Hello!
My name is Mabinty. I'm a second year student studying French and Spanish at the University of Leeds. I'm currently a Laidlaw Scholar, part of the 2026 cohort. I'm from Croydon but grew up in the Netherlands for some years.
At the moment, I'm at the end of my second year and preparing for my research programme in Listening to Feminist Art Histories: Researching and Sharing Voices from the FAMH Oral History Archive with Dr Elspeth Mitchell.
I'm passionate about storytelling, whether it be through the medium of fictional tv shows and the cinematographic wonders of film or through the art of an honest and direct meditation and reflection of a life within a documentary. Additionally, I'm a passionate advocate of equity within the arts, media and education.
I also like to focus a lot of my academic pursuits and studies around learning about the experiences of marginalised groups within society.
I'm beyond excited to take part in the programme and see how it can develop me as a storyteller within the world!
Hi, everyone! I'm a second-year student at MIT majoring in bioengineering and women/gender studies. I am a pre-med student, passionate about women's healthcare and accessibility. I am currently doing a research project on related to early endometriosis lesion formation at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK.
Outside of the lab, I love fashion (even though I mainly wear sweatpants) and literature. I've been really into beading and embroidery this summer, and am currently reading Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés.
I have loved getting to know the Laidlaw cohort at MIT and Cambridge University, so please reach out with any questions or to say hi!
Hi, I'm Itiafa Ayeni, a sophomore from Nigeria at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar. I major in International Politics with minors in Africana Studies and a certificate in Energy Studies. I am also pursuing the French proficiency academic pathway.
My academic interests are deeply shaped by my experience growing up in Nigeria and center on Africa’s future, the place of identity, and the advancement of women and girls globally.
This summer, I will be researching how 'Y2K' Nollywood (the formative period of Nigeria’s film industry spanning the 1990s and early 2000s) influenced the women who contributed to and consumed it, across a representative social circle that includes actresses and women in the diaspora.
Hi! My name is Chloe Lee and I am a incoming sophomore at Barnard College of Columbia University studying Political Science and Human Rights with aspirations to eventually go to law school. I am interested in voting rights, international human rights, intersectional feminist theory, and the intersection between law and business!
This summer I will be conducting research on Asian American voter behavior and the barriers that shape civic engagement for the Asian American community in Queens, Texas, and Georgia. With the supervision of my mentor Professor Chen, I look forward to learning about the lived experiences and geographic comparisons that will help me understand how barriers influence eligible voters.
I am a medical student at Imperial College interested in surgery and research. I am currently exploring various surgical specialties including cardiothoracic surgery, and my upcoming research project will be on mitral valve repairs. I have attached previously to research groups under orthopaedic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery, and I am also involved in some research projects in London and my home city Hong Kong.
In my spare time I enjoy travelling, skiing, visiting art museums and painting, in particular watercolour.
Hi! I love making new friends and creating things! My favourite things to create are stories -- through composing my own music, drawing or writing -- and organizations! Currently making a women in STEM society in my university and it's been a lot of fun :D Hit me up if we have any hobbies in common :) Still trying to figure out what I want to do in life
Pragyan is a junior majoring in Culture and Politics at Georgetown University in Qatar. He works as an Economics Peer Tutor at the Office of Academic Services, and also as a Research Assistant at the Energy Humanities Program, where he is currently developing an energy-themed board game. For his Laidlaw project, he is exploring the history of labor in the electricification of the Philippines. This project intersects energy history and colonial studies, exploring how US Colonialism shaped electricity during and after the US control of the Islands.
Hello everyone!
My name is Lila Sparks and I am going into my third year at the University of Toronto, where I am pursuing a double major in International Relations and Peace, Conflict & Justice studies!
This summer I am researching the social and ecological impacts that data centres have on indigenous communities in Canada. I'm so excited to learn from you all:)
Hi! My name is Anna, and I am rising junior at Duke University studying Political Science and Economics. I am passionate about learning how to evaluate policy and find my own evidence-based policy solutions for my future work as (hopefully!) a politician. I'm especially drawn to policy related to foreign policy, economic and social equity. I'm also interested in conducting research focused on the rise of the far-right and the developments in the society that enabled it.
Hello, I'm Niyati! A first year BSc Audiology student at UCL interested in the advancing technology behind cochlear implants and hearing aids.
My research explores how mental states affect movement and how, by understanding states such as Catatonia, we can treat mental disorders more effectively.
I'm a Year 1 Student at the University of Hong Kong majoring in Economics and Finance, pursuing my Laidlaw Journey currently with research at UCL on Climate Chance and Sustainability Education. I'm interested in learning about and working towards initiatives across Environmental conservation, Education, and Poverty Alleviation. Also, a deep admirer of transcendentalist literature/ poetry and Sufi Music!
Hi there =] this is Aka from the University of Hong Kong, I am currently a Pharmacy student who is interested in investigating the therapeutic effects of essential oils. For the laidlaw research project, I am investigating in how to engage with the public to explain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the role of vaccination.
I love connecting with others and hearing about what you're passionate about, so do reach out and chat anytime :)
Hi! My name's Charlie, I'm doing a research project on surrogate functions for solar panel optimisation on tall vertical facades. I'll be comparing optimisation methods between surrogate functions, particle swarm optimisation and genetic optimisation.
I'm studying Engineering, but when I'm not working I am a part of DU Solarcar (looking forward to the European Solar Challenge 2026!), as well as going to church and running in my free time. I'm always up for a game of chess or a chat about science. I'm also learning French and Spanish in my free time. Fun fact: I'm also enrolled on a Welsh language course at Prifysgol Bangor!
Mathematics researcher at EPFL, Laidlaw Scholar, and systems optimizer. I specialize in formalizing mathematics in Lean 4 (currently researching with Fields Medalist Prof. Maryna Viazovska) and building high-performance software.
I don't just study systems; I look for their underlying logic to optimize them. My recent work ranges from deploying production software that uses Max-Plus algebra to reduce event logistics complexity to , to building decentralized parametric insurance on the blockchain and coding real-time cognitive analysis AI pipelines.
With a background in local politics (former Town Councilor) and a certification in behavioral psychology (PCM), I am fascinated by the intersection of human behavior and pure logic. When I'm not writing proofs or coding, you can find me rowing or trying to teach Lean 4 to my grandmother.
Hi! I'm a 4th year medical student at Imperial College London. I'm interested in how cross-sector parternships can improve health and well-being (SDG3) for all.