Anuj (AJ) Manchanda
Lester B. Pearson and Laidlaw Scholar at the University of Toronto, University of Toronto
An ambitious student at the University of Toronto passionate about marketing, finance, and the intersection between business and social impact.
With a burning desire to leverage entrepreneurship as a means to improve underprivileged communities, I spearheaded the Rescued Glass social enterprise to tackle waste management and support Thailand's Khlong Toey Slum community through upcycling used glass bottles into innovative household items.
I find genuine fulfillment in experiencing and learning all that I can imagine. This mentality has empowered me to receive over 30 accredited licenses and certifications and pursue 7 professional working experiences thus far. In the process, I have gained proficiency in the technicalities of digital marketing, B2B/B2C sales, data analytics and e-commerce whilst honing my communication, interpersonal, and cooperative skills.
Merging my passions with my ambition to make a meaningful difference in the world is intrinsically fulfilling. I have led several volunteer and service initiatives including organizing concerts to raise funds for endangered animals, participating in a microfinance/development bank, managing community social media pages, deploying artificial reefs in Thailand's islands, and more.
I am humbled and grateful beyond words for the opportunities I have had thus far and am even more optimistic and motivated to continue experiencing, learning, and developing!
Hello! I'm an environmental science student at Trinity College Dublin. My primary area of interest is in Blue Carbon. My research project will analyse the organic carbon storage capacity of different vegetation types in an Irish salt marshes via a quantitative survey of a salt marsh in Balydoyle, Co. Dublin. I will also compare the results of the commonly used Loss On Ignition protocol to the more high definition Elemental Analyser approach.
Hi, I'm Kéah! I'm currently a student at the University of Toronto where I study political science, contemporary Asian studies, and literature and critical theory.
My research is based on South Asian diasporic literature and poetry and how to foster a more sensitive discourse surrounding immigrant communities, deconstruct/reconstruct ideologies of merit, and explore models of motherhood.
Hello!! My name is Vedika Jha (Vay-dih-ka), my pronouns are she/her, and I am going into 2nd year at University of Toronto! My first research project focused on the genetic factors contributing to cerebral palsy, a common disorder. My second research project explored patient perspectives on privacy and trust in digital genomic tools. However I am more broadly interested in Molecular Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, and Climate Change! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or just to talk :)
Hi, my name is Ecem and I’m a current architecture student, research assistant, and web/graphic designer!
Internalizing the current issues of cities including crisis management and housing problem, I work on multiple volunteer, mentorship, and leadership projects. My research for the Laidlaw Program revolves around how architecture can be designed as a crisis management tool and its applications in the past, present, and future.
Pronouns: she/her, they/them
I am an undergraduate scholar and an International Relations and Social Anthropology student at St Andrews. Growing up in various countries across Asia and Europe, I have become particularly interested in global politics, postcolonialism, and social justice. I am also passionate about languages, and speak Chinese, Persian, Urdu, French, and Spanish to varying degrees, in addition to my native Hindi and English.
I am a rising second year student at the University of Toronto, doing a specialist in Computer Science and a major in Cognitive Science.
I am very passionate about equitable education, and I look forward to using code to address this area in the longer run.
I am also the founder of a startup, Sui Generis Education, which aims to provide mentorship to high school students from marginalised communities to apply to universities. You can always connect with me if you know of someone who'd need that help.
Lastly, my research project focuses on the enabling and constraining factors for women in tertiary STEM education. I am hoping that my research could help in developing policies that encourage more women to pursue STEM in university.
Hello! My name is Shaina Sharma (she/her) and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. I am majoring in Economics and doing a dual minor in Political Science and Statistics. My research explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on democracies worldwide!
Hello all ! My name is Freya Coogan, I'm an undergraduate student in Trinity College Dublin studying Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures (with an emphasis on French and Arabic). I currently live in Beirut, Lebanon and my research focuses on the differing approaches to the reform of Personal Status Law taken by Feminist NGOs in Lebanon. I'm interested in the role of civil society in the push for the implementation of anti-corruption measures and transparency and am a proud member of the American University of Beirut's Secular Club. In my spare time I host radio shows on Trinity FM and Dublin City FM that are centred around social justice, current affairs and folklore !
Hi! My name is Bryley (she/her), and I am a second-year student at Columbia University. I study History, and I am deeply interested in memory, religion, and the preservation and adaptation of culture. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am researching Khmer Buddhist revival in post-genocide Cambodia, looking especially at how social, spiritual, and moral orders were and are intertwined in processes of reconstruction.
Natural Sciences MSci student at University of York specialising in neuroscience. I am fascinated by the brain and the connections within it, and enjoy combining my knowledge of chemistry, biology, psychology and philosophy to generate new ideas.
Hi there! I am studying the Bachelor of Science in both Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and Food & Nutritional Science. Doing and learning from research are of interest to me for better understanding of the world and unprecedented benefits to humanity of all kinds. Feel free to exchange knowledge and ideas with me!
Hi! My name's Lucas Maughan. I'm a 4th year pharmacy student at Trinity College Dublin. I have an interest in all aspects of pharmacy with particular interest in clinical and global health. My research encompasses Pharmacy Practice, global and public health.
Hello fellow scholars! My name is Irene Pantekidis and I am a sophomore at Tufts University. I am looking forward to completing my research this summer which is focused on an antibody treatment for a rare genetic bone disease in zebrafish. I am also excited to meet many of you! In my free time, I enjoy singing and swimming, and I am also passionate about volunteering at Boston Children's Hospital!
Hi! I am Eirini Vryza (I often go by Irene). I am a student at the University of St Andrews, and I study English and Philosophy! I am particularly interested in ecocriticism as a critical approach to literature, and I love logic and philosophy of language in philosophy. I have also been quite impressed with object-oriented ontology, and I'd say that although my focus is primarily logic and philosophy of language, one of my favorite philosophers is Peter Singer! In my research project I will be looking at local narratives about nature and how anthropocentrism can be excluded from our collective narratives towards nature by exploring modern Greek literature (prose) and using object-oriented ontology, material ecocriticism and blue humanities as theoretical frameworks.
I am very engaged in effective altruism, particularly in the areas of animal welfare and climate change, and I am also part of the amazing organization that is in St Andrews and many other university called One For The World, which promotes effective giving for global health and extreme poverty.
Hello! I'm Reuben, an Art History and Film student researching 'The Sonic Body: Technology, Embodiment, Gender' with the University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. I am also a student filmmaker and illustrator, and host 'The Theory of Everything Podcast' for StAR Radio.
I am a Senior at Cornell University studying Animal Science. I plan to pursue vet school after graduation or go to grad school. For fun, I like to train and show dogs, ride horses, read, travel, and spend time outside. I have grown in my research and leadership skills as a Laidlaw Scholar. I had an amazing experience traveling abroad to pursue a meaningful experience helping others.
Hi there! I am a psychology student interested in psychotherapy, computational psychiatry, trauma and stress-related disorders, and the prevention of domestic and sexual violence.
I am currently working with the Gillan Lab at Trinity College Dublin which has allowed me to explore my research interests further and led me to my research topic where I want to explore factors that may be of use for individualising treatment of psychiatric illnesses.
Hi👋🏾 I’m Pearls
I am a final year Law student at the University of Leeds. I recently completed a placement year at The Walt Disney Company as a CPGP Contract Management Intern (hence the 'industrial' next to my degree title)
My first-year research project looked at the way game-based learning could be incorporated into Multi-Academy Trusts (aka MATs) to improve the academic attainment and classroom engagement of GCSE-year black students. My Leadership-in-Action project was with MakeSense and focused on empowering minority communities within Mexico City.