Hey everyone! My name is Karthik Mahakala, and I am a rising Sophomore studying Environmental Biology at Columbia College. Specifically, I am extremely passionate about environmental health sciences, which encompasses how physical, chemical, and biological factors in the natural and built environments impact public health.  This summer, I will be evaluating the reliability of consumer-facing packaging signals for skin-lightening products across Northern Manhattan as a research assistant in the Llanos Lab.

I am currently a junior at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Computational Biology with a minor in Economics. Through my coursework and research experiences, I have developed a strong foundation in data analysis, quantitative modeling, and computational approaches to complex biological and social systems. My background in economics has further shaped how I think about resource allocation, structural inequality, and policy impacts at scale. I am particularly interested in applying data science and computational methods to questions in public health, migration, environmental justice, and global health systems. Much of my work focuses on how large-scale systems, whether healthcare infrastructure, environmental conditions, or social policy, shape health outcomes for marginalized populations. I am especially drawn to research involving spatial analysis, longitudinal datasets, and health data infrastructure, as well as projects that bridge technical analysis with real-world policy and community impact.

Hi! My name is Eleanor Cao, and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University (Columbia College). I am interested in the intersection between political theory and intellectual history, with a special focus on modern Chinese thought and Taiwanese politics. In my first summer as a Laidlaw scholar, I will be probing Chinese political scientist Yan Jiaqi's theory of democracy in the long 1980s (1978-1992). Please chat with me about art & literature, cats, corvids, crochet, figure skating, and more!!

Hello! My name is Claire and I'm an incoming sophomore at Columbia University from Los Angeles, California. I am a prospective Medical Humanities major with a special concentration in Public Health. This summer, I look forward to conducting chemistry education research to help learners regain agency in guiding their own problem solving. In my free time, I love ballet, running, reading, and trying new cuisines around New York. 

Hello! My name is Tomás Sanabria and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University from Cali, Colombia. I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior on the premedical track and have a strong interest in public health and patient care. This summer, I will be working on The Future of Bioethics, a project led by Dr. Sandra Soo-Jin Lee and her national-multi university team. I am very excited to learn under her direction and contribute to the fight for a future where health sciences research remains ethical and centered on human dignity. At Columbia, I am a member of the Admissions - Global Recruitment Committee, the Neuroscience Society and will be a volunteer at the Gay Health Advocacy Project this upcoming year. I am also involved in the Columbia Ballet Collaborative and CoLab, two awesome contemporary dance clubs that have allowed me to keep exploring my passion for dance, movement, and its capacity to bring people together. Outside the classroom, I love running, reading, and exploring the best restaurants in the city with my friends. I am so excited to be a part of The Laidlaw Scholars Program and learn from my peers! If anyone is interested in talking, collaborating or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at ts3766@columbia.edu.