Hi everyone! I run the CraftHER Leadership-in-action program by @Swara - Voice of Women. Here's our IG: www.instagram.com/craftherbyswara/ I’m Asha Scaria Vettoor, an entrepreneur and Laidlaw Scholar from the University of Oxford. I run Swara, a social enterprise based in India that creates income opportunities for women through ethical fashion and storytelling. We also host CraftHER, a 6-week Leadership-in-Action program that brings Laidlaw scholars from around the world to Kerala to learn from women-led enterprises, grassroots organisations, and artisan communities. I’m passionate about building bridges between global learners and local changemakers in my community and always up for a conversation on social entrepreneurship, ethical supply chains, or running programs in remote parts of India.

Hello! My name is Annie, and I am a second year undergraduate student at the University of Cambridge, studying Geography.    My research project is titled ‘Scroll, Share, Speak: Examining Generational Engagement with Feminist Content on Social Media’. My project investigated the engagement patterns of self-identified women in the UK with feminist-related content on social media. The investigation examined how often different generations engage with digital feminist content, and the type of content and platforms they find most appealing. I explored how social media has influenced the way feminism is expressed and perceived, particularly in terms of its effectiveness in driving real-world change and shaping more inclusive forms of engagement.   In my spare time, I love to spend time with my friends and family, go on walks, and play netball.    If you’re interested in learning more about my research, or simply starting a conversation, I’d love to connect. 

Hi, my name is Alden Arciaga! I'm an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto pursuing a double major in Computer Science and Ethics, Society & Law. My dream is to become an AI ethics lawyer, and my research focuses around the intersection between AI, education, and culture. I love to make music, sing, make content (check out my TikTok: @aldxn_.ac) and rock climb! Feel free to reach out to me and chat about anything!

Hi everyone! My name is Lilah and I am going into my fourth year at the University of Toronto studying Economics and International Relations. I am deeply passionate about climate justice, and am particularly interested in exploring how public policy can be used to mitigate the climate crisis.

I study Politics and Peace, Conflict, and Justice at the University of Toronto! I'm researching historical maritime delimitation disputes between Canada and the United States.  I grew up between Singapore and Vancouver, which has undoubtedly influenced my current interest in global affairs and international relations. I love travelling (I'm hoping to travel to Morocco next), tennis (playing and watching), and reading. 

Hi! I'm at the University of Toronto pursuing a specialist in Human Geography with a focus in Planning and a minor in Spanish. More broadly, I'm an aspiring city builder devoted to learning about physical and social infrastructure, labour, the built environment, civic participation, and how these things can all come together. 

Hey! I’m Samuel Kamalendran, a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto (Mississauga), where I major in Political Science and minor in English and Classics. My research project is titled “In the Valley of the Shadow of Death: Evaluating the Protection Afforded to Vulnerable Canadians by Bill C-7” and will explore whether Canada’s assisted-dying legal framework sufficiently protects the disabled, mentally ill, and those in poverty. I was first introduced to this topic through a term research paper in a Canadian Political Science course, and quickly became very engaged in the subject. What truly stood out to me about this subject was the intellectual conflict underpinning the debate about the Bill’s provisions. I was fascinated by the justifications both sides offered—all of which contained some measure of truth—and the simultaneous inability of scholars to come to a clear consensus. I was also very drawn to the real-life stories of individuals who interacted with MAiD—every one of which spoke directly to the implications of any law that intersected law, medicine, and the ethics of self-autonomy. Furthermore, as an aspiring legal professional, I am especially interested in diving into the legal and parliamentary cases that drove the development of assisted-dying forward, and performing a comparative analysis of international jurisdictions to decipher key lessons which can answer questions about the effectiveness of MAiD frameworks. In my free time, I enjoy working out, creating music on the piano and drums, and exploring local rivers, lakes, and trails with my brothers. I’m also active in journalism at my university, interested in AI and business, and passionate about serving my peers through my work with my school’s International Centre and my upcoming roles on various committees and boards. I’m sincerely looking forward to learning more about you all and your research projects! I would love to connect with y’all via LinkedIn, email (at samuel.kamalendran@mail.utoronto.ca), and/or through the Scholars network. I hope everyone has a fun, relaxing, and productive summer! :)

Hello :) My name is Ella, a second-year student at the University of Toronto! My research looks at how Chinese slash fiction is used by women to reflect real-life struggles and promote feminist awareness. I focus on why this genre—centered on queer male relationships—is chosen to express female experiences, and how censorship and cultural factors in China influence that decision. In the past, I have researched how coming-of-age narratives are portrayed in Western slash fiction. Outside of academia, I love to snowboard (in the winter) and ride my electric unicycle (in the summer). My favourite pastime is trying new foods and drinks while (sometimes) discussing how certain aspects of fanfiction reflect social justice issues. My (more normal) hobbies include reading—anything except mysteries—with a focus on Asian North American stories, listening to pop and classical music, and playing badminton. I will be studying English and East Asian Studies over the next three years!

Hi, I'm Natashia, it's nice to meet you! ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ♡‧₊˚ I'm an incoming third-year student at the University of Toronto double majoring in English and Psychology. As my majors might suggest, my passions lie in using literature as a means of moral and political education, and how literature might shape the development of children! For my research summer, I'm investigating how Indonesian parents censor literature for their children. Through my research, I hope to discover the factors that go into such censorship, the psychological and developmental impacts of censorship, and how we can create a culturally-relevant recommendation for censorship of children's literature. Outside of research and studying, I spend most of my time watching anime (current favorite is Frieren!), lifting weights, and reading cozy fantasy! ૮ ․ ․ ྀིა If anyone wants to chat, collaborate, or ask any questions I may be able to answer, I would be more than happy to oblige! You can email me at natashia.septirymen@mail.utoronto.ca ♡

Hello! My name is Viktoria, and I’m a third year student at University of Toronto pursuing a Human Biology major and double minor in Immunology and Physiology. In my research, I'm investigating how immune dysfunction contributes to Parkinson’s Disease (PD) pathogenesis, a condition that has immensely impacted my family. My work integrates computational transcriptomic analysis of patient data with experimental validation in a preclinical mouse model. This integrative approach aims to uncover immune-related biomarkers that could inform precision-based, disease-modifying immunomodulatory therapies that slow or prevent PD progression.         My fascination with the immune system began with my own experience navigating everyday life with my anaphylactic allergies. Early exposure to the immune system’s complexity inspired my ongoing commitment to understanding how immune dysregulation underpins disease. PD is close to my heart, and I’m motivated to have my work contribute to better diagnostics and treatments for patients worldwide.         Looking ahead, I aspire to pursue graduate studies; either an MSc or PhD in immunology, neuroscience, or biomedical sciences. I’m passionate about translating academic research into real-world solutions and hope to build a venture that leverages immune insights for targeted, accessible therapies. I’m also a language enthusiast; I love learning new languages and immersing myself in different cultures, and I believe cross-cultural communication is essential for global health innovation and leadership.          When I’m not in the lab, you can find me studying in new cafes and trying new restaurants around Toronto, reading psychological thrillers or philosophical literature, hiking with my dog, or travelling abroad!                 The Laidlaw Scholars Programme has been an incredibly meaningful part of my academic journey thus far, empowering me to ask bold questions, build hands-on research skills, and connect with a vibrant community of change-makers. If you’re curious about Parkinson’s research, immunology/neuroscience/biotech, or just want to connect, feel free to reach out on my LinkedIn. I’d love to hear from you!

Hello! I'm Maia, an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, Victoria College. I'm majoring in Sociology with minors in Political Science and Women and Gender Studies.  My research brings together women-identified social media users into focus groups to investigate how young women understand social media's value, their consumption of it, and its impacts on them. Despite extensive literature on the negative impacts of social media, few studies have explored how women make sense of their scrolling, especially in their own words. In light of this, my research focuses on not only exploring how women experience their online time but also developing collaborative strategies for more positive engagement; it moves beyond documenting harm to support women in shaping more conscious digital practices. Outside of research and academia, as of late I love to spend my free time crocheting, reading and writing, learning ASL, and developing my martial arts skills. If you'd like to know more about my research, collaborate, or just say hi, I'd love to connect—you can reach me at maia.cassie@mail.utoronto.ca!