Hi! I'm Alina, a Biochemistry undergraduate fascinated by health sciences, my long-term goal is making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and effective. For my Laidlaw research, I stepped outside my home School of Biology into the School of Medicine to study direct-to-consumer health screening (think at-home genetic tests). These tests promise autonomy but risk misinformation, false positives, and overdiagnosis; so my work pushes for a shift from early diagnosis to optimal diagnosis, where a result is only useful if it's actually clinically actionable.
For my Leadership in Action project, I co-led When Science Dances; using Scottish ceilidh dance to teach gravitational-wave physics to children in underserved communities across Glasgow and Shetland, in partnership with Science Ceilidh, Wild Skies Shetland, and the University of Glasgow's Institute for Gravitational Research. It was a joy to take something as abstract as spacetime and turn it into something kids could dance out and giggle through, and to watch the project grow from a Glasgow workshop series into a Shetland outreach programme along the way.
Outside of "work hours", I'm always on the move. In uni I picked up judo, which has since become kind of my whole personality (big shout out to USTA Judo, I love you). I also absolutely love cycling; started as a way of coping with not having a car, ended as a full-blown addiction. Beyond sport, I've got a soft spot for anything creative: embroidery, crochet, photography, and losing hours to discovering electronic music. Basically: endlessly curious, always chasing whatever new thing has caught my eye.
I am a third-year student of English at the University of St Andrews from New Delhi, India, and I'm interested in languanges and literature. My research project explores literature in radical bookshops.
Hello, my name is Hannah Treagus, I'm a current 3rd year psychology student at The University of St Andrews. My research project titled "Exploring the Impact of Wellbeing Intervention Strategies on Master’s Students: Valuing the Student Voice" is focused on exploring and advocating for the underrepresented voice of postgraduate taught (PGT) students. I'll be working with a group of postgraduate students to create a student-led intervention that can hopefully be utilised globally as a wellbeing tool.
I have a significant interest in Educational Psychology but would love to connect with scholars of any discipline.
I also love travel, photography, baking and horse riding in my free time and am always up for a chat!
Hey everyone - I'm Gitika, but I go by Aki, and I'm a former Laidlaw Scholar currently based at the University of St Andrews. I'm originally from California, but moved to Scotland to pursue my undergraduate studies in history and economics. My Laidlaw research focussed on the colonial and postcolonial histories of sexuality and gender in Asia, and particularly how it has impacted the current lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals based in India and Japan. Now, I am entering my final undergraduate year with an aim of pursuing postgraduate studies in social & economic history.
I'm eager to meet you all, so do reach out if you want to chat about research or just connect over a shared interest! Apart from my work in gender and sexuality history, I'm also keenly interested in archival history, colonial/postcolonial studies, and language / linguistics. Outside of academics, I'm often playing music, walking along the Fife coast with a hot cup of tea, writing, or watching Doctor Who with my friends.
School of Classics President | Laidlaw Scholar | Foreign Affairs Review Analyst | 4x State Department Intern
Hi, I'm Gabby, a third year Geography and Earth Science student at the University of St Andrews. My research focuses on using pollen in lake sediments to reconstruct vegetation history in the Scottish Highlands.
Outside of research you'll find me wild swimming, baking bread, or hiking!
I am a second year Geography and International Relations student at the University of St Andrews and Laidlaw Scholar. My research focuses on the long-term, gendered economic effects of dual caregiving, specifically how social class origin shapes retirement wealth outcomes for the sandwich generation. Outside of research, you'll find me on the golf course or taking a walk along the beautiful beaches in this small town!
Hi! I'm Josie, a second-year student at the University of St Andrews. My research project focuses on Ireland's relationship with Spain, centring on its struggle to legitimise itself culturally, religiously, and historically in the face of colonialism, and how this led to the emergence of an Irish national consciousness. It focuses on the mythological origin stories of Ireland. As a student of both Medieval History and Spanish, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to combine two subjects I'm passionate about into a research project!
I am an undergraduate Laidlaw scholar from the University of St Andrews in Scotland currently conducting my research project. My research investigates the motivational drivers behind China's Environmentalism.
Hello, I'm Katarina, an incoming second year Physics student at Durham University. I've enjoyed my time so far in the 2026 cohort with my project about mitigating the effects of light pollution. My dream LiA placement would involve immersion in nature, traditional craftsmanship and driving sustainable fashion. I hope to find something like this!
I aim to continue studying Physics to PhD level, and am particularly interested in either researching sustainable technology or developing aviation systems. My passion for public speaking shapes my goal of driving scientific communication globally as a vessel for change.
My interests beyond academia include electric guitar, fashion and sewing, boxing, and reading, as I've been fortunate enough to study an English Literature module this year.
Hello! I’m Astra, a student at Durham University studying BSc Psychology and Anthropology, and part of the 2026 cohort of Laidlaw Research and Leadership Scholars.
My research project this summer will seek to compare social tolerance behaviours in children and vervet monkeys. I will be creating a quantitative dataset by applying an ethogram to 17.5 hours of experimental footage, and subsequently analysing it in R. At the end, I hope to deliver both a research paper and research poster with my findings.
Through this research and in my future career, I hope to investigate the overlap between psychology and anthropology in order to apply the different approaches for a more holistic understanding of how people work.
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, please feel free to reach out!
Terrah is a rising senior at Barnard College of Columbia University whose work focuses on educational equity, financial literacy, and college access. At 17, she founded Danalize, an initiative that helps students navigate financial aid offers, advocate for appeals, and build financial literacy skills. Through this work, she has supported more than 500,000 students worldwide.
Terrah currently serves as Director of Financial Education at College for All, where she mentors students and develops resources reaching over 15,000 learners globally. She also contributes to the Academic Social Contract with Class Action, collaborating with students and legal professionals to advance equity in higher education. As Director of Operations for Connect on Campus, a nonprofit she helped found, she has supported fundraising and operational efforts that have helped students cover essential educational expenses.
As a Laidlaw Scholar, Terrah researched the relationship between financial literacy and college access. Her work was selected as one of 25 projects across North America for publication through the 2025 Laidlaw Conference and Taylor & Francis. She has since presented her research at Harvard University and served as a student advocate on issues of economic opportunity and mobility at Barnard College faculty events.
Her work has earned her a Truman Scholarship nomination, recognition as a Yale Launchpad Scholars finalist, and the Rising Star Leadership Award for her commitment to educational equity and student success.
In her free time, she enjoys café hopping, coloring, and playing Tomodachi Life.
She can be contacted at: tdg2124@barnard.edu for any inquiries or requests for mentorship! :)
Hello! I am a multidisciplinary designer and have been with the Laidlaw Foundation for over five years, working to strengthen our global Scholar community and amplify the impact of our programmes.
My work lives somewhere between design, education, and anthropology, usually with sticky notes involved. I studied Human Sciences as an undergrad and recently finished a Master’s in Anthropology, both at UCL.
I am your go-to person for questions regarding alumni engagement and the Laidlaw Scholars Advisory Board.
Born and raised in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 Outside of work? Probably in the ceramics studio or a yoga class. Big fan of nature and very small bugs.