Steven Zeldin
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Researcher, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
I research Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), a fatal paralyzing disease that strikes seemingly randomly and most often leads to death within a few years of onset. Working from the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, I search for a clinical marker of ALS—a key tool to more easily identify it in patients, track its progress, and determine its response to medications. Apart from research, I am interested in science fiction, bouldering, and writing.
I am a Singaporean French second-year biology student studying at the University of York hoping to specialise in medical biology. My research project looks into novel therapies for a neurodegenerative disorder which there are currently no treatments for, Huntington's disease. I am excited to embark on the Laidlaw Scholarship and to connect with as many young leaders in my field as I can.
I believe in ground-breaking research, innovation and teaching. I am passionate about learning difficult concepts and breaking them down to their core; simplifying them and being able to convey their essence to anyone willing to listen.
As an undergraduate chemistry student, researcher on synthesis of Blatter Radicals and volunteer tutor, this is exactly what I am doing. And I love it.
There’s always more to research and learn in chemistry and I am always up for the challenge.
My hobbies and interests range form hiking, running and swimming, to art and reading.
I am a neuroscience student in Trinity College Dublin. My research project is entitled "The Benefits of Exercise on the Brain: The Role of Inflammation". The objective of this research project is to analyse brain samples from sedentary and exercised aged mice to investigate if cognitive function is correlated with expression of inflammatory molecules in the brain. I am hoping the data garnered from this project will increase our understanding of how the brain deals with inflammation when in an optimal natural environment and that this knowledge can help with progression towards treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Laidlaw Scholar at the University of St Andrews. Studying for an MA in Philosophy and International Relations. Undertaking a leadership in Action Project for WORI (Women's Rights Initiative Uganda) researching de-colonialised methods for NGOs to develop international outreach. My research interests particularly surround political philosophy, critical theory and the construction of political identities. Current Editor in chief of 'Aporia' the St. Andrews undergraduate journal of Philosophy.
I’m a 4th-year Theoretical Physics student at Trinity College Dublin. For my research project, I will analyse data from the Zwicky Transient Factory to establish a relation between supernova explosions and their host galaxies and determine a subsample of Type Ia Supernovae that will help us constrain the origin of dark energy.
I am an alumni of the University of York where I received a BA (Hons) degree in English Literature and Linguistics. I was the Arts and Humanities Subject Lead on the Laidlaw Scholar's Network and the 2020-22 Arts and Humanities Undergraduate rep at the University of York.
After graduating from York I went to the University of Oxford to read for an MPhil in Linguistics, Philology, and Phonetics. After 2 years of study at Oxford I work full time in a school and also work on the HEnabled podcast, which aims to showcase the experiences of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions within the British Higher Education system. If you study or have studied at a British University and have a disability or long term-health condition, then I would love to have you on as a guest! Email henabled@gmail.com to get in touch.
Looking for opportunities that will help me grow as a professional, intellectual, and individual. I am invested in Public Global Health and issues around capacity and policy building in Low and Middle Income Countries.
Shane Coleman Macken
Laidlaw Scholar @ Trinity College Dublin, School of English, Trinity College Dublin
I am a third year English Literature and History student in Trinity College Dublin. My research under the Laidlaw Programme focuses on Tony Kushner's 1991 play Angels in America, and its role in deconstructing the homogenous queer identity. During my first summer, I will carried out close textual analysis of the play, consulted criticism of Kushner's work, and applied leading queer literary theorists' work to Angels in America. In Summer 2021, I will be working with the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival to produce an anthology of plays by Irish based queer playwrights as well as online productions during Dublin Pride. (he/him)
I'm a microbiology graduate interested in healthcare, conservation and medicine. My first year research project looked at soft corals and the shifts in their communities due to climate change across the Indo-Pacific. For my LIA I got to travel to remote Fiji with ThinkPacific were I discovered my love for community engagement and saw an entire new culture. Apart from academic interests I love cooking, going to the gym, doing art and learning :)
I am an undergraduate Laidlaw Scholar studying Philosophy and Politics at the University of York. I am very interested in climate education. My project investigates collective responsibility regarding climate change in the primary years of school.
I am a Senior Mechanical Engineering student with a minor in Engineering Management and Human Factors Engineering at Tufts. Throughout my undergraduate Laidlaw research career, I have been working on two different research projects. At the Tufts Human Factors Lab, I was designing the next generation soft robotics exoskeleton suit. Together with the research team, we are discovering creative way to embed silicone based soft robots to a lightweight exoskeleton suit. When COVID-19 pandemic out broke in the US, our lab got shut down so I switched to a different research project: investigating the effect of stirring and undercooling on the phase transformation of the FeCo alloy. Two journal publications are pending and I am finishing up my Senior Honor thesis on this topic. Currently I am the Product Management Coop in the New Product Development team at iRobot
About Me
Currently about halfway through my Chemistry MChem at Durham University (graduate 2023) and I still love every second of it. I am conducting research into amide bond breaking and forming reactions, and similar mechanisms to try to solve fun and tricky synthetic issues (thanks to Laidlaw).
Prior to a Chemistry degree, I worked as charity fundraiser/team leader for 7 years. I have personally raised over £1mil for various charities, and have a huge amount of leadership experience (training and management).
I am super friendly, love to learn, happy teaching, and I am keen to make the most out the Laidlaw Foundation. So, feel free to get in touch about anything; whether you are looking to support, be supported, or just discuss.
Always on the lookout for good research opportunities and ideas. Main interests include synthetic peptide,and organocatalytic chemistry. Nearing the point where I will start applying for doctoral candidate positions. So, if you think you can offer or direct me to a good fit, I would be very happy to hear from you.
Laidlaw Research
My planned Laidlaw research aimed to develop a series of trans-amidation reactions using azanides (amino, R2N- anions) to cleave/trans-amidate at amide bonds. During lockdown, these reactions were independently developed elsewhere. I am happy the reactions work, even if someone else got to do the work. Feel free to compare the proposed reactions in the research proposal, published on my profile, with the article they published. [M. Fairley, Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 6500.]
Due to Covid, the time spent familiarising myself with this very niche set of reactions afforded a sensible option with an easy transition into a literature review of novel reactions that could be used to solve the synthetic peptoid (R3N-amino acid molecules and polymers) formation issues when bulky/electron-withdrawing residuals on N are used. I had great fun trying to think my way around the problem and the lit. review was passed onto my supervisor and his team to (hopefully) produce literature worthy solutions.
Happy to discuss, share findings and collaborate. Just, get in touch.
Other Interests
I was doing outreach work with children through the university pre-Covid and I am really looking forward to being able to help out again soon. I am a huge sci-fi nerd. I also run 2 student societies and organise events, socials, talks, etc. for each. Both societies have a broad range of aims with activities that support community inclusion, safeguarding, wellbeing and harm-reduction.
Future Plans
I made the tough choice to suspend my university studies for the 2020-21 academic year as I feel ensuring access to the full MChem experience is too important to miss. I have been taking the opportunity of spare time to engage with private study and develop some peripheral skills to compliment what I learnt in the first 2 years. I will start 3rd year in October.
My second summer with Laidlaw will now be in 2022 and I am hoping that international collaboration will be possible by then.
Seeking doctoral training or relevant internship possibilities to start summer 2023. I am very comfortable being contacted to you are welcome to get in touch, and feel free to pass my details on.
Research Interests
- Innovation of synthetic mechanisms.
- Peptides and peptidomimetics.
- Organocatalysis.
I am a PhD researcher in Global Health at University College London. I am also a qualified pharmacist (MPharm and BSc Pharm) with an MSc degree in sociology. My research interests include global health, health inequity, health policy, politics and systems and gender. More details are available here.
Anthropology and Sociology Undergraduate; from Bristol, UK.
I am completing a research project on narrative transmission and reproduction, looking at how oral accounts of geological events are passed down accurately over generations. By understanding how narratives are constructed I am keen to explore interdisciplinary approaches, particularly between Anthropology, Linguistics, Computer-Human Interaction, and Cognition.
Other interests include literature, art and photography, architecture, astronomy, and outdoor pursuits.
Hi, I'm Chhavi! Brought up in India and Malaysia, I am now a penultimate year Computer & Cognitive Science student studying in Hong Kong. I am passionate about the field of Computer-Human Interaction and have demonstrated experience in Augmented Reality and complex Data Visualization. When I'm not working, you can find me dancing, traveling or maybe just drinking masala chai!
I’m a proud care-experienced Neuroscientist. My research focuses on how serotonin and psychedelics shape neuroplasticity in brain regions greatly affected by early-life adversity. In my experiments, I measure how well brain cells can talk to each other during natural serotonin release and following the administration of classic psychedelics (e.g., magic mushrooms). Care-experienced young people represent one of the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the UK. They have all the potential required to succeed and yet, they are still eight times less likely to enrol in university and choose a STEM subject. Care-experienced young people don’t lack talent, they lack the opportunities to unlock it. In my early 20s, I migrated to the UK in search of a brighter future, when I still couldn't speak the language. During my time in care, I struggled at school and didn’t do well academically. But the Foundation Programme at Durham University gave me the chance to catch up and build the confidence I needed. Four years later, I graduated at Durham as the top student in my cohort - with an average mark of over 80%. Only when potential meets opportunity talent can thrive. Driven by this belief, I founded WISHFULICIOUS to give children in care and care-experienced young people the opportunity to see that STEM isn’t just for “someone else” - it’s for them too. To start-up this initiative, I’ve baked and sold cookies, run a small online fundraising campaign, and am now part of the The CareLeaders Fellowship where I’m working to lay the foundation for delivering our first STEM programme. If you share this mission or simply want to help open doors for care-experienced people, I’d love to connect and hear from you!