Hi, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a sophomore from Nigeria at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar. I major in International Politics with minors in Africana Studies and a certificate in Energy Studies. I am also pursuing the French proficiency academic pathway.
My academic interests are deeply shaped by my experience growing up in Nigeria and center on Africa’s future, the place of identity, and the advancement of women and girls globally.
This summer, I will be researching how 'Y2K' Nollywood (the formative period of Nigeria’s film industry spanning the 1990s and early 2000s) influenced the women who contributed to and consumed it, across a representative social circle that includes actresses and women in the diaspora.
I am a medical student at Imperial College interested in surgery and research. I am currently exploring various surgical specialties including cardiothoracic surgery, and my upcoming research project will be on mitral valve repairs. I have attached previously to research groups under orthopaedic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, and I am also involved in some research projects in London and my home city Hong Kong.
In my spare time I enjoy travelling, skiing, visiting art museums and painting, in particular watercolour.
Hi! I love making new friends and creating things! My favourite things to create are stories -- through composing my own music, drawing or writing -- and organizations! Currently making a women in STEM society in my university and it's been a lot of fun :D Hit me up if we have any hobbies in common :) Still trying to figure out what I want to do in life
I am a third-year student at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, pursuing a double major in Economics and Public Policy with a focus in Data Analytics and a Certificate in Business Fundamentals. My academic interests lie at the intersection of economic analysis and policy work, and I have had the opportunity to explore this through internships at KPMG, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and the Ministry of Transportation Ontario.
As a Laidlaw Scholar, my research investigates whether individual-level gender bias predicts sound-symbolic gender judgments in names -- a project that sits at the intersection of linguistics, social science, and gender equity. Through this experience, I hope to deepen both my qualitative and quantitative research skills while building a global network of scholars and practitioners working on meaningful problems.
Beyond academia, I am someone who loves getting to know people, new experiences, and a good challenge -- whether that is exploring a new city, trying a new cuisine, or pushing myself into unfamiliar territory. I believe the best ideas come from diverse perspectives and lived experiences, and I am always looking to grow -- as a researcher, a leader, and a person.
I would love to connect over coffee, lunch, or even a quick message -- if any of this resonates with you, let's catch up!
Hi! My name is Anna, and I am rising junior at Duke University studying Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about learning how to evaluate policy and find my own evidence-based policy solutions for my future work as (hopefully!) a politician. I'm especially drawn to policy related to foreign policy, economic and social equity. I'm also interested in conducting research focused on the rise of the far-right and the developments in the society that enabled it.
Hi, I'm Anushka, a third-year at Duke University studying chemistry, medical sociology, and global health. I'm passionate about leveraging scientific techniques in order to advance health equity, especially for rural and underserved populations.
My Laidlaw research at the University of Leeds' Department for Nuclear and Chemical Engineering is about addressing the public health challenge of fluoride-contaminated drinking water in Tanzania by developing a novel, sustainable ion-exchange model to selectively remove fluoride from groundwater.
Hello, I'm Niyati! A first year BSc Audiology student at UCL interested in the advancing technology behind cochlear implants and hearing aids.
My research explores how mental states affect movement and how, by understanding states such as Catatonia, we can treat mental disorders more effectively.
I'm a Year 1 Student at the University of Hong Kong majoring in Economics and Finance, pursuing my Laidlaw Journey currently with research at UCL on Climate Chance and Sustainability Education. I'm interested in learning about and working towards initiatives across Environmental conservation, Education, and Poverty Alleviation. Also, a deep admirer of transcendentalist literature/ poetry and Sufi Music!
Hi there =] this is Aka from the University of Hong Kong, I am currently a Pharmacy student who is interested in investigating the therapeutic effects of essential oils. For the laidlaw research project, I am investigating in how to engage with the public to explain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the role of vaccination.
I love connecting with others and hearing about what you're passionate about, so do reach out and chat anytime :)
Hi! My name's Charlie, I'm doing a research project on surrogate functions for solar panel optimisation on tall vertical facades. I'll be comparing optimisation methods between surrogate functions, particle swarm optimisation and genetic optimisation.
I'm studying Engineering, but when I'm not working I am a part of DU Solarcar (looking forward to the European Solar Challenge 2026!), as well as going to church and running in my free time. I'm always up for a game of chess or a chat about science. I'm also learning French and Spanish in my free time. Fun fact: I'm also enrolled on a Welsh language course at Prifysgol Bangor!
Mathematics researcher at EPFL, Laidlaw Scholar, and systems optimizer. I specialize in formalizing mathematics in Lean 4 (currently researching with Fields Medalist Prof. Maryna Viazovska) and building high-performance software.
I don't just study systems; I look for their underlying logic to optimize them. My recent work ranges from deploying production software that uses Max-Plus algebra to reduce event logistics complexity to , to building decentralized parametric insurance on the blockchain and coding real-time cognitive analysis AI pipelines.
With a background in local politics (former Town Councilor) and a certification in behavioral psychology (PCM), I am fascinated by the intersection of human behavior and pure logic. When I'm not writing proofs or coding, you can find me rowing or trying to teach Lean 4 to my grandmother.
Amber is a Bachelor of Psychology student at The University of Hong Kong. As a Laidlaw Scholar from the 2024 cohort, she completed her research project, titled “Reading Through Gaming in Primary School,” at the University of Leeds and volunteered with the Red Cross in Taiwan (Pingtung County) during her second summer.
Hi! I’m Evie, an undergraduate student at the University of Leeds studying a joint honours in Law with Hispanic Law. I am deeply motivated by the prospect of making meaningful change through legal and political research, with a specific interest in language, culture and international human rights.
This summer I will be researching the project entitled ‘Queering Citizenship: LGBT+ Activism in Democratic Transitions in South America’, which aims to take an intersectional approach to understanding the treatment of queer individuals in South America through primarily researching and analysing archives.
I am really excited to learn more, and extremely grateful to be able to participate in and contribute to the Laidlaw programme!
