Hello! My name is Payton Bonang and I am a student in Trinity College at the University of Toronto, St. George. I am pursuing an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree (HBA) with a major in Environmental Studies, a Certificate in Sustainable Pathways, and a double minor in Urban Studies and Forest Conservation.
I'm Ryan, a 2026 Laidlaw scholar at Tufts University. I was born in New York City, but my father is from Karachi, Pakistan and my Mum is from Brisbane, Australia. Now my parents' immigrant dreams live on in my 3 brothers and I as we move across the country and pursue our unique interests. I believe it is precisely this complex history of migration in my family that has inspired my passion for migration studies.
Hi! My name is Maghai, and I am a rising junior at Georgetown University in Qatar studying International Politics. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am conducting research on civilian perceptions of UN peacekeeping withdrawal in South Sudan and how local communities experience security and international intervention. Growing up through conflict and displacement has shaped my interest in community-centered policy, accountability, and research that elevates local perspectives in global decision-making.
Hi~ My name is Galiya, I'm from Kazakhstan, currently based in Hong Kong. Love learning about different cultures and languages, so if you want to connect and discuss literally anything, hit me up on DMs :D
Briefly about my interests and achievements:
I am interested in AI ethics and learning science and have built a track record at the intersection of education and AI.
My experience spans teaching, admissions consulting, and content creation in international environments across Kazakhstan, South Korea, Italy, and Hong Kong. I am particularly interested in improving access to global education and how AI is reshaping the traditional forms of education.
Currently, I am developing research through the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, focusing on university-level assessment methods in the context of GenAI.
Hello, my name is Rebecca Liu, and I am a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto. I am pursuing a double major in Public Health and Peace, Conflict, and Justice, with a minor in Women and Gender Studies.
For my Laidlaw research, I am examining global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plans (NAPs) through a gender-inclusive and gender transformative perspective. The goal of my research is to understand how NAPs can be improved to better address the AMR global health crisis for marginalized groups of gender and sexuality.
Hi, I'm Donya!
I'm an English and History dual major at the University of Toronto with a passion for law, history, and research. Amongst other things, I am also passionate about National Treasure (2004).
Feel free to connect!
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren, I am a rising junior at Tufts University studying Biomedical Engineering and Science, Technology, & Society. I am very interested in neuroscience research, especially neurodegenerative diseases. I am also very interested in learning about the neuroscience of addiction, and how medical research can be used for social good. In my free time, I enjoy reading, live music, and spending time with loved ones!
Hello! I am a first year undergraduate student at Durham University studying Modern European Languages and Cultures, including advanced Spanish and ab initio Italian.
I believe that the intersection between languages and culture, politics and peacebuilding is hugely important in a multicultural but increasingly divided world. I am therefore passionate about using my skills for good, especially through my research project into ethical and compassionate immigration policy.
I'm really excited to work alongside the 2026 scholars!
