Joel was the Laidlaw Programme Coordinator for Trinity (2018 - 2024). In this role he managed leadership development activities, student coaching, programme design, and the day-to-day support of the Laidlaw Scholars. He is currently the Equality Officer for Trinity, and works to promote equity, belonging, and non-discrimination for Trinity staff, students, and the wider Trinity community, in all areas of university life and with particular regard to the protected grounds in equality legislation. He has previously worked in a range of higher education development roles including student services and global engagement. In 2026 he is a supervisor for a Laidlaw Scholar research project entitled 'A Class Education: How does Trinity engage with class and socioeconomic status in 2026?'. He is a founder and current Co-Chair of Trinity's LGBTIQ+ Staff Network and is committed to Trinity's mission of fostering excellence and creating social good by championing an accessible, diverse higher education environment. A graduate of Trinity, he holds a B.A. (Mod.) in English Studies, and further qualifications in Learning, Development and Coaching (CIPD), EDI Policy and People; Teaching, Learning and Assessment for Academic Practice (TCD), and as a Certified Student Affairs Educator (HECSAC).

Advocate for finding alternatives to testing on animals Physiology student in TCD

Hi! I am a 4th year undergraduate scholar at Trinity College Dublin studying Global Business, and I am currently on my study abroad in ESCP Paris. My research project centres on the importance of female leaders from ethnic minorities in the business C-suite & the necessity for better racial and gender diversity on executive boards worldwide.  I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new things on this journey!

Hi there! My name is Tea Stapar and I'm a third year Biological and Biomedical Sciences student in Trinity College Dublin, specialising in Biochemistry. My research project is based on studying metabolomics of a chemotherapy drug called HAMLET/Alpha 1 using NMR spectroscopy. I'll be investigating whether this chemotherapeutic could be used to treat human osteosarcoma. Looking forwards to the experience and connecting with new people!

Hello, I'm Eoin O'Connor, currently studying Biological and Biomedical Science at Trinity College Dublin.  My research focuses on investigating the role of astrocytes, a type of glial cell in the brain, in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. I am particularly interested in understanding how inflammation outside the brain can exacerbate inflammatory and damaging events within the brain, ultimately leading to accelerated dementia. Outside of college, I enjoy reading and music. I play piano and guitar and have recently started performing at open mics. Some of my favourite bands include the Stone Roses and Fontaines D.C. Sport also plays a significant role in my life.

I am currently an undergraduate PPES student at Trinity College Dublin. I have chosen the Joint Honours Pathway, specialising in Political Science and Sociology.  My research project for summer one, titled "Sporting Bonds: Can sporting programmes properly facilitate the meaningful integration of migrant and host communities in Ireland?", concerns the efficacy of community-led integrative programmes that use sport as a means of blurring inter-cultural barriers and bringing together diverse communities. I will be working with Sport Against Racism Ireland, an established Irish NGO that delivers various sporting programmes aimed at facilitating and implementing anti-discrimination practices in Irish communities.  In my spare time I enjoy playing football and basketball, reading, and wandering around taking photos of things I see. 

Hey everyone my name is Eva and I'm part of the 2023 Laidlaw scholar cohort. I'm currently studying pharmacy at Trinity college Dublin. I'm really interested in looking at how the development  of novel therapeutics can be used to solve current challenges in the medical field.  My Summer 1 research project focuses on the antimicrobial action of capsaicin on H. pylori cells and how this could be incorporated into current antibiotic regimes. 

Hi! I am a third-year English student at TCD. If I had to define my field of interest it would be words... How they are used to influence others and the way they shape us and the world we live in. My Research project focuses precisely on that: how the words that have been written over and over again in literature, and that we now recognise as the "literary canon", have influenced the view of those who are not part of this canon, or whose voices have not been heard. In my free time you can find me writing, painting or wandering in nature.  If you have any similar interests or if you want to know more about my research shoot me a text here on the network, I'd love to connect!

Hi everyone! My name is Laura, I'm a second year Human Health and Disease Student in Trinity College Dublin. My research project is on assessing "Women's experiences of accessing healthcare services to manage their perimenopause/menopause-related health issues in Ireland ". I am so excited to be part of the Laidlaw cohort of 2023 and I look forward to connecting with other members in the network! 

Hi! I am a 3rd year student in Trinity College Dublin, studying Management Science and Information Systems. My research project will focus on the area of disinformation, specifically the features of disinformation that lead it to being spread online. 

Hi! I’m a final year student in Trinity College Dublin, studying theoretical physics. I completed my research project on the topic of using machine learning to identify properties that don’t vary in moving physical systems.

Hi! I am a final year Physics & Astrophysics student in Trinity College Dublin. My research was on radio-astronomy of the Sun with particular interest in predicting potentially disruptive solar weather and my LIA was Science Outreach with the World Science Festival in New York. Apart from physics I'm interested in running, rugby, card games and snowsports. I enjoy being outside, exercising, film/TV and reading. I am particularly interested in connecting with students from around the globe and broadening my horizons! Please feel free to contact me if you're interested in astrophysics, science outreach or have any questions about my time during Laidlaw and my other experiences!

Hi, I'm Jessica Mahon, and I am interested in genetics, both from a conservation and a human standpoint. I'm in 3rd year of Human Genetics at Trinity College Dublin. I'm from Ireland and speak both English and Irish. I spend my spare time taking part in yoga, meditating and enjoying the outdoors.  My Laidlaw research project is based on the genetic susceptibility of amphibians to chytridiomycosis disease to find a new conservation method for susceptible amphibian species. I'd love to chat with others who are interested in genetics and science!

Hello all! I did my Laidlaw Programme at Durham University between 2019-2021. My research project focused on evaluating the immigration and asylum system of the EU through a case study of the 2015 immigration crisis. Following the completion of my undergraduate LLB degree I moved to London to pursue my postgraduate LLM study at Queen Mary University of London.