Hi ;) I'm from Bordeaux, a city I love for its food and its ocean. The Atlantic is right around the corner, and nothing beats swimming straight into the waves! Growing up surrounded by that gastronomic culture, I fell in love with cooking as a child, and more broadly with visual arts (really into cinema right now) and anything that lets me work with my hands. But what really drives me is having an impact. I care deeply about fighting climate change, and I want to help build sustainable engineering and technology that's accessible to everyone and works to reduce inequalities in human development. Feel free to reach out !
Hey! I'm Dimitri, a second-year Bachelor's student in Computer Science at EPFL. I love building useful things, especially tech projects. More generally, I’m driven by solving real problems and turning ideas into something concrete :)
My research focused on privacy-preserving machine learning. I developed a hybrid training framework that allows AI models to learn from data split across public and private environments, using external computing resources while keeping sensitive data local.
Bonjour ! I'm from the most beautiful city in the world (in my opinion!), the City of Light, Paris.
I'm currently a first-year Bachelor's student in Physics at EPFL, in Lausanne, Switzerland. I want to help push science forward by working in a cutting-edge scientific field later on: nuclear fusion is one that particularly excites me.
I'm doing my research internship in a particle physics laboratory. The experiment I'm working on aims to discover new particles, which would be a major step forward for physics.
For my Leadership-in-Action project, I don't have a precise idea yet, but I'd love to contribute to something in environmental protection or education, two causes I care deeply about.
Outside my studies, I'm passionate about art and museums, especially literature and opera, as well as sport, particularly climbing and skiing, and I follow politics closely.
Feel free to reach out if you'd like to swap book recommendations or chat about physics, art or politics!
Hi! My name is Yanna, and I’m a second-year Psychology student at Durham University.
My research project (supervised by Professor Zanna Clay) explores how empathy emerges and matures in young children across cultures. I feel that today, empathy is more important than ever. In an increasingly digital world, social connections are changing and the erosion of deep passions, interests, and morals are leading to more individualistic societies. Understanding how empathy develops could help us to nurture its growth and contribute to more cohesive and compassionate communities.
Additionally, I hope to highlight the importance of recognising both the similarities and differences in psychological development across cultures. By doing so, I aim to promote greater inclusivity within the scientific community and support the development of culturally sensitive approaches to research and practice.
Hello! I am Defne, a physics student at UCL interested in pursuing graduate studies in biophysics.
I am a Criminal Justice and Criminology undergraduate student at the University at Leeds, with an interest in bodily autonomy, transgender rights, and experiences of social marginalisation. I am passionate about social research, heritage, and dispelling pseudo-scientific misinformation. I intend to create a dissertation exploring how to combat the negative effects of discriminatory media campaigns on trans rights in the UK. I am currently participating in the Laidlaw Research Programme to bring a creative approach to the historical collections of the Royal Armouries.
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!
Ariella Lang
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Columbia University
I am a cultural historian by training, and I oversee undergraduate research and fellowships at Columbia. I also have the pleasure of serving as the coordinator of Columbia's Laidlaw program. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions about coming to Columbia to pursue research and/or community engagement!
Rising junior at Columbia studying Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science
Hello! My name is Claire Buchi, and I am a sophomore at Columbia University from Los Angeles, California studying Medical Humanities and Public Health on the pre-med track. Some of my academic interests include metacognition, writing, and health equity from an educational and technical perspective.
This summer, I conducted eye-tracking research in chemistry education, analyzing how learners approach challenging questions and developing an AI tutor that can encourage more effective problem-solving strategies across a broad demographic.
In my free time, I love dancing, running, reading and trying new places to eat around New York. Feel free to reach out to talk research or to just say hello!
Laidlaw Scholar Alumna at Oxford University's Saïd Business School, I'm often found at the piano🎹, mesmerized in a theatre🎭, or painting away the night with friends🎨. If our paths align in interests or work, why not connect? Ping me, and let's connect on LinkedIn.
Hello everyone! I'm Aisha Adamu, a Lester B. Pearson Scholar studying psychology and neuroscience at the University of Toronto. My interests lie in mental health advocacy, educational equity, and empowering marginalized communities.
I founded a nonprofit at 15 to support education and youth empowerment, particularly for young women and internally displaced youth in Nigeria. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, I did research on the psychological impact of the Almajiri educational system in Nigeria, aiming to develop culturally sensitive interventions informed by comparative models from Senegal and Ghana. My research is presently going through the publication process. Through Laidlaw, I also carried out my leadership in action project, which focused on starting an emergency first response program at a refugee school in Uganda; the program still runs today despite my not being there! :)
Outside of academics, I enjoy swimming, running track, and exploring new recipes through cooking. I'm passionate about making meaningful connections and creating positive social change.
Hello! My name is Abril Rodriguez Calle, and I am a student at Columbia University studying Medical Humanities with the goal of eventually becoming a doctor. My interests lie in the intersection between medicine, the healthcare system, and ethics, especially in understanding how healthcare decisions and policies affect both patients and communities.
This summer, I will be working with Dr. Sandra Lee on an NIH-funded research project exploring the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of global genomics research partnerships. The project examines how institutions and communities negotiate issues such as data ownership, privacy, benefit-sharing, and decision-making in genomics research, with the goal of creating a practical “negotiation playbook” to support more meaningful and equitable collaboration. As part of the research team, I will help analyze policies and institutional practices while gaining experience in qualitative research, bioethics, and global health policy.
Hello! My name is Tomás Sanabria and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University from Cali, Colombia. I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior on the premedical track and have a strong interest in public health and patient care. This summer, I will be working on The Future of Bioethics, a project led by Dr. Sandra Soo-Jin Lee and her national-multi university team. I am very excited to learn under her direction and contribute to the fight for a future where health sciences research remains ethical and centered on human dignity.
At Columbia, I am a member of the Admissions - Global Recruitment Committee, the Neuroscience Society and will be a volunteer at the Gay Health Advocacy Project this upcoming year. I am also involved in the Columbia Ballet Collaborative and CoLab, two awesome contemporary dance clubs that have allowed me to keep exploring my passion for dance, movement, and its capacity to bring people together.
Outside the classroom, I love running, reading, and exploring the best restaurants in the city with my friends.
I am so excited to be a part of The Laidlaw Scholars Program and learn from my peers! If anyone is interested in talking, collaborating or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at ts3766@columbia.edu.