Hi! My name is Daohui and I am a first-year Mathematics and Physics student at Durham University (2026). I look forward to being part of the 2026 cohort with my project about prevention and mitigation strategies of future global outbreaks by simulating and analysing the effects of COVID-19! I am particularly interested in applied mathematics and I believe that as the world becomes more and more interconnected, simulatory data will become increasingly important and impactful on global health. After the recent pandemic, there is undoubtedly still work to do in field of epidemiology, which is what I hope to contribute to.

Hello! My name is Lily and I am a 2nd year Psychology student at Trinity College Dublin, and a member of the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholars 2026 Cohort.  I'm interested in all things early adversity; who experiences it, what it looks like, how it affects people and what can be done to help those who have lived through it. More specifically, my research project in Summer 1 will focus on Environmental Sensitivity theory in a cohort of Syrian refugee children in Jordan. My goal with this research is to identify whether interventions may uplift children who have experienced adversity, and actually help them to thrive above and beyond their peers! I am especially interested in connecting with anyone involved in research into early adversity, Environmental Sensitivity theory or any related topics. I would also love to explore volunteering opportunities in this space! 

I am currently the Associate Director and Senior Lecturer of the Common Core, the interdisciplinary curriculum at the University of Hong Kong. As a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I am passionate about creative leadership and administration of higher education that expands both students' and teachers' capacities. My research is focused on Education Futures in the university and pre-tertiary context, exploring transdisciplinary learning, innovative curriculum and pedagogies, international and comparative education, and artificial intelligence in education. Prior to academia, I worked in business banking, corporate learning and development, and leadership and performance consulting. I also co-founded and led a luxury goods distribution start-up, scaling it into a HK$300 million turnover business upon exit.

Hi! My name is Mai Malesky, and I am a rising second-year student from Durham, NC, planning to double-major in Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about the interdisciplinary field of Behavioral Sciences, especially its capacity to explore why voters become apathetic, how authoritarian regimes emerge, and how disenfranchised citizens can resist political exploitation. My commitment to public service and civic engagement is inspired by my experience working with grassroots organizations in my local community. These experiences allowed me to see firsthand the power of grassroots action to create change. I am excited to be a part of the Laidlaw Scholars Program and to join fellow students devoted to ethical leadership and service, working to make a difference on a local, national, and global scale.

Hello! My name is Lilly Heffernan and I'm a 2026 Laidlaw Scholar from Trinity College Dublin. I'm interested in the way in which human effects on animal behaviour influence their disease spread. 75% of emerging diseases are coming from animals, and I believe that we can manage this in an effective and humane way.  I'm exploring this topic by investigating how artificial light changes how bats use space, and stresses their immune systems. I suspect that artificial light negatively impacts bat immunity, making them more likely to spread disease. This may be a reason we are seeing more human pathogens which originate from bats, such as SARS-CoV-2, and Ebola virus.  I strongly believe that we can curb the spread of these diseases by understanding how our behaviour is affecting our ecosystem. We cannot have healthy humans without healthy animals. This approach targets new pathogens before they spread to humans. If we focus on this angle, we can prevent the inefficient and cruel practice of culling sick animals for our own benefit. 

I'm entering my second year at HKU this fall. It wasn't until now that I have somewhat solidified my interests to be at the intersection of Sustainability, Conservation, and Urban Planning of Asian Cities. Before joining uni, I took over three gap years working around the world and reflecting on my many identities. My work has spanned across Edtech, Heritage Conservation, Food Security, Nature Conservation, Policy Analysis, and Social Impact Sectors across the Global South. Beyond my work and research, I love to listen to music produced during from the 60s to 80s in anywhere around the world. I also love doing crafts as it notoriously saves me from supposed doomscrolling on Instagram. Also, I am secretly considering to debut as a private chef someday... who knows!?

I am currently a junior at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Computational Biology with a minor in Economics. Through my coursework and research experiences, I have developed a strong foundation in data analysis, quantitative modeling, and computational approaches to complex biological and social systems. My background in economics has further shaped how I think about resource allocation, structural inequality, and policy impacts at scale. I am particularly interested in applying data science and computational methods to questions in public health, migration, environmental justice, and global health systems. Much of my work focuses on how large-scale systems, whether healthcare infrastructure, environmental conditions, or social policy, shape health outcomes for marginalized populations. I am especially drawn to research involving spatial analysis, longitudinal datasets, and health data infrastructure, as well as projects that bridge technical analysis with real-world policy and community impact.

Hello! My name is Lochlann, and I am a student at Trinity College Dublin and part of the 2026 cohort of Laidlaw Scholars. My Summer 1 research project focuses on the role of private supplementary tuition (“grinds”) in the academic achievement gap between public and private schools in Ireland. Using quantitative analysis of Irish educational data, I aim to investigate whether access to grinds contributes to differences in examination performance and broader educational inequality. Through this research, my overarching goal is to contribute to conversations surrounding fairness, access to opportunity and educational policy. By examining how socio-economic advantage may shape educational outcomes, I hope to better understand the structures that influence inequality within education systems. If you have any questions or would like to connect, please feel free to reach out!

I am an undergraduate Laidlaw scholar from the University of St Andrews in Scotland currently conducting my research project. My research investigates the motivational drivers behind China's Environmentalism. 

Hi everyone! My name is Anna and I'm part of the 2026 Laidlaw Scholars cohort at Trinity College Dublin, where I study Mathematics with a minor in Statistics. For my research project, I'll be exploring a question that is becoming more important as AI develops: who is better at predicting the future, humans or algorithms? I'll be comparing forecasts from machine learning models with those from prediction markets, where collective human judgement is turned into live probabilities. After the 2024 US elections, prediction markets rapidly gained attention for correctly predicting the outcome before many traditional forecasts. At the same time, AI is making data-driven forecasting more powerful than ever. Through quantitative analysis, I'm curious to see whether the best predictions come from human insight, algorithmic pattern recognition, or perhaps a combination of both. More broadly, I am interested in using mathematics to better understand and solve real-world problems like this one. I'm especially drawn to the way it combines logic with creativity, allowing us to approach challenges from different angles and develop efficient and innovative solutions. Outside of academics, I'm also a huge music lover, from hip hop and rock to hard techno. For me, a good time almost always involves music, dancing, or both :) Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss research, share music recommendations, or simply chat!

Hi! My name is Yanna, and I’m a first-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.

Hi! I'm Kritvi, currently a rising sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University intending to major in Economics and Mathematics. Having experienced educational and economic systems in India, the UK, and the United States, I've become fascinated by the factors that drive economic development. My interests lie in development economics, particularly how technology can address inequality and support sustainable growth in developing countries. I enjoy exploring questions at the intersection of economics, data, and social impact.

Hey everyone! My name is Karthik Mahakala, and I am a rising Sophomore studying Environmental Biology at Columbia College. Specifically, I am extremely passionate about environmental health sciences, which encompasses how physical, chemical, and biological factors in the natural and built environments impact public health.  This summer, I will be evaluating the reliability of consumer-facing packaging signals for skin-lightening products across Northern Manhattan as a research assistant in the Llanos Lab.