My name is Fiona and I'm a member of the Class of 2026 at Georgetown University in the US. I'm majoring in Culture and Politics with a concentration in International Labor Policy and minoring in English and French. My research focuses on the intersection between artificial intelligence and labor exploitation. I aim to chronicle the ways that the tech industry would not function without the contract labor performed by millions of workers in the Global South, and to analyze new models of tech worker organizing to strengthen their power and autonomy. I also hope to situate this "last mile" of digital automation within historical trends of piecework, mechanization, and labor displacement under capitalism. For my summer 2025 Leadership in Action project, I'm interning at a labor union in the capital of Tunisia.

Hi! My name is Isha and I am a rising junior in the College of Arts & Sciences majoring in Biology of Global Health. While I grew up in the suburbs of NYC for most of my life, I lived in Singapore for 4 of those years. This summer, I will be researching failed single-stranded annealing events in drosophila under the guidance of Dr. Jan LaRocque. 

I am an American Studies major at Georgetown in the class of 2027. I am from Baltimore which is where my research project is based. This summer, I am working with Georgetown Law Professor Monica Sanders on the "Ten States Project." We are working in conjunction with community leaders in neighborhoods in West Baltimore that have been systemically excluded from broadband internet access and face disproportionate climate related threats. West Baltimore is home to historic Black neighborhoods like Park Heights and Sandtown that have their own unique and dedicated community organizations and organizers. One component of my project is to highlight and asset map the many mutual aid networks and community resources in these neighborhoods. Often asset maps frame communities in terms of which public or private resources they consume, but our work is focused on highlighting the resources that people and organizations offer each other. The other primary goal of the project is to identify and support solutions to the stark digital inequity that simultaneously contributes to systemic poverty and prevents adequate risk reduction around climate issues in Baltimore. Maryland is not one of the 19 states that prohibit the development of public broadband and there are local organizations such as Rowdy Orbit that focus on building networks of community wifi. These networks offer internet with higher capacities at fractions of the costs of national internet providers which has become vital in order for neighborhoods to thrive. I am working with Rowdy Orbit and community leaders to research and pursue effective methods of building community broadband that is designed to meet the specific needs of each neighborhood. The expansion of internet access is closely related to improving environmental conditions in these neighborhoods especially as it plays a crucial role in their ability to prepare for and respond to climate impacts and disasters. 

Hello,  My name is Ema Eguchi and I am an undergraduate student at Georgetown University. I am studying Culture and Politics, with minors in Global Development and Journalism. My research for the Laidlaw Scholars Program is entitled The Role of the Australia Group in US Biosecurity Policy. I am excited to get to know you all and please feel free to let me know if you are also interested in the impact of international NGOs on governments, or broadly, any other topics of international affairs.  I love cooking, hot springs, and beaches! 

Hi! My name is Allie. I am currently a junior at Georgetown University majoring in International Politics, minoring in Education, Inquiry, and Justice, and pursuing a certificate in Diplomatic Studies. I love reading, playing tennis, and playing music (piano, violin, and oboe). In the future, I am interested in seeking ways to use policy to address issues in society. This past summer (2024), I completed a faculty-proposed research project titled the Black Central Americas Project. I am researching the history and culture of several cities in Central America. The research will soon be released onto a website to become an educational resource highlighting Black Central America's dynamic diasporas. This summer (2025), I traveled to the US-Mexico border for experiential community-based learning about experiences of individuals in the border region.

Hi! My name is Dua Mobin and I'm a rising junior at Georgetown double majoring in Government and Biology of Global Health and I'm attending Georgetown School of Medicine after I graduate. As a first generation low-income (FGLI) student, I struggled during my freshman year to pursue my interests in research and clinical work because I had to work two part-time jobs to afford living in DC. Therefore, I did not have the time to engage in volunteer research and clinical work that added to my journey as a pre-med but failed to pay the bills. Because of this adversity, I became heavily invested in equity issues that systemically disfavored FGLI students and other underrepresented students.  That is why my Laidlaw project focuses on structural barriers to pre-med students that are underrepresented in medicine, and how that results to pre-med dropout and ineligibility for certain medical school programs. 

Hey there! I'm a Senior in the School of Health at Georgetown University, majoring in Global Health, with interests in epidemiology, international affairs, and biodefense. I served as an intern at Global Implementation Solutions, focusing on One Health capacity building and preparedness in public health emergency operations centers (PHEOCs.) I spearheaded the field trials for a One Health assessment tool for county level PHEOCs. I also worked as a research assistant at the Carlson Lab in the Center for Global Health Science and Security, exploring and modeling the impacts of climate change on bacterial dysentery using R. I presented this project as a poster at the 2024 Global Health Security Conference in Sydney, Australia, with expected journal publication in Fall 2024. Outside of my work with the lab, I serve as New Sibling at Large for Mu Alpha chapter of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, sing with Georgetown Music Ministry, and write for The Caravel, Georgetown's undergraduate international affairs newspaper. I'm looking for a DC-based (or remote) global health, international development, or biodefense related internship for the 2024-2025 school year. Please feel free to reach out to me at ys913@georgetown.edu.

Hello everyone. My name is Samantha and I am junior in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. I am pursuing a major in International Politics and a minor in Cognitive Science. I am originally from Connecticut. In my free time, I enjoy reading realistic fiction novels and going on walks. For my research summer, my faculty mentored project was titled African American Resiliency in the British Caribbean and I conducted research under Professor Anita Gonzalez of the American American Studies Department at Georgetown. The project focused on Cat Island, one of the out islands in The Bahamas, and explored the culture of Cat Island by mapping the island’s foodways, music traditions, and histories. Research methods included conducting oral interviews with local residents of Cat Island and participating in cultural practices. Ultimately, the project examined how Bahamian culture reflects the resiliency of Black populations that have survived forced migration and enslavement in the Caribbean. For my Leadership-in-Action project, I worked at Yahad - in Unum in Paris, France. The nonprofit is dedicated to investigating mass atrocities through interviewing witnesses and examining the sites of mass graves. Currently, Yahad has ongoing investigations in Eastern Europe, Guatemala, Iraq, and Ukraine. Additionally, the organization prioritizes genocide education. My independent project is dedicated to creating a Holocaust education workshop in collaboration with a museum in South Africa.

I am a senior at Georgetown University, studying International Politics in the School of Foreign Service. I am also a journalism minor.  Some of the organizations I am involved in are the the Free Speech Project, the rock climbing team, and the Georgetown Resident Assistant Coalition (GRAC). I am also the photo editor and a news & features writer for the Georgetown Voice.  In my free time, I can often be found working on my embroidery, seeing movies, writing letters to my sister, and reading.  Last summer, I worked with Georgetown faculty member Yuki Kato to research multigenerational urban farming. Historical local food provisioning practices among BIPOC communities in US cities have not been systematically documented, but there has been a significant increase in the quantity and prominence of younger generation growers in many American cities. This is an interdisciplinary research that aims to understand the aspirations and practices of contemporary urban growers in the context of the history of urban gardening and farming among BIPOC communities in the city. The contemporary inquiry component of the project examines the aspirations, practices, and challenges of the new generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) urban growers. More specifically, this component examines how the new generation of growers understand the historical precedent of urban folk cultivation and view their practices in connection with their ancestral land, identities, and knowledge. This summer, I am interning as a reporter and photographer with the Minnesota Reformer. 

Hello! I'm Evie, a rising junior at Georgetown University. Born in the UK, I was raised in New York City. I now study regional and comparative studies at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, focusing on Asian and Pacific politics and history with a specific interest in the role of media and soft power in international relationships there. I'm interested in not just the role of journalism in international relations, but also the practical work of journalism; outside of my studies, I'm also the editor-in-chief of Georgetown's online-daily, print-weekly student newspaper, The Hoya. My research project this summer focuses on understanding the role of independent journalism in Pacific island countries' choices to diplomatically recognize China or Taiwan. Does the presence or absence of independent media have any effect on countries' choices? In articles written by independent press vs. government-owned press vs. outlets owned by magnates in the Pacific, what differs in coverage of China and Taiwan? Beyond my academic interests, I love to watch and play soccer, go hiking, read, cook, and talk about New York City. 

Hi! My name is Erica Hahn, and I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in Biochemistry.  This summer, I will be working with Dr. Rodrigo Maillard from the Chemistry Department. The Maillard lab focuses on the mechanisms of regulation and signal transduction of Protein Kinase A (PKA) which is a family of proteins that works to phosphorylate other proteins in complex signaling pathways in cells. Because PKA is involved in many critical signaling pathways, it has been associated with many diseases including Carney Complex and Acrodysostosis, making it an important therapeutic drug target. My project over this summer would be to observe and detect the behavioral changes of PKA using FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) sensor that our lab developed. Specifically, I will  be observing the interaction between the catalytic subunit of PKA and smoothened protein in hedgehog signaling which has shown to regulate PKA activity, different from the traditional PKA regulator cAMP and regulatory subunit. This research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ben Myers from the University of Utah.  I am very excited to pursue this research opportunities and to connect with various scholars. Please do not hesitate to reach out! 

Hi There! I am Sharon, a rising junior studying Business and Global Affairs at Georgetown University. I am minoring in statistics and planning on pursuing a career in international development, with a specific focus on bridging the aid-development gap to mitigate protracted displacement around the world.  For my Laidlaw research project, I am working with Professor Christi Smith of Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration to study the phenomenon of increasing Consulting publications and work on migration and refugee integration-related issues. I aim to explore how the emergence of a new organizational form in the refugee services space might shift the course of refugee incorporation during a time of increasing forced migration and rising political polarization, and its potential policy implications. Our study analyzes 24 publicly available consulting reports using mixed methods to identify prominent and distinguishable patterns and themes. We are also conducting interviews with consultants to explore the internal and external factors contributing to these themes. By contrasting these findings with those from the public sector and NGOs, we aim to highlight different approaches to migration and refugee issues. In my free time, I like to dance (my faves are Chinese Folk and Classical Dances!), watch TV shows, and spend quality time with my siblings! I love food and are always excited to try out new cuisines! I believe that nonverbal and nonwritten communication, including all performance art and culinary practices, are powerful ways to build connections and enhance cross-cultural appreciation and dynamism.   One fun fact about me is that I am an identical twin. My sister, Susan (got our name from The Parent Trap lol) also attends Georgetown University and studies Human Science on the pre-med track.  Would love to connect with anyone interested in discussing anything in the realm of social and political science or on their journey exploring their faith as I am, so don't hesitate to reach out :)

Hello! My name is Claire Auslander and I'm a rising third-year at Georgetown University. I am studying nursing with the goal of earning my doctorate in midwifery/obstetrics & gynecology. I hope to dedicate my career to advancing reproductive freedom through healthcare delivery, research, and advocacy!  This summer, I worked as a student nurse intern at the Alaska Native Medical Center's Family Birthing Services unit. I delivered culturally responsive nursing care under preceptor supervision on a high-risk, tertiary referral labor and delivery unit within the largest tribally managed health system in the US. My goal was to further elucidate my understanding of how sociocultural and religious influences shape patient decision-making, provider-patient communication, and access to reproductive services. Last summer, I researched the relationship between U.S. contraceptive policy and religiosity. More specifically, I looked at state legislation relating to insurance coverage of contraceptives and the relationship, if any, between religious service attendance. My research builds upon my experience as a research assistant in health policy and maternal health and I'm thrilled to explore the intersection of my interests!  A fun fact about me is that I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area but my family moved around a lot when I was younger. I've lived in Northern and Southern California, Texas, Massachusetts, Switzerland, and Washington, DC! Please don't hesitate to reach out, especially if it's to talk about policy/medical research or share your favorite music! 

Hi! My name is Annabelle Kim and I'm a rising second-year at Georgetown University. I am majoring in Public Policy, planning on minoring in Economics and Education, Inquiry, and Justice. I'm from the San Francisco Bay Area–Pleasanton, CA to be specific. Throughout my studies and my career, I hope to contribute to improving educational equity in the U.S. K-12 system, with a special focus on marginalized students within high-performing districts.  This summer, I am researching within-district disparities between continuation high schools and comprehensive high schools in California. Continuation schools (alternative high schools for students at risk of not graduating) have higher per-pupil funding than their traditional brick-and-mortar counterparts. Despite this, facilities and services provided to these students often fall far behind--I hope to clarify why that might be. My research builds on my experience researching school funding decisions nationwide with a faculty member of Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy.  A fun fact about me is that I've technically flown a plane before I got my driver's license...and that even now I'd far prefer flying a plane to driving on a California freeway. 

Hello, my name is Omar Sbaih, and I am a rising junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am majoring in neurobiology with a minor in philosophy and cognitive science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am eager to engage with and learn from my fellow scholars, embracing the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge. I believe that the exchange of ideas and perspectives is vital in expanding our understanding of the world. By actively participating in this community, I hope to gain insights from diverse academic backgrounds and contribute my own unique insights to the collective learning experience. With access to such a profoundly diverse network, I am driven to explore the underlying principles of human cognition and consciousness through the lens of many different disciplines. I am particularly interested in investigating the ethical implications and societal impact of advancements in neuroscience, particularly the advancement of new pharmacological treatments for cognitive impairments.

I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown University majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) with minors in Economics and Film & Media Studies.

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.