Hello everyone! My name is Olivia Calkins and I am a sophomore at Tufts majoring in chemical engineering and minoring in biotechnology. My project is centered around Cellular Agriculture, a novel scientific field aiming to grow meat from cells in vitro. I will specifically be exploring the use of insect cells as a replacement for meat in pet food, and ensuring a completely nutritional profile can be achieved for felines! Outside of the lab, I love going on walks, cooking vegan food, and spending time with friends and family :)
The Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Program provides students with hands-on research experience to prepare them to serve as future leaders in their chosen fields. Tufts University is delighted to be able to offer first year students the opportunity to get involved in the university’s research, working with academic staff on questions of global significance. The Laidlaw Scholarship helps students develop and practise leadership skills in preparation for life after graduation. It enables undergraduates to become part of a network of high performing students from around the world.
I'm an undergraduate from Mexico City interested in development economics, particularly as it pertains to indigenous groups and land management. Using the work of Elinor Ostrom as a framework, my research focuses on common-pool resource ownership in indigenous communities in Central Mexico, particularly in Cuetzalan, Puebla. I also work in radio and I'm really passionate about the audio form—be it radio or podcasts—as a way to transmit narratives and information.