culture and belief can inform more ethical approaches to leadership, especially in Latin America and the Near East.  I want to bring that combination of analysis and empathy to a career in the Foreign Service.
Noor Dewood

Second Year Student at Cornell University, Cornell University

Kamili Fernandez

Animal Science Student at Cornell University, Cornell University

Antonio Li

Research Fellow, Columbia University

I work primarily within the field of procedural generation and parametric design. Please talk to me if either of these interest you!
Youness Robert-Tahiri

Student, University of Toronto

Hello! I recently graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Psychology Research from the University of Toronto. I’m passionate about youth mental health and how humour can be used to support resilience after adversity. My Summer 1 research project explored the relationship between childhood adversity, aggression, and self-regulation — deepening my understanding of the psychological impacts of early trauma. In Summer 2, I led a Leadership-in-Action project at SOS Children’s Villages in Cape Town, where I designed and facilitated a comedy-based mental health program for teens. That experience led me to found HaHaHelps — an organization that uses improv comedy to support youth mental health through accessible, community-led workshops. I'm currently piloting the full program in South Africa, with plans to expand to more communities globally. Please feel free to connect :) Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/younessrobert-tahiri Email: youness@hahahelps.org
Grace Stephens-Spada

Miss, Laidlaw Scholars Programme

Hi! I’m Grace and I’m a first year medical student at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. For some time now I’ve been interested in the mechanics of cancer and how the inner workings of a tumour affect a patient’s diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.  We are fortunate to live in a time of ever-growing research, and with as many as one in two people being diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime, there’s an urgent need to bring this research into a clinical context so that patients can benefit from it. This interest is what has compelled me to look into the presence of certain biomarkers and their relation to immune cells within tumours, which I will start researching during my first summer as a Laidlaw scholar this year. In an effort to make this as relevant as possible to patient care, I will use this data to develop an AI algorithm which will aim to predict patient prognosis by analysing tumour samples.  Alongside my studies I’ve enjoyed being the charity representative of our Oncology Society, especially since it’s allowed me to fundraise by baking treats and going on seaside runs! Outside of medicine I love to sing and spend every spare moment I have in chapel singing choral music with the university’s chapel choir, although I have been known to spend hours singing along to Les Mis whenever I get the chance. 
James Mann

Student, University of St Andrews

Pallavi Bhargava

Laidlaw Scholar, Duke University

Hello ! I am Mathilde, a first-year student in Mechanical Engineering at EPFL in Switzerland. Driven by curiosity,  I am passionate about where science meets art and medicine, especially when engineering can help heal, create and inspire.  As a Laidlaw Scholar, I look forward to developing both my research and leadership skills to turn ideas into meaningful impact. This summer, I'm doing my research internship at the BION Lab, where we develop biomedical systems that interact with the human body to support healthcare innovation.  When I'm not studying, you'll find me swimming, reading or spending time with friends. I always appreciate meeting new people so feel free to reach out !
Ela Faith Winter

3rd Year MA Classics and International Relations, University of St Andrews

School of Classics President | Laidlaw Scholar | Foreign Affairs Review Analyst | 4x State Department Intern
Anand Shukla-Parekh

Student Researcher, Trinity College Dublin

Bianca Pitu

Student, EPFL

Jasmine Ye

1st Year Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Oxford

Tuana Tantur

Student, Georgetown University

Yinuo Fang

Undergraduate Leadership & Research Scholar, University of Toronto

Hello LSN! 👋 I'm Annie from the University of Toronto, and I am thrilled to be among the 2025 Laidlaw Scholars cohort!  Program: Engineering Science (2T7) -- and in the upcoming fall I'm about to start my third year in aerospace engineering! Finally something interesting after two years of core courses 😵‍💫  Research Topic: gender bias in AI chatbots' responses & how to avoid such bias in AI development 🌟 Now the interests!  Hobbies: climbing beginner (but really enjoys it) 🧗 | video editing 🎬 | journaling 📝 | hiking🚶‍♀️ Enjoys: musicals 🎵 | doctor who 📺 | Comic Con 🎨 Also, for any whovians out there, I am planning to build my first Dalek this summer! Full size, motorized Dalek that will turn up at Fan Expo Toronto this summer 👀 So if you're going too - just send me a message and let's hang out! ✌️
Jacob Rudolph

Student, University of Toronto

Hi everyone! I'm Jacob and I'm entering my third year at the University of Toronto where I study Financial Economics, Public Policy, and Mathematics. This summer I'm undertaking research on how political campaign strategies influence representation in parliament. Outside of the classroom, I'm an avid reader of just about anything that piques my curiosity. My apartment is nearly bursting at the seams with 481 books (and counting). I love learning new things whether it's a new tune on my tenor saxophone or a new language (I'm currently working on Russian and Italian). You'll also find me outside on my bike or the nearest tennis court when I'm not working at my desk and dreaming up new policy ideas to combat inequality.