Hi everyone! I am Asper, a third-year law student at the University of York and a 2022 Laidlaw Scholar. My research project is about the legacy of British Imperialism on nationality law in post-colonial territories and Jordan specifically. Feel free to drop me a line if you'd like to chat 💭🥰

I am an incoming MPhil candidate in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology at the University of Oxford. My Laidlaw research explores the Incan Empire's positive view of female homosexuality, exploring how their diverse understandings of gender influenced these views on sexuality. It also considered how La Conquista's use of a European lens and translation when documenting Incan civilisation resulted in the erasure of much of the sexual and gender diversity which existed throughout Incan Peru.  Show more

Hi everyone! I'm Anna Lysenko. I'm a fourth-year undergraduate student in the International Relations Specialist program at the University of Toronto. I'm passionate about cyberpolitics and cybersecurity: my Laidlaw research project is about the effect of cyber-attacks on democracy.  My hobbies include reading, writing, travelling, drawing, horse riding, meeting up with friends, and watching movies. I'm excited to connect with new people who share my passions and interests :) 

As a junior double-majoring in Women's Menstrual Health and Computer Science, I've embarked on a path of self-discovery, delving into the complexities of women's health and its intricate connections to diverse cultures and dietary practices. My research delves into the cross-cultural implications of diet on women's menstrual health, aiming to shed light on the often-overlooked nuances of global health disparities. Growing up amidst the vibrant tapestry of Iranian and American cultures, I developed a keen awareness of how lifestyle choices profoundly impact our overall health and well-being. Inspired by this realization, I aspires to make a positive impact on the women's health industry, bridging research gaps and mitigating the discrepancies that hinder advancements in this field. My passion for menstrual health and nutrition led me to establish Aunt Flo's Kitchen, a startup dedicated to revolutionizing menstrual health through the creation of innovative snacks that naturally counteract the nutritional deficiencies causing period cramps. This entrepreneurial endeavor was born out of my research at the Laidlaw Scholars program, where I conducted an IRB-approved clinical trial under the supervision of Dr. Marla Lujan during my first summer. My second summer at Samphire Neuroscience, a FemTech startup founded by visionary researchers from Harvard and Oxford, further reinforced my commitment to addressing the critical issue of women's health. At Samphire, I gained invaluable insights into the intersection of technology and women's health, solidifying my belief in the transformative power of innovation to improve the lives of women worldwide. The Laidlaw Scholars program has played a pivotal role in shaping my life and career trajectory. It has instilled in me a deep sense of purpose, nurtured my entrepreneurial spirit, and equipped me with the tools necessary to make a meaningful impact on the lives of women. I am forever grateful for the transformative experience the Laidlaw program has provided, and I am committed to carrying forward its values of innovation, social impact, and community engagement as I pursue my passion for women's menstrual health and entrepreneurship. The Laidlaw Program has truly changed my life, and I hope it does the same to other scholars reading this. I am always eager to lend a helping hand and am committed to providing support wherever it is needed, so please do not hesitate to reach me at aaj34@cornell.edu.

Hi! I'm a senior at Cornell University majoring in Government, Philosophy, and the College Scholar Program, a program in which students design their own majors around a research project. My project asks whether people on the political left and right mean different things when they use the same words.

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 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!

Economics and Politics student at the University of Leeds, from near Stuttgart, Germany. My research project aimed to create an effective mentoring approach that supports the development of self-esteem in shy children after their transition to secondary school. I was part of a team of four scholars who are working together with Durham University to research what makes a successful Multi-Academy Trust serving disadvantaged communities. In particular, we focused on the Laidlaw Schools Trust, which comprises seven schools in the North of England that predominantly serve disadvantaged pupils. Overall, this is part of the effort to reduce the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their more affluent peers. I recently completed my LiA project by volunteering for the Youth & Community Project with Think Pacific in Fiji. Currently, I am on a year-long exchange at the National University of Singapore (NUS). I would love to talk about international politics, history, football and your all-time favourite Netflix shows!

At Cornell University, students across disciplines are passionate about changing the world. Open to first- and second-year students, the Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Program provides generous support for student research, offers hands-on leadership development and reflection, and encourages students to reinvest their knowledge to help others succeed. Laidlaw Scholars are part of an international network of like-minded leaders.

Hi! I'm an undergraduate scholar from the University of Toronto and am interested in inclusion and mental health. With my research project, I hope to explore how we improve mental health support and treatments to make them more accessible and inclusive of Canadian Muslims. Beyond my research interests, I enjoy connecting with people and learning from people's diverse backgrounds and unique experiences. I'm a keen listener and love learning new things!

Kristin began the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Scholars program at Cornell University and was responsible for undergraduate engagement in the Einaudi Center for International Studies. She now provides remote support for Global Cornell. A Cornell alumna, Kristin majored in international agriculture and rural development then worked in agriculture and community development with an NGO in Kenya for six years. Her graduate work focused on community leadership development. Kristin enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family (and 3 dogs).

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.

Hello! My name is Shaina Sharma (she/her) and I am an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. I am majoring in Economics and doing a dual minor in Political Science and Statistics. My research explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on democracies worldwide!

Hey, I'm Kobi and I’m an undergraduate Laidlaw Scholar studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Animal Physiology at Cornell University. I’m currently a junior from Ithaca, New York pursuing the pre-veterinary track, and my academic interests lie in veterinary medicine, genetics, and molecular biology. My research focused on evaluating Holstein dairy cattle genomic data with the goal of identifying genetic regions associated with cattle health, dairy production, and disease resistance in order to inform cattle breeding and management decisions internationally. My LiA experience took place in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala where I worked with FARVets, a group that implements sterilization clinics abroad. Outside of academics and research, I am passionate about traveling, sustainability, animals, and all things music.

I am a final-year undergraduate scholar pursuing a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Linguistics at the University of York. Besides being a scholar, I am the Arts and Humanities Subject Lead on the Scholar's Network and the 2020-22 Arts and Humanities faculty rep at the University of York! My first summer of research was based in phonetics, entitled 'The untapped potential of human language: Investigating the perception of typologically unattested and rare sounds'. In it, I get to look at phonemes that are not commonly found in speech, if at all! My Leadership in Action project was based around the experiences of students with disabilities and long-term health conditions when accessing Higher Education in the UK. I'm currently creating teacher training based on the paper I wrote for this project, and working with UCAS to help inform UK university admissions policy. 

Hey everyone, I'm Phoebe !  I am an undergrad for Durham in the 2021 cohort.  My field of research is sociology looking at access to higher education programmes and widening participation.