Hello! I'm Kate Morton, a rising Junior at Barnard College from Baltimore, Maryland, USA, pursuing a combined major in Environment & Sustainability and Human Rights with a minor in Dance. My Laidlaw Research combines land rights, history, ecology, and environmental justice to explore how eminent domain reshaped socio-ecological conditions in the Delaware Water Gap, a National Recreation Area just outside the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania, USA. 

Hi, I'm in the Columbia College Class of 2029, interested in exploring the intersections of neurobiology and storytelling, particularly the stories behind the science. My Laidlaw research project delves into the molecular and behavioral signatures of pain and stress in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in mice. 

Hi! My name is Maitree and I'm a rising sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University. I'm part of Barnard's 2026 Laidlaw Scholars Cohort and I'm excited to be pursuing macroeconomics research in monetary policy and housing affordability. As an Economics and Computer Science major, I enjoy patterns and logic. I like to connect real-world events with theoretical concepts which fuels my passion for research. I'm a curious and driven student, keen on making an impact and answering a meaningful question through my Laidlaw project. 

Hi! I'm a rising junior at Barnard College studying English, and pursuing a NY teaching credential. As an Undergraduate Research scholar, I will be investigating disciplinary policy reform in NYC public schools. 

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Adelina is a pre-law student majoring in Sociology with interests in education policy, immigration law and the intersections of race and political representation. As a Chicana scholar committed to utilizing well-informed research as a pathway to meaningful action, she believes in uplifting overlooked histories as pathways to empowerment. Her Laidlaw research investigates how the forced displacement of Mexican American families from Chávez Ravine to construct Dodger Stadium shapes the relationship between the L.A. Dodgers and Latino communities. Outside of being a Laidlaw Scholar, Adelina remains committed to public service by continuing to advocate for youth-centered policy initiatives as Governor Gavin Newsom's appointee to the California Youth Empowerment Commission. She has also worked with New York City's Project Rousseau as an Immigration Legal Services Intern and conducted research with the Columbia University Policy Institute, further developing her interests in civic engagement, educational equity and policy reform. As a Barnard pre-law student, Adelina is committed to pursuing a legal career dedicated to advancing representation and justice for historically marginalized communities.

Hi! My name is Chloe Lee and I am a incoming sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Political Science and Human Rights with aspirations to eventually go to law school. I am interested in voting rights, international human rights, intersectional feminist theory, and the intersection between law and business!  This summer I will be conducting research on Asian American voter behavior and the barriers that shape civic engagement for the Asian American community in Queens, Texas, and Georgia. With the supervision of my mentor Professor Chen, I look forward to learning about the lived experiences and geographic comparisons that will help me understand how barriers influence eligible voters.

Hi! My name is Evin Schwartz and I am a second year student at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Urban Studies with a specialization in Urban Spatial Data Analysis and a combined major in Human Rights and a minor in Environmental Science. For my Laidlaw research project, I am using GIS to study childhood cancer clustering in the communities surrounding the Santa Susana Field Lab, a Superfund site I grew up on in Los Angeles. I am Lilly E. Reiser and Diller Tikkun Olam Scholar and passionate about grassroots activism and educational equity. I am also the founder of IUY (I Understand You), a queer non-profit that helps over 10,000 queer youth annually. I would love to chat more!

Hi! My name is Hayden Chernow and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. I am a rising junior at Barnard College majoring in Urban Studies with a focus on the Middle East and Education.  My Laidlaw Scholars Research topic will examine how Jordan's growing refugee population impacts access to trauma-informed education.

Hi! I'm Kritvi, currently a rising sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University intending to major in Economics and Mathematics. Having experienced educational and economic systems in India, the UK, and the United States, I've become fascinated by the factors that drive economic development. My interests lie in development economics, particularly how technology can address inequality and support sustainable growth in developing countries. I enjoy exploring questions at the intersection of economics, data, and social impact.

I'm a Class of 2028 student at Barnard College of Columbia University in NYC. I am pursuing a combined major in Gender Studies and Human Rights. My degree is centered on feminist anthropology, with particular attention to gendered forms of violence and resistance in the occupied West Bank. In my free time, I study Hebrew (Yiddish next, I hope), explore museums, and cook with my friends. "Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On quiet days, I can hear her breathing." - Arundhati Roy

Hey everyone! My name is Rinaz Jamal, and I'm a rising sophomore at Columbia University majoring in Neuroscience & Behavior. I am passionate about helping individuals with mental health and neurodegenerative disorders feel seen, heard, and supported. This summer, I will be doing research at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute under the supervision of Dr. Franck Polleux. My project aims to understand the activity-dependent regulation of mitochondrial protein expression in parvalbumin-positive interneurons, which are among the first neurons to fail in Alzheimer's disease (AD). I am excited to add to the scholarly conversation around Alzheimer's research by identifying the molecular pathways that would be most valuable to target for drug development in the future. Because PV-INs are among the first neurons to fail in AD, understanding these metabolic pathways and restoring levels of mitochondrial proteins has the potential to improve clinical outcomes much earlier in AD progression than current methods. At Columbia, I am involved as a Scientific Review Editor for Grey Matters, our undergraduate neuroscience journal; Blog Editor for the Journal of Global Health; Conference Committee member and Peer Buddy for Columbia Synapse, which advocates for patients with acquired brain injury; and volunteer with Brain Exercise Initiative, where I visit patients with Alzheimer's disease and dementia at a local assisted living home. I also play flute and piccolo in the Columbia University Orchestra. In my free time, I love to read and explore New York City. Please feel free to reach out; I would love to get to know you all!

I am currently a junior at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Computational Biology with a minor in Economics. Through my coursework and research experiences, I have developed a strong foundation in data analysis, quantitative modeling, and computational approaches to complex biological and social systems. My background in economics has further shaped how I think about resource allocation, structural inequality, and policy impacts at scale. I am particularly interested in applying data science and computational methods to questions in public health, migration, environmental justice, and global health systems. Much of my work focuses on how large-scale systems, whether healthcare infrastructure, environmental conditions, or social policy, shape health outcomes for marginalized populations. I am especially drawn to research involving spatial analysis, longitudinal datasets, and health data infrastructure, as well as projects that bridge technical analysis with real-world policy and community impact.