Dung Tran is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, majoring in International Politics with a concentration on foreign policy and international relations and a minor in government. He is a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts, and interned at the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is involved with the Laidlaw Scholars programme, the Georgetown Social Innovation and Public Service Fund, and the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues. A native of Hanoi, Vietnam, and growing up in New York City and Kuala Lumpur, Dung is passionate about the interdisciplinary human sciences and international relations, aspiring to pursue a career in the diplomatic service of his home country. His Laidlaw Scholars project examined the sui generis of Vietnamese Buddhism and its impacts on the development of contemporary Vietnamese shared identity.

Hi everyone!  I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University double-majoring in Government and Justice and Peace Studies with a minor in Sociology. I am interested in labor advocacy and labor law. I hope to get a JD in Employment and Contract Law and work at a union-side employment firm or plaintiffs' firm. After law school, I hope to either work on the political side of major American unions or specialize in a subsector of labor law such as entertainment labor in Hollywood. On the side, I am an avid runner (both long-distance and short) and exclusively drink black Americanos!

My name is Alexandra and I'm part of the 2023 Laidlaw Scholar Cohort. I'm a recent graduate of Georgetown University, and am now beginning my medical education at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I'm really interested in exploring the molecular mechanisms of hematologic malignancies, and am also passionate about global and public health.

Hi, I’m Camden, a rising sophomore at Georgetown, studying Government and Computer Science. This summer I’ll be looking at digital circulations of race and culture. The project will investigate the ways that the power to express is conditionalized, tangled, and performed across communities and identities. From this, I'll work through two main questions: How does surveillance reproduce colonial relationships? What does it mean to be seen? On a personal level, I’m really excited to work on my own individual research for the first time. Getting to build whole networks on my own in the US and the UK has been and will continue to be a really engaging challenge. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received so far, and I’m looking forward to meeting new people across the Laidlaw community. Please feel free to reach out and connect!

Hello! I'm Cynthia, a second-year at Georgetown University studying Regional and Comparative Studies with a concentration in Asia. I'm originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My research project centers around the role of contemporary minority ethnic music in the People’s Republic of China in constructing ethnic identity. I chose this project because studying contemporary music provides unique and living insight into the critically important cultural and political landscapes within the People’s Republic of China. When I'm not studying or working, I love knitting, reading, thrifting, and a long walk to explore D.C. — all while fueled by an americano, cold brew, or matcha if I'm feeling adventurous :)  Please feel free to send me a message if you want to chat! I would love to hear about you, your research project, and any knowledge you may have that could contribute to my work.

Hello, my name is Omar Sbaih, and I am a rising junior in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am majoring in neurobiology with a minor in philosophy and cognitive science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am eager to engage with and learn from my fellow scholars, embracing the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge. I believe that the exchange of ideas and perspectives is vital in expanding our understanding of the world. By actively participating in this community, I hope to gain insights from diverse academic backgrounds and contribute my own unique insights to the collective learning experience. With access to such a profoundly diverse network, I am driven to explore the underlying principles of human cognition and consciousness through the lens of many different disciplines. I am particularly interested in investigating the ethical implications and societal impact of advancements in neuroscience, particularly the advancement of new pharmacological treatments for cognitive impairments.

Colleen manages the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme at Georgetown University. Through her work, Colleen aims to increase accessibility in fellowships advising for all Georgetown students with a special focus on reflective practices intended to help students identify and develop personal and career goals. Prior to joining Georgetown University, Colleen served as the Assistant Director for Early Career Initiatives with NASPA- Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, where she managed professional development programs for undergraduate student, graduate student, and new professional members. Colleen holds a master’s degree in Student Development in Higher Education from the University of Maine and bachelor’s degrees in Women and Gender Studies and Anthropology from the University of Delaware.

Hello! I was Laidlaw scholar in 2019, and I studied national, regional, and local identity in northern Tajikistan through the lens of women's fashion.  For a year after graduating, I worked for the UN Mine Action Service which removes landmines from conflict and post-conflict regions. I then worked for the Laidlaw Foundation 2021-22 and completed a Master's Degree in Anthropology and Development Management at the London School of Economics. Now I'm working with the UN on innovative finance for biodiversity conservation, focusing on marine ecosystems. Please feel free to reach out on the network, on LinkedIn, or by email. I'm always happy to meet new people and chat.

Hi! My name is Erica Hahn, and I am a rising sophomore at Georgetown University, majoring in Biochemistry.  This summer, I will be working with Dr. Rodrigo Maillard from the Chemistry Department. The Maillard lab focuses on the mechanisms of regulation and signal transduction of Protein Kinase A (PKA) which is a family of proteins that works to phosphorylate other proteins in complex signaling pathways in cells. Because PKA is involved in many critical signaling pathways, it has been associated with many diseases including Carney Complex and Acrodysostosis, making it an important therapeutic drug target. My project over this summer would be to observe and detect the behavioral changes of PKA using FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) sensor that our lab developed. Specifically, I will  be observing the interaction between the catalytic subunit of PKA and smoothened protein in hedgehog signaling which has shown to regulate PKA activity, different from the traditional PKA regulator cAMP and regulatory subunit. This research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ben Myers from the University of Utah.  I am very excited to pursue this research opportunities and to connect with various scholars. Please do not hesitate to reach out! 

I'm a rising sophomore at Georgetown University majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) with minors in Economics and Film & Media Studies.

Amy is the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme. She works with universities, NGO’s, government departments, businesses and charity partners to manage and develop programmes which further the Laidlaw Foundation’s purpose – to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented and to develop a new generation of diverse and ethical leaders.   Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation, Amy spent 9 years leading the US-UK Fulbright Scholarship Programme, working with students, academics, professionals, and teachers across every discipline. She has gained 15+ years working within Higher Education and is passionate about cultural exchange and the benefits it can bring to impactful research and solving global challenges. Prior to this, she led faculty-led programmes hosting US students in the UK and managed a busy student services. She studied American Studies at Sheffield University and University of Pittsburgh.  

Hi, I'm Elena and I am a part of Laidlaw's 2023-24 cohort at the University of Leeds. I am currently studying Biotechnology with Enterprise which focusses on applying aspects of molecular and cellular biology to solve current problems. This can be in the form of using genetic modification to improve food security, discovering useful antibiotic properties of bacteria or the creation of vaccines via investigation of viruses. Along side this I also have begun learning about various areas of business in my enterprise modules.  I have chosen to work on a pre-defined research project: 'Bees, Pesticides and Insect declines: defining the sublethal effects of pesticides on honeybees'. I am excited for this project as I will be able to expand my biological knowledge into the field of entomology and continue to develop my lab-skills independently as I will be observing effects of sulfoxaflor and biological chemicals on young honey bees whilst also analysing their DNA to investigate any genetic mutations.  I enjoy spending time walking and running (especially around my home in the Peak District), making me motivated to make a difference in conserving and rebuilding our world's natural environments. Additionally outside of my studies I love to dance (ballet, jazz, lyrical, musical theatre...), sing, attend classes with Uni's yoga society, bake and explore in & around leeds (including finding good places to eat) with my friends. 

Hi! I am a 4th year undergraduate scholar at Trinity College Dublin studying Global Business, and I am currently on my study abroad in ESCP Paris. My research project centres on the importance of female leaders from ethnic minorities in the business C-suite & the necessity for better racial and gender diversity on executive boards worldwide.  I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new things on this journey!

Hi! I'm Sophia, an aspiring scientist and philomath. I love learning about everything and anything and delight in spending time with people who are passionate about the things they love! I am really interested and curious about how we can use chemistry to improve processes and products to help society. For example, my research project is looking into the possibility of turning struvite, a mineral which is a by-product of waste-water treatment processes into slow-release nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers, which would be a green source nitrogen and phosphorous fertilisers and help achieve goals of zero-waste.  If you are researching something similar or are interested in learning more about the project, please reach out! I am super happy to talk about the project and meet other who are doing something similar and possibly collaborate! 

Hello! I’m Trisha, a fourth-year student at Cornell University from Texas, USA. I’m majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a dual focus on food systems and wildlife conservation, and minoring in International Relations. My interests in combining my enduring passions for writing and wildlife conservation have driven me to explore multiple perspectives on highly-controversial issues such as trophy hunting, retaliatory animal killings, and illegal wildlife crime. Thus, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar and as a member of the Morally Contested Conservation team, I wrote a literature review on the interconnectedness of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts in East and southern Africa. In June and July 2024, I furthered this research by traveling to the University of Oxford and to the Burunge Wildlife Management Area in Tanzania. I will be returning to Oxford and Burunge in June and July 2025 to report my results.  As an aspiring environmental policymaker and journalist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. At Cornell, I am an Institute of Politics and Global Affairs Scholar, through which I interact with policymakers monthly to discuss pervasive issues in international politics. I also speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate environmental issues across continents and cultures.  For fun, I love to turn even the most mundane materials into recycled art, spend hours on end working through jigsaw puzzles, and go for runs while listening to podcasts. And as a diehard foodie who loves to travel, I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit or new recipes to try!  The Laidlaw Scholars Program has been an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I’ve made, as well as the research and language skills I’ve begun to develop, have encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions or feedback about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trb238@cornell.edu. I hope we can meet in person someday!

Hi, currently, I am working with Timothy Smith Network as an instructor in Boston, MA. My research was about the relation between sport entertainment industry on adults’ (sport fans) engagement in physical activity. I am majoring in accounting and minoring in finance at the University of Hong Kong. Please reach out if you want to discuss.

I was fortunate enough to conduct academic research under the supervision of Stephen Gethins,  Professor of Practice in International Relations at the University of St Andrews and now a sitting MP. Stephen introduced me to a truly fascinating yet often overlooked area of International Relations: sub-state and regional actors and their place in global politics, with a focus on Scotland in particular. Through this, I have developed an interest in Scotland's place in the world as a nation without an independent foreign office, but as a nation with extensive international influence and a powerful global diaspora. This topic formed the basis of my Laidlaw project, my undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation, and my PhD. I take a keen interested in other academic fields such as politics, history, and philosophy. Although an International Relations and Sociology student first and foremost, I had the opportunity of studying Ancient History and Classics alongside my degree for two years. If I were to ever win the lottery, you would find me endlessly cycling University, spending my remaining days studying Ancient History and Philosophy, Politics, Anthropology, Theology, Theoretical Physics and Maths, or whatever subject I develop an interest in down the line. Since leaving the University of St Andrews and the Laidlaw Programme, I completed an MRes degree at the University of Glasgow in Sociology and Research Methods. I received a scholarship for a PhD in Sociology at the University of Glasgow which I am completing part-time in addition to my role as Research Officer at Carers Trust Scotland - a charity supporting unpaid carers which I had previously volunteered for. My PhD is a continuation of my Scottish diaspora studies, seeking to reconcile the notion of 'civic Scottishness' with the Scottish identity of the lived diaspora.