Hello! I'm Crystal, a current third year medical student from Trinity College Dublin, and originally from Yangon, Myanmar. I think physicians are in a unique position where they are entrusted by patients, understand firsthand the shortcomings in patient care, and possess the biomedical knowledge and skills needed to drive meaningful change, placing them at the forefront of cutting-edge research that can directly benefit patient care. I would love to be a physician-scientist one day who can bridge scientific discovery with clinical practice.  My research explores the effects of smoking on innate immunity, specifically whether smoke exposure causes long term epigenetic and metabolic changes in macrophage precursor cells that confers one susceptible to diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). I am fortunate to be part of a great research lab that allows me to explore my own ideas, design my own experiments, and, most importantly, keep moving forward when things do not go as planned!  I also love cooking and baking -- if I'm not working on something academic, I am thinking of what I should have for my next meal! 

I'm an incoming 3rd year Law and German student in Trinity College Dublin.   My research centres on how the criminal justice systems responds to abused women who kill their abusive partners.  The defences to a charge of killing are usually provocation, self-defence, and diminished responsibility/insanity.  However, feminist legal theorists argue that these defences arise out of a typical male rather than female experience.  Victims of domestic abuse who kill typically lack an obvious imminent threat of violence, which is required to use the legal defences, and instead are responding to a cycle of violent behaviour. I want to understand how these women are treated in criminal justice systems, and how we can improve the law in this area. I am passionate about improving equality and fair treatment in the legal system, as well as gender studies and criminology.  I would love to get in touch if you are interested in any of these areas!

Hi everyone! My name is Anna and I'm part of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars cohort at Trinity College Dublin, where I study Mathematics with a minor in Statistics. For my research project, I'll be exploring a question that is becoming more important as AI develops: who is better at predicting the future, humans or algorithms? I'll be comparing forecasts from machine learning models with those from prediction markets, where collective human judgement is turned into live probabilities. After the 2024 US elections, prediction markets rapidly gained attention for correctly predicting the outcome before many traditional forecasts. At the same time, AI is making data-driven forecasting more powerful than ever. Through quantitative analysis, I'm curious to see whether the best predictions come from human insight, algorithmic pattern recognition, or perhaps a combination of both. More broadly, I am interested in using mathematics to better understand and solve real-world problems like this one. I'm especially drawn to the way it combines logic with creativity, allowing us to approach challenges from different angles and develop efficient and innovative solutions. Outside of academics, I'm also a huge music lover, from hip hop and rock to hard techno. For me, a good time almost always involves music, dancing, or both :) Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss research, share music recommendations, or simply chat!

I’m a Speech and Language Therapy student at Trinity College Dublin and a member of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars cohort. I returned to education as a mature student and single parent after experiencing firsthand the impact that Speech and Language Therapists can have on people’s lives, which inspired me to pursue the profession myself. My research interests focus on socioeconomic inequality, access to education, inclusion, and student belonging within higher education. Through the Laidlaw Programme, I’m exploring how historically elite institutions such as Trinity engage with class and socioeconomic diversity, and how universities can move beyond widening access towards creating genuinely inclusive environments for students from all backgrounds. Alongside my studies, I’m involved in student representation work as the TAP representative on the Students’ Union Equality and Welfare Committee, where I advocate for equity and inclusion within university life. Outside of academia, I’m also a DJ with a love for garage and jungle music, and a very dedicated bird mother 🐥  

Hi everyone! My name is Hannah and I’m the Marketing Manager at the Laidlaw Foundation. I was previously a UCL Laidlaw Scholar in the 2022 cohort, where I studied English Language and Literature. It’s a real privilege to now work with the community as part of the Foundation team. My role focuses on building and nurturing an engaged global Scholars network, creating events that strengthen connection, and shaping how we share the Foundation’s work and impact. In my spare time, I love cooking new dishes, reading, going to the theatre, and café hopping around London. Please don’t hesitate to reach out or connect with me on LinkedIn. I’m always happy to chat!