A 2nd year Physical Sciences student at Trinity College Dublin. I aim to become a better leader and get a ton of research experience :)

Hi! I’m Alina, an undergraduate Biochemistry student with a strong passion for meaningful work that has a positive impact on the world. I’m particularly fascinated by health sciences, and my long-term goal is to contribute to making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective. I believe that starts with improving the quality of health information and ends with optimizing how healthcare is delivered, whether through advances in pharmaceutical research or innovations in point-of-care solutions. To explore this mission, I’ve chosen to pursue an interdisciplinary research project within the School of Medicine, despite my degree being based in the School of Biology. My research focuses on direct-to-consumer health screening tests offered to generally well individuals in the UK. These tests (for instance at-home genetic screenings) are becoming increasingly popular for promoting autonomy in personal health management. However, they also pose risks, including misinformation, false positives, and overdiagnosis. My project aims to contribute to the growing field of evidence-based diagnostics by advocating a shift from early diagnosis to optimal diagnosis, ensuring diagnosis is not only early but is also clinically useful. Outside of my academic life, I’m very active and love exploring new hobbies. I love exploring new sports, hence I’ve recently taken up Judo and Olympic Weightlifting. I also enjoy cycling, especially through the scenic Scottish countryside, which I explore regularly by bike (the perks of not owning a car!). I also have a creative side: I enjoy embroidery, as well as listening to and producing electronic music, and I’m currently learning how to DJ. Additionally, I’m involved with the Entrepreneurship Centre at the University of St Andrews, where I help foster an entrepreneurial spirit within our student community. I’m a versatile and curious person who thrives on meeting new people and discovering new ideas. I’m always excited by opportunities that combine creativity, innovation, and impact.

Hi, I’m Florrie, an undergraduate Neuroscience student at the University of Leeds and a part of the 2025 Cohort of Laidlaw Scholars. I’m from a seaside town in Essex and my hobbies include playing volleyball, cooking and socialising with friends.  Academically I’m interested in biological research into disease prevention and management with my part-time job working in a pharmacy I see many different conditions and hand out many different medications daily - so I take great interest in understanding these drugs. This summer I will be pursuing this interest through research into cardiovascular disease.  I’m so excited to be a part of the Laidlaw community and would love to connect! My email is qmwv8834@leeds.ac.uk 

Dr Catherine Barbour joined Trinity College Dublin as Assistant Professor in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Spanish Peninsular Studies in January 2022. She was previously Lecturer in Spanish at the University of Surrey and Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, University of London, and also held positions at Queen's University Belfast and the University of St Andrews, where she was awarded her PhD in 2016. Catherine specialises in intersectional approaches to gender in contemporary Iberian literature and visual culture, with a focus in Galician studies. She also has keen interests in comparative cultural studies and multilingual education. Her publications include the monograph Contemporary Galician Women Writers (Legenda, 2020) and the edited volume Women's Historical Fiction Across the Globe (Palgrave Macmillan, 2025). Her article on Galician diaspora film forthcoming in the Bulletin of Hispanic Studies received an Honourable Mention in the I International Prize for Galician Studies, awarded by the International Association for Galician Studies (AIEG).

Hi! I'm Eve and I'm studying Middle Eastern and European Languages and Cultures (with German and Turkish) at Trinity College Dublin. My research project focussed on the challenges facing Vergangenheitsbewältigung in modern Germany, including rising antisemitism, the 2015 migratory wave, subsequent refugee integration and developments in the Israel-Palestine conflict. I investigated how to tackle this issue in a way that appropriately condemns antisemitism and safeguards the wellbeing and integration of Germany's Muslim community. In addition, I considered wider questions surrounding migrant assimilation and national identity.  In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my friends, sea-swimming, hiking and reading. I also love to travel and am very interested in learning languages and connecting with people from across the world, so please feel free to reach out - I would love to chat about anything project (or otherwise) related!

Hi! My name is Vincent and I'm a Maths/Economics student in Trinity College, Dublin. My research interests lie in education (particularly the STEM side of things) and how to promote activities such as debating and public speaking to younger generations. As a former debater in secondary school and a massive maths nerd even now, I find that anything that combines these aspects endlessly fascinating and easy to be passionate about.  Moreover, I am a big believer in keeping up with current affairs and the state of technology in the world. I think markets and geopolitics are inextricably linked and at the centre of most meaningful things around the world such as the development of technologies like artificial intelligence. In my spare time, I like playing rugby, going to the gym and playing card games like poker with my friends. During extended breaks, I love travelling to new places to experience different cultures and, above all, try new foods!

Hi my name is Paul, I am a fourth year medical student in Trinity College Dublin.

Hello, I'm Ethan! I am a Political Science and Social Policy Student at Trinity College Dublin. I am originally from California, but I split my time between California and Ireland growing up. As a politics student, I am interested in the policy and regulation of the technology sector.  Through my research, I wish to study the relationship between innovation and regulation for countries looking to remain innovative while also mitigating the adverse effects that come along with the rapid development of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.   I look forward to connecting with other scholars at Trinity and beyond! 

Hi everyone my name is Hammad, I am a third year medical student in Trinity College Dublin. I have an interest in loads of different medical specialties with respiratory medicine top of that list which is why I tried to do a research project related to that topic. Medicine has so many different aspects to it, almost all of which is fascinating (minus the stress and pressure and sleep deprivation etc) but what really motivates me is how medical research can inform and improve medical treatment which makes an observable and at times enormous difference to real people with real conditions and real symptoms, not just the words we read in our lectures and textbooks all the time. I like watching football, basketball and cricket and used to play football when I was in school. Now I spend most of my free time either in the gym, teaching or spending too much time watching Reels on Instagram.

Trinity College Dublin joined the Laidlaw Network in 2018. The Laidlaw Programme offers undergraduate students at Trinity the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders. Laidlaw Scholars work with an academic supervisor on a self-directed, independent research project and take part in a suite of integrated leadership development activities which culminate in a challenging applied leadership experience. Laidlaw Scholars join a community of learning, driven by curiosity and collaboration, which enables diverse voices to make a meaningful impact. The Laidlaw Programme at Trinity is open to undergraduates in the second year of a four year programme or the second/third year of a five year undergraduate/integrated masters programme.

Hi! My name is Jimena Alvarez and I am a Peruvian second year student in Trinity College Dublin. I currently concluded my second year studying Political Science and Economics. My research project is titled "Exploratory research into the support worker’s perceptions of the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland".  The purpose of the research is to gather relevant and comprehensive data about support worker’s perceptions of the integration experiences of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. I will be conducting a focus group and individual interviews with 12 support workers in the field of refugee aid.  I am very excited to connect with other Laidlaw scholars regardless of how different our research projects may be. I am always interested in learning from people with different backgrounds and interests. Feel free to contact me. See you all soon in the Laidlaw annual conference here in Trinity College Dublin!