Leith Kochbati

Microengineering Bachelor's Student, EPFL
Daniele Orlando Pentangelo

BSc Mechanical Engineering, EPFL

Yoann Jacques

BSc Student in Microengineering, EPFL

Jean Declerck

Physics student, EPFL

Bonjour ! I'm from the most beautiful city in the world (in my opinion!), the City of Light, Paris. I'm currently a first-year Bachelor's student in Physics at EPFL, in Lausanne, Switzerland. I want to help push science forward by working in a cutting-edge scientific field later on: nuclear fusion is one that particularly excites me. I'm doing my research internship in a particle physics laboratory. The experiment I'm working on aims to discover new particles, which would be a major step forward for physics. For my Leadership-in-Action project, I don't have a precise idea yet, but I'd love to contribute to something in environmental protection or education, two causes I care deeply about. Outside my studies, I'm passionate about art and museums, especially literature and opera, as well as sport, particularly climbing and skiing, and I follow politics closely. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to swap book recommendations or chat about physics, art or politics!
Pamela Sampaa Afaki

Chemical Engineering Student, EPFL

Chemical engineering student at EPFL
Amanda Andersson

Marketing Assistant , The Laidlaw Foundation

Hi! I'm Amanda, a third year Neuroscience student and Laidlaw alum from UCL. I'm Swedish-Persian and grew up in Sweden before moving to London for uni. These days, alongside my studies, I work for the Foundation as a Marketing Assistant. For my first year research project, I worked on optimising alginate hydrogels for 3D astrocyte culture systems. In simpler terms, I was figuring out the best way to prepare a jelly-like scaffolds so that star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes could grow in three dimensions rather than flat on a dish. This matters because 3D environments mimic the brain more realistically, which could help researchers develop better treatments for neurological disorders!  For my Leadership-in-Action project, I co-created Beyond the Books, a resource designed to help students from underrepresented backgrounds navigate the unwritten rules of university life, from internships and networking to professional opportunities that aren't always obvious if you're the first in your family to go to uni. Always happy to connect, whether you want to chat about neuroscience, widening access, the Laidlaw experience, or just say hello! One of my favourite things about this community is getting to meet people from different universities and backgrounds, so please do reach out! 🌟
Nikol Chen

Design, Research & Community Lead, Laidlaw Foundation

Hello! I am a multidisciplinary designer and have been with the Laidlaw Foundation for over five years, working to strengthen our global Scholar community and amplify the impact of our programmes. My work lives somewhere between design, education, and anthropology, usually with sticky notes involved. I studied Human Sciences as an undergrad and recently finished a Master’s in Anthropology, both at UCL.  I am your go-to person for questions regarding alumni engagement and the Laidlaw Scholars Advisory Board. Born and raised in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Outside of work? Probably in the ceramics studio or a yoga class. Big fan of nature and very small bugs.