I am an aspiring Clinical Psychologist, a second-year Psychology student at Tufts University, and a devotee of the arts. My interests consist of aiding in the destigmatization and reformation of mental health within Black and Brown communities. Another passion of mine is fighting for the prevention of child abuse as I continue to intern with Masskids, the Prevent Child Abuse chapter of Massachusetts. As a Laidlaw Scholar, my research coincides with my interests as I focus on how stereotypes, misrepresentation, and instances of erasure within the media impacts the socio-emotional and mental health of adolescents. The goal of this research is to further understand the problem then understand and navigate solutions. I hope to work with non-profits and other initiatives in the fight for mental health in underrepresented communities and would love to be contacted in support of these efforts.

Hi! I am a first-year student at Tufts University and am very excited to be a Laidlaw Scholar. I am conducting research on how we can better shape refugee camps in Greece to facilitate more pluralistic interactions among children from various backgrounds through recreational purposes.

Hello all! My name is Shubhecchha Dhaurali (pronounced Sue-betcha Dur-all-e). I am a first-generation student originally from Nepal double-majoring in Community Health and Biology at Tufts University. My research is housed in the Tufts University School of Medicine with Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha who is an Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Medical School's Department of Community Health & Medicine. 

My name is Jackson Lubke, and I am a sophomore at Tufts studying economics and math. My research is centered on wealth economics and equity. I am very excited to get to know other Laidlaw scholars!

Hello fellow scholars! My name is Irene Pantekidis and I am a sophomore at Tufts University. I am looking forward to completing my research this summer which is focused on an antibody treatment for a rare genetic bone disease in zebrafish. I am also excited to meet many of you! In my free time, I enjoy singing and swimming, and I am also passionate about volunteering at Boston Children's Hospital!

I'm an undergraduate research scholar at Tufts University double majoring in Biopsychology and Child Studies & Human Development, with a love for theatre and other performing arts. Youth development is central to my work both within and outside the academic field: I've served children in environments as diverse as arts education, athletics, academic studies, and after-school care. In particular, my work as a researcher and educator with The Drama Studio (a drama education organization based in Springfield, MA, USA) and as director of Tufts' LCS Tutoring have demonstrated to me the value of individualized, creative education opportunities for autistic and other neurodiverse youth, whose needs and skills often aren't fully met in traditional schools. My passions for performing arts and for working with neurodiverse communities drive me to study arts education access for autistic students as a Laidlaw Scholar. Through my research, I hope to better understand where and how autistic students access various forms of arts education, as well as what accommodations support a positive arts education experience. Feel free to email me if you'd like to chat about what this data could accomplish, or about your own work!

I'm currently a senior, studying biochemistry. I'm excited to be working in the Kumar lab investigating chemical solutions to biological problems.  I aspire to perform research that is impactful and meaningful to individuals in their everyday lives. In my spare time, I enjoy dancing and hiking, as well as advocating for climate justice and civic engagement. 

As a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, I was raised in a cultural melting pot that sparked my passion for community engagement at the local and global level. At the age of 16, I earned my first full scholarship to study abroad in Berlin, where I began working with refugees from the Middle East and Central Asia. I later graduated high school as a scholarship student at Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, where my interest in human rights motivated me to work with Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers. Currently, I am a sophomore at Tufts University majoring in International Relations. At Tufts, I am a Tisch Scholar, a research assistant for the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a board member for the Experimental College, a Tufts tour guide and a member of the International Club. 

Hello everyone, my name is Cesar Urzua and I am a current sophomore at Tufts University studying Biology and Child Study and Human Development. I am very excited to be a part of the Laidlaw Scholars Program and hope to be able to talk with so many other scholars soon. For my research, I will be focusing on brain response when presented to adverse childhood experiences, and how to possibly develop optimal strategies to combat chronic neural perturbations following these adverse childhood experiences. 

Hey! I am a senior at Tufts University majoring in Biochemistry. I am beyond excited to complete my research project this summer at the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center, where I will be studying the impact of autophagy regulating miRNAs in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a cardiovascular disease. 

Hi all, my name is Zachary Ferretti! I am a senior at Tufts University, pursuing a major in Political Science as well as a double minor in Economics and Urban Studies. My independent research takes a sorely needed look at the 1,4-dioxane water crisis on Long Island, New York. For my leadership-in-action project, I spent the summer in Mexico City, building strategies for environmental resilience and mobilizing urban communities to address issues of climate change. I am always looking to exchange leadership tips and continue stengthening my relationships across the Laidlaw Network. I love meeting new people, so please don't hesitate to ever reach out!

Hello! My name is Morgane Dackiw, I am a senior at Tufts University studying Biology from Montreal, Canada. I am super excited and honored to be a part of this Scholars program and this fantastic cohort! The research that I worked on with Laidlaw was on Primate Conservation and more specifically on extinction risk. I currently am doing my Senior Honors Thesis on Chimpanzee Ecology.

Hi! My name is Andra, and I am a graduate of the Laidlaw Scholars program in the 2021 cohort. I am currently working in clinical psychology research, which I also pursued during my time as a Scholar. For my first summer, I completed my research on a project studying racial discrimination as a traumatic stressor, and my second summer, I traveled to Dublin, Ireland to work with Youth Work Ireland on Dublin Pride arts programming. Happy to connect with current and past scholars :)