Nikol Chen (She/Her)

Design and Development Manager, Laidlaw Foundation
Kathleen Payne

Student, Durham University

I am studying Sociology, and my research area is sense of belonging, achievement and peer group formation in first-generation undergraduates at Durham University. More generally, I am interested in the sociological study of health (specifically mental health and wellbeing) and the ways in which this intersects with inequalities. Alongside this, I also have an interest in the role Higher Education plays in social mobility and inequalities.
Hillary Yip

Student, The University of Hong Kong

Hi! I am Hillary from The University of Hong Kong majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. My research aims to create a compound that specifically targets a cancer-related protein, and to investigate its mechanism and efficacy.
Choy Sum Yee Evelyn

Student, The University of Hong Kong

Dana Oshiro

Student, Cornell University

My name is Dana Oshiro, and I am a freshman at Cornell University.  I am majoring in Neurobiology & Behavior. I also plan on pursuing an MD degree after college. Last summer, I researched the Economic Costs of Domestic Violence. I am grateful to have continued along that topic this summer in Vietnam where I developed interventions to combat adverse childhood events.
Anson Chi-on Kan

Student, University of Hong Kong

Hi all! I’m a medical student at the University of Hong Kong. Feel free to connect!
Andrea Pui Yi Tsang

Student, The University of Hong Kong

Andrew Talone

Laidlaw Scholar, Cornell University

Hello! My name is Andrew Talone. I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a first-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University, planning to double major in Government and Economics and minor in Arabic. My academic and research interests include (but are in no way limited to) human rights, international and U.S. politics, political theory, macroeconomic policy, and foreign languages. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I plan to research the Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in Barbados. Feel free to reach out if we share interests or you would like to connect!
Desai Wang

Student, Cornell University

I am a second-year student in the Bachelor of Architecture program at Cornell University. I am passionate about design and exploring how the built environment can positively impact people and cities. Through the Laidlaw program, I hope to research how the street characteristics affect people’s travel mode choice and collaborate with communities to create more walkable streets. In my free time, I enjoy running and hiking. I also love exploring new places and learning new languages!
Ethan Goldman

Scholar, Cornell University

I am from South Orange, New Jersey and I am currently studying Computer Science and Linguistics at Cornell University. I’ve always been fascinated by the interdisciplinary nature of technology and my goal is to find ways to connect technology with other fields to affect positive change. I’m incredibly excited to implement this technological approach in my research project, where I’ll be using data to analyze local effects of maquiladoras and international policies. Outside of academics, I’m an Arts and Sciences Ambassador and Peer Advisor, a member of the Cornell Blockchain club, and an avid rock climber.
Emory Southwick

MLitt researcher and artist, Newcastle University

Emory Southwick (they/them) is postgraduate researcher at Newcastle University, formally a Laidlaw scholar at Durham University, UK, where they achieved a First Class BA with Honours in Music at George Stephenson College. Emory has a research interest in those underrepresented in music, focusing on marginalised genders and LGBTQ+ people. Currently, they are working with Contemporary Music for All (CoMA) and has also set up their own business as an artist. Currently, they are working to create a queer-focussed sober space in Durham.
Allison Berman

Student, Columbia Business School

Lusya Manukyan

Plant Biologist, Deep Planet

Hello, it's very nice to have you on my profile! I'm Lucy, a Laidlaw Alumna from the University of Oxford. I had the pleasure to join the Laidlaw Scholars network upon the completion of my research project into increasing crop yield through biotechnology and genetic modification. I am passionate about using the innovative potential of science and technology to address some of the greatest issues that the humanity is facing such as food security and climate change. I look forward to connecting with fellow Laidlaw Scholars who believe that it's time to take action and bridge the science-society gap!
Kirsty Ruffle

Vice Principal, Excelsior Academy

Jerusha Frost

Founder, Somm It

Jerusha Frost began her sommelier career under the tutelage of renowned Sommelier Aldo Sohm at Wallsé in NYC’s West Village.  From there, she went on to work the floor at Le Bernardin, Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud as assistant sommelier and The Lion and Chefs Club NY as wine director.  In 2015, she went back to school for her MBA, whilst keeping her somm skills sharp substitute summing at the Waverly Inn and Rouge Tomate.   After earning her MBA from Columbia Business School in 2017, she moved to Napa Valley to join Silicon Valley Bank’s Wine Division, providing operational advice and structured financial solutions to this country’s greatest wineries and vintners.  In 2020, she left the bank to work for a venture backed startup building a custom B2B marketplace for wholesale alcohol distribution in the US.  Currently, she still provides pro bono financial counsel to winemaker friends, while overseeing the build out of a wine recommendation app.  Occasionally, you can catch her moonlighting at Press Napa Valley - the spot to discover perfectly cellared selections of Napa Valley’s finest wines. She is a Master Sommelier candidate, holds an Advanced Sommelier Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Diploma of Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, a B.A. from Macalester College, an MBA from Columbia Business School and was a Fulbright Teaching Fellow in Austria.  (Und, ja, sie kann auch Deutsch).
Chandini Parsan Chand

Medical Student, Hull York Medical School

I am a third year medical student, aiming to make a difference to people's lives and health, starting with my Laidlaw project. In this project, I will be looking at whether distractor-filtering training can improve working memory in healthy ageing individuals.
Meegan Worcester

Student, University of Leeds

Hi! My name is Meegan and I am in my industrial placement year working as an Air Quality Research Assistant for the NHS, and I am on the Sustainability and Environmental Management degree programme at the University of Leeds. I am also the UK Chapter President for the Laidlaw Foundation, and I am looking forward to working with the other Chapter Presidents to organise and host social and career-related events throughout the year! I love the outdoors to go for a hike and wild camp whenever I get the chance. I love promoting sustainability, and I volunteer at the local charity Development Education Centre in Leeds to help local schools engage with the Sustainable Development Goals and environmental/human rights issues in their curriculum.
Alessandra Grifi

Student, University of York

Areesha Imaan Siddiqui

MSc Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Student | Laidlaw Alumni Scholar, Goldsmiths University

Hi everyone! My name is Areesha Imaan Siddiqui and I am a recent graduate of the University of Toronto. I've completed a double major in Psychology and Sociocultural Anthropology with a minor in French. I am now a student at Goldsmiths, University of London studying an MSc Marketing and Consumer Behaviour. My research examined homeless women in Toronto and the social and cultural processes as well as policies that affect how the women are re-integrated into society. Please feel free to message me to maybe talk about my research or anything else really!
Vicky Uwase ISINGIZWE

Laidlaw Scholar Alumnus, UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA

Hello! I am a technology professional and researcher with a passion for cybersecurity, Machine Learning, software development, and digital inclusion. I hold a Master’s in Information Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and a First-Class Honors Bachelor’s in Information Systems from the University of Rwanda. My journey into programming began in high school in 2015, and I’ve continued to pursue this passion through my academic and professional endeavors. As a Laidlaw Scholar since 2019, I worked on the TUZA Electronic Payment System (TUZA EPS) project as part of the program, focusing on digital payment solutions. I am currently a Research Associate at CMU-Africa, where I work on rural broadband connectivity and community networks, striving to bridge the digital divide and enhance access to technology in underserved areas. Beyond my professional work, I find joy in supporting and mentoring others. I enjoy playing squash, going to the gym, and attending Church Sunday service. My goal is to continue leveraging my skills to make a positive impact in the tech industry and contribute to the growth and development of others.