I’m a Computer Science and Mathematics student at NYU Abu Dhabi, originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I’m naturally curious and tend to think a lot about how system, whether technological or social, shape the way people experience the world. I’m especially interested in questions around access, representation, and decision-making. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing chess, exploring new places, and spending time with friends. I also care deeply about education and have been involved in initiatives supporting students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Hi! My name is Evalyn Lee, and I am in my fourth year at Georgetown University. I am studying English, Art History, and French! Fun fact(s): I write satire for my campus newspaper, The Georgetown Heckler, and am passionate about Mokapot coffee. My research focuses on the 18th-century poet, Elizabeth Singer Rowe. Despite the limited scholarship on the poet, Rowe was an influential political writer who made significant contributions to literary history, including the development of the novel. Through my research, I hope to add to the scholarship that highlights the work of early modern women writers.  For my Leadership-in-Action project, I will be partnering with make_sense and Les Jardins d'Haïti, an intergenerational third-space for seniors, in Marseille, France. 

Hi! I'm Bruna, a first-year English Literature undergraduate at Durham University, currently working on my research project. My passion for stories is reflected in my research which focuses on examining storytelling's role in policymaking in creative fields in County Durham.  I am from Brazil but have lived in the Netherlands and Kuwait and therefore have come to love learning all about languages and cultures. Moving around also means I am always open to learning more and adapting to new situations.  In my free time, I am usually cosplaying an old grandma: I crochet, embroider, bake and read. At times, I may also be playing the sims. Please feel free to reach out!  qmcj48@durham.ac.uk 

Pragyan is a junior majoring in Culture and Politics at Georgetown University in Qatar. He works as an Economics Peer Tutor at the Office of Academic Services, and also as a Research Assistant at the Energy Humanities Program, where he is currently developing an energy-themed board game. For his Laidlaw project, he is exploring the history of labor in the electricification of the Philippines. This project intersects energy history and colonial studies, exploring how US Colonialism shaped electricity during and after the US control of the Islands. 

Hi! My name is Maghai, and I am a rising junior at Georgetown University in Qatar studying International Politics. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am conducting research on civilian perceptions of UN peacekeeping withdrawal in South Sudan and how local communities experience security and international intervention. Growing up through conflict and displacement has shaped my interest in community-centered policy, accountability, and research that elevates local perspectives in global decision-making.

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. 😊

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.

Hi! My name is Rishika Singh and I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown University majoring in Human Science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am investigating how socioeconomic and demographic factors, including income, insurance status, educational attainment, employment, race, and ethnicity, influence healthcare seeking behavior and symptom severity among patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Beyond research, I love being active and spending time with my friends. I also love food and my favorite cuisine is Thai food. Feel free to reach out here or at rs2298@georgetown.edu!

Hi! My name is Leslie and I am currently at student at Georgetown University in Qatar, majoring in International Economics. I am passionate about many subject areas including African Politico-Economy, Climate Change, Mental Health and many more! This summer, with the help of Prof Mendenhall from GU and Dr. Bosire from Aga Khan University in Kenya, I will be conducting research that explores ways in which climate related events like flooding affect the wellbeing of residents of informal settlements in Kibera, Kenya. 

Hi! My name is Ariadna (Arina) Maksin and I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown University. I currently research and study neurobiology, which stems from my interest in understanding and targeting the biological mechanisms underlying substance addiction (particularly opioid abuse). My Laidlaw project investigates the role of KCC2, a potassium-chloride cotransporter protein, in morphine addiction. I hope to ultimately integrate wet-lab addiction research with both biotherapeutic and public policy fields to create sustainable treatment and prevention strategies for addiction in the US.  Outside of research, I love creative writing (particularly poetry) and I'm hoping to double major in English. I also enjoy dancing – I'm on hiphop and bhangra teams at Georgetown – as well as playing piano, exploring new cuisines, and reading. Feel free to reach out here or at am4981@georgetown.edu!

Hi! My name is Ella Shi and I'm from Seattle, Washington. I am a current sophomore at Georgetown University studying Human Science. Outside of academics, I love journaling, scrapbooking, painting pottery, and really anything involving creativity!

Hi, I’m Isabella! I am a rising third year student at Georgetown University studying American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies with a research focus on sexual violence, Christian nationalism, and gender policy. I am an educator and advocate for sexual violence prevention at both a cultural and legislative level.  This summer, I will be working with Dr. Nadia Brown and a fellow scholar to understand the occurrence and effects of violence against local-level women politicians. I am particularly interested in the influence of digital abuse involving AI and the effect that sexual harassment has on women’s political participation.  Please feel free to reach out! Email: ibw9@georgetown.edu

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 am currently conducting a feasibility study of the program in South Africa as part of my master’s dissertation in Psychology at the University of Cape Town, 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

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.

I’m a Speech and Language Therapy student at Trinity College Dublin and a member of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars cohort. I returned to education as a mature student and single parent after experiencing firsthand the impact that Speech and Language Therapists can have on people’s lives, which inspired me to pursue the profession myself. My research interests focus on socioeconomic inequality, access to education, inclusion, and student belonging within higher education. Through the Laidlaw Programme, I’m exploring how historically elite institutions such as Trinity engage with class and socioeconomic diversity, and how universities can move beyond widening access towards creating genuinely inclusive environments for students from all backgrounds. Alongside my studies, I’m involved in student representation work as the TAP representative on the Students’ Union Equality and Welfare Committee, where I advocate for equity and inclusion within university life. Outside of academia, I’m also a DJ with a love for garage and jungle music, and a very dedicated bird mother 🐥