I am a 2nd Year PhD student at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. I work in Professor Oliver Shorttle's group, studying the atmospheres of hot rocky planets. In our solar system, Venus exemplifies the fate of a planet that orbits too close to its host star: a catastrophic runaway greenhouse effect leading to the loss of all liquid water and hellish surface conditions. Understanding the factors that led to this outcome on Venus helps us identify the conditions necessary for such processes to occur on exoplanets, refining our understanding of the inner edge of the habitable zone. My recent work has focused on ozone production in Venus' upper atmosphere and the potential for ozone to present a false-positive biosignature on Venus-like exoplanets. Currently, I am extending my research on hot rocky exoplanets to include the sub-Neptune regime, particularly focusing on 'Magma Worlds.' There has been recent interest in Hycean worlds—planets with vast liquid oceans and hydrogen-dominated atmospheres—and their potential to support life. However, distinguishing observationally between Hycean worlds and sub-Neptunes with molten surfaces, or 'Magma Worlds,' remains a critical challenge.

I am currently studying biology at Durham. My research proposal is on biotic stress response pathways in plants.  My interests include plant science, molecular genetics, and the ethics of biotechnology - I also take some philosophy modules in my degree. In the future, I would like to research biotechnology and apply it to improving food security. 

Hi, I'm Polina and I'm a Biochemstry student at the University of St Andrews. I am interested in the properties of enzymes and mechanism of biocatalysis. It is really exciting to be part of the Laidlaw Network. I had the most amazing summer in my life last year, doing research in MacNeill Lab, St Andrews. Looking forward to my second summer as a Scholar, which I will spend volunteering in Ghana.

Pronouns: she/her, they/them I am an undergraduate scholar and an International Relations and Social Anthropology student at St Andrews. Growing up in various countries across Asia and Europe, I have become particularly interested in global politics, postcolonialism, and social justice. I am also passionate about languages, and speak Chinese, Persian, Urdu, French, and Spanish to varying degrees, in addition to my native Hindi and English.

I am a neuroscience and philosophy double major at the University of Hong Kong. My research interests cover the fields of philosophy of mind, epistemology, cognitive and social neuroscience. I am also passionate about education and leadership development.

I am an alumna of the 2021-22 Columbia Laidlaw Scholars cohort, and graduated from Columbia (CC'24) with majors in History and Mathematics. My Laidlaw research centered on the women's movement in early twentieth-century British India. My first summer focused on the Indian writer, educator, and activist Mahadevi Varma, and my second summer focused on networks of women from across the British empire attending the Oxford in the 1910s-30s at the Unstable Archives Project.

Hello! My name is Morgane Dackiw, I am a senior at Tufts University studying Biology from Montreal, Canada. I am super excited and honored to be a part of this Scholars program and this fantastic cohort! The research that I worked on with Laidlaw was on Primate Conservation and more specifically on extinction risk. I currently am doing my Senior Honors Thesis on Chimpanzee Ecology.

Hi fellow scholars! My name is Mindy Duggan and I am recent Tufts alum. My Laidlaw research was on autism representation in the hit television show The Good Doctor.  During my free time, I love to volunteer with kids— especially children with disabilities. I also love escaping to nature, camping, and trying hole-in-the-wall food places :) Feel free to reach out if you ever want to connect!

Hello, my name is Michael. I'm the programme manager of an environmental NGO in the West of Ireland called Cuan Beo. My Laidlaw research investigated factors contributing to the transmission of avian influenza to farmed poultry. And I completed my Leadership in Action project with Think Pacific on the Environment & Sustainability programme in Rarabasaga, Fiji. I'm delighted to remain a part of the Laidlaw community and am as excited as ever to get to know many of you! My current research interests are in marine restoration, and community and political engagement.

I grew up in Upstate New York, near Albany, NY, and spent my freshmen year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I’m studying Information Sciences with a concentration in Data Science I hope to help make sustainable changes in the world through data analysis and research. In my free time, I enjoy painting, crocheting, and making clothing.

Natural Sciences MSci student at University of York specialising in neuroscience. I am fascinated by the brain and the connections within it, and enjoy combining my knowledge of chemistry, biology, psychology and philosophy to generate new ideas.

I am a Senior at Cornell University studying Animal Science. I plan to pursue vet school after graduation or go to grad school. For fun, I like to train and show dogs, ride horses, read, travel, and spend time outside. I have grown in my research and leadership skills as a Laidlaw Scholar. I had an amazing experience traveling abroad to pursue a meaningful experience helping others. 

Hello! I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at Cornell University. My home is Brooklyn, New York. I am interested in using architecture to tell stories and about people and place.

My name is Luke Muschialli and I am a medical student at UCL. I have experience in Medical Research and I am interested in continuing this in the future. Some of my current interests include paediatrics, child and adolescent mental health and intellectual disabilities (particularly autism spectrum disorders). I am confident and experienced in leadership positions, and working in equality, diversity and inclusion services.

As a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, I was raised in a cultural melting pot that sparked my passion for community engagement at the local and global level. At the age of 16, I earned my first full scholarship to study abroad in Berlin, where I began working with refugees from the Middle East and Central Asia. I later graduated high school as a scholarship student at Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong, where my interest in human rights motivated me to work with Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers. Currently, I am a sophomore at Tufts University majoring in International Relations. At Tufts, I am a Tisch Scholar, a research assistant for the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a board member for the Experimental College, a Tufts tour guide and a member of the International Club. 

Hey! I am a senior at Tufts University majoring in Biochemistry. I am beyond excited to complete my research project this summer at the Molecular Cardiology Research Institute at Tufts Medical Center, where I will be studying the impact of autophagy regulating miRNAs in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a cardiovascular disease.