Pearls Eddo (She/Her)

Law (Industrial) LLB, University of Leeds
Eleanor Dufton

Scholar, Leeds University

My name is Eleanor and I’m a scholar of the 2021 Laidlaw cohort. I am currently in my fourth and final year at the University of Leeds, studying French and Spanish. I have just spent 18months abroad, working at the memorial of Mont-Valérien, and for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, as well as a British Council teaching assistant in Spain,  I am hoping to go onto study a MRes at the University of Leeds, focussing on the French Caribbean 'Dissidence' during the Second World War.  My undergraduate research experience as a Laidlaw scholar has really inspired me to continue decolonial research going forward - please see my posts to find out about my research. 
Shehnaz Sheikhdon Salad

Islamic Relief Regional Desk Intern, University of York

Hi, I'm a 2021 Laidlaw Scholar Economics and politics 2023 graduate from University of York.  I'm from Somalia and spent most of my life there. I'm passionate about Leadership and Research in social development. My 2021 summer research was on how the sustainable Development Index correlates with other Economic measures such as Economic growth and Inequalities.  Hobbies: Reading,adventure and trying out new outdoor sports.  Would love to connect with everyone, so don't hesitate to say Hi . 
Becky Caulfield

MSc Psychology Student, University of York

An aspiring Clinical Psychologist, currently an undergraduate studying Psychology (Integrated MSci) at the University of York. I see a future in which mental healthcare is adaptive to an individual's cultural and personal needs. I am also interested in alternative/ complimentary therapies for treatment resistant mood disorders such as deep brain stimulation and psilocybin therapy. My current research involves working with a Prosopagnosic (face blind) individual to better understand how we both learn and recognise faces.  For my Leadership in Action programme, I am working with "MakeSense", an organisation based in Mexico City. I am developing a social empowerment project supporting rural communities in Mexico.  
Holly Palmer (she/her)

Pharmacology student , University of Leeds

Hi everyone, I am a third year Laidlaw scholar studying Pharmacology at the University of Leeds. I am currently in the process of completing my placement year as regulatory strategist, developing innovative new therapies to transform the lives of patients with rare conditions at Pfizer. My research project focuses on the UN’s SDGs and the opportunity that students around the world have to collaborate with other universities to implement these goals into their final year capstone projects in attempt to combat educational inequality. I had the opportunity to travel to Fiji for my leadership in action. I stayed in an incredible village called Toga and lived with a family while the team built a health centre for the village and facilitated sessions around the importance of climate change with the Fijian youth. If you would like to hear more about my research, LIA or placement- please drop me a message!
WEI Ke (Sarah)

Student researcher, HKU

Hello everyone! My name is Wei Ke (Sarah). I study actuarial science at HKU. I am a practical and touchy person. I plan to finish my undergraduate studies and then get an actuarial job in Hong Kong. 
William Banner

Economics Student, Durham University

I am an Economics student at Durham University. My foremost interests are Development Economics and Environmental Economics. This is reflected in my research project which explored Demographic Economics, titled "The Shifting Distribution of the Global Population in the Twenty-First Century: an Econometric Analysis of the Projected Fortunes of Nigeria and Japan, with Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Development". I have experience working in economic consulting, specialising in competition economics, and am also a Zumba instructor. During my time on the Laidlaw Programme I have also served as a Laidlaw Schools Trust Mentor for Excelsior Academy in Newcastle. In 2023, I completed a six-week international ‘Leadership in Action’ project in partnership with Think Pacific for my Laidlaw Scholarship. For this, I participated in a multi-faceted programme, comprising the building of a health centre, collaborations with Diabetes Fiji and Youth Champs 4 Mental Health, and a Fijian Culture Course. The project ended with a Think Tank where we planned how we would sustain progress. In my sub-group’s case, we are working on a new project to build a multi-purpose building to act as a kindergarten and evacuation centre, for which we are currently fundraising. We have had multiple meetings with the Laidlaw Foundation CEO and the Laidlaw Schools Trust, and we are presenting at the Conversations Conference in Dublin in October 2023. Our project took place in Vunimaqo and Waisava, Dreketi Settlement, Nalawa district, Ra province, Vita Levu island, Fiji. I attended the Impact 2022 conference at the LSE and will be attending, and presenting, at the Conversations 2023 conference at Trinity College Dublin.
Gabriel Rowland

Student, University of Leeds

I am an undergraduate student at the University of Leeds studying BSc Environmental Science. I am particularly interested in climate change - the science behind it and its impacts, biodiversity and ecology, and sustainable development. I am also currently partaking in a Year in Industry placement at Network Rail working for the Environment and Sustainable Development team. My Laidlaw Research was on the reintroduction of beavers in Scotland, looking at attitudes towards them and trying to understand why they are illegally killed. This particularly interested me as it is vital to understand local opinions on wildlife to succeed in reintroductions and rewilding schemes. For my Laidlaw Leadership Development, I was lucky enough to spend a summer with Think Pacific on an Environment and Sustainable Development project in Fiji. Outside of work and study, I enjoy food (cooking and eating it), as well as sports like powerlifting (which allow me to eat lots without any negatives!), and exploring new places and nature sites.
Nori Otis

Student, University of Leeds

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 :)
Molly Seaborn

Student, University of Leeds

Biological Sciences student with an interest in genetics and embryology. Passionate about fertility rights and activism. Just completed an industrial placement at Reckitt in Hull working as an analytical assistant in the R&D Category Team for Mucinex. Currently on LIA working on an impact assessment report for social enterprise and domestic violence/homelessness employer program provider: TwoGood Co, Sydney, Australia. 
Rachel Wan

Student, UCL

Hello everyone! My name is Rachel and I am currently a third-year Biomedical Engineering Student at UCL.  My research experience with Laidlaw was centred around an imaging technique called photoacoustic imaging, which is a novel technique using laser-induced sound waves to provide highly-detailed images of the structure of our bodies. I am very passionate about medtech, environmental sustainability design and technology-- let's chat!
Jacob Nesling

Laidlaw Scholar and LLB student, University of Leeds

I am a 2022 Laidlaw Scholar from the University of Leeds.  My research is all about commerical and insolvency law, testing the assumption that "the insolvency of the principal terminates the agency relationship whilst the insolvency of the agent terminates the relationship only if it makes him unfit to perform his duties".  Basically, how does an agent (e.g. the UK seller of Australian wine) running out of or being low on money effect contractual relationships.   Technical bits aside, in my spare time I love to be active - particularly endurance sports.  I am also an avid follower of UK and US politics, with an emphasis on constitutional affairs and defence/foreign policy.
Lorna Sealy

Laidlaw Programme Administrator, University of Leeds

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.
Eamon O'Cathain

Student, Trinity College Dublin

Hello! I'm an environmental science student at Trinity College Dublin. My primary area of interest is in Blue Carbon. My research project will analyse the organic carbon storage capacity of different vegetation types in an Irish salt marshes via a quantitative survey of a salt marsh in Balydoyle, Co. Dublin.  I will also compare the results of the commonly used Loss On Ignition protocol to the more high definition Elemental Analyser approach. 
Penelope Milner

Student, University of Leeds

Currently, I am in my second year studying Geography BA with Quantitative Methods at the University of Leeds. 
Xuan Jin

Student, University College London (UCL)

Suan Lee

Student, Columbia University

Zina Francis

Student , Durham University

Hi all! I'm Zina! I am a 3rd Year undergraduate scholar from Durham University. My research interests centre on Decolonisation, the Anthropocene and Radical Decolonisation in the Caribbean region.  I have also been an active member of the 'Decolonising the Modern Languages and Cultures' Research group at Durham and have been appointed as the Decolonising intern for MLAC for the 'Decolonising the Curriculum and Pedagogy' initiative at university!
Lorna Pepperill

Student, Cambridge University

I'm Lorna and I'm currently studying for my MPhil in Multi-disciplinary studies at the University of Cambridge. My research explores the role gender stereotypes play in experiences of mental health symptoms and treatment. Previous to this, I studied Combined Hons in Social Sciences at Durham University. My research typically draws from the anthropological, political and, sociological disciplines with a core interest in gender, emotions and embodiment.  I am devoted to discovering and understanding the structures and relationships that govern our bodily experiences.  My summer research topic explored whether the Covid-19 pandemic has influenced how one views their body and health and whether this influence is gendered. Through questioning people's changing relationships to food, exercise and social media throughout the lockdowns, I aimed to begin to unearth the entanglement of unprecedented social phenomena and body image.  For my LIA I travelled to North Carolina. There, I volunteered with UNC CEED, Duke's Eating Disorder Centre and a local mental health clinic where I explored the use of diagnostic criteria. From this, I created my own informal diagnostic tool to assist clinicians with identifying disordered eating habits catalysed by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.  I am grateful to all of these establishments for hosting me.
Corey Jones

Laidlaw Research Scholar, University of Leeds

Hi! I'm Corey, a Final Year Digital Media student at the University of Leeds, expected to graduate in July 2024. I recently returned from my Year Abroad at the University of Rochester, where I spent the year discovering a passion for Graphic Design, furthering my interest within Media and understanding how design can be used to change the world for good. As part of my Laidlaw Research and Leadership Scholarship, I co-authored a paper discussing the benefits of Transnational Education and Higher Education Institutions globally, in a paper titled "A Global Capstone Experience: Developing and Promoting Cultural Awareness and Educational Opportunities", I also participated in Leadership Development Training and spent Summer 2022 in Viti Levu, Fiji, as part of my Leadership-in-Action project, where I collectively constructed a Community Health Clinic and Facilitated the delivery of Youth Empowerment Workshops. I am actively looking for internships in Graphic Design, both in the United States and the United Kingdom, with the final aim to work in the Non-Profit and Advocacy moments by using Graphic Design to change the world for Good.