Susanna Kempe (She/Her)

Hi there! My name is Lydia, and I'm a sophomore at Columbia University studying Human Rights and Public Health. I'm originally from Tanzania. In my free time, I like reading, drawing, hanging out with my friends, and trying out new restaurants in New York City! 

I am a second-year Politics and Economics student at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), with a strong interest in social investment, sustainable finance and impact investing. During my Leadership in Action placement at City Bridge Foundation, I hope to develop my research, analytical and communication skills while learning how investment can create positive social impact. I also enjoy meeting new people and learning from professionals across different sectors.

Hello! I’m Vardan Umbreyan, a Politics and International Relations student at Durham University and a Laidlaw Scholar. My academic interests lie at the intersection of peace and conflict studies, diplomacy, European governance, humanitarian action and international institutions. Through my Laidlaw research, I examine how ripeness theory and a Lederach-inspired cultivation approach can help explain the emergence and prospective transformative significance of TRIPP within the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process. Alongside my academic work, my involvement with the Armenian and British Red Cross has strengthened my commitment to humanitarian values, ethical leadership and service to others. I am particularly interested in how rigorous research can move beyond the university environment and contribute to meaningful policy conversations and social impact. I am always delighted to connect with other scholars, exchange ideas and learn from people working across different disciplines, countries and communities.

I'm interested in learning everything about how the working class and common people of the world can work together to make their lives better. My main focus is developing skills to be an effective labor organizer and union leader.  I also have experience with policy research, legal advocacy, and statistics. 

Hello! My name is Lauren Suh and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University from San Diego, California. I am majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior on the pre-medical track and plan to minor in Music (I play the flute!). This summer, I will be working at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center under the supervision of Dr. Yousin Suh. My research project delves into ovarian aging, a critical marker of systemic body aging as one of the first organs to exhibit signs of aging. I will be researching whether DNA Helicase B, or HELB, delays or impacts ovarian aging.  I love yoga, running, thrifting, and baking! I am hoping to learn pottery this summer, so please reach out if you would like to join! 

Dia dhuit! My name is Seán Radcliffe and I am an Economics and Mathematics student at Trinity College Dublin. Outside of my studies, I am a political campaigner, pro-Palestine activist, and the Housing Rights Officer of my student union. I love to sing, travel, and have a laugh! This summer, under the academic supervision of Trinity Fellow and Associate Professor Dr. Davide Romelli, I will be conducting research at Trinity College Dublin on the effects of economic conditions, shocks, and crises on cocaine-related harm and deaths in Ireland between 2004 and 2024; "Reading Between the White Lines: An Investigation into Cocaine-Related Harm in Ireland During Periods of Economic Change and Crisis, 2004-2024." Using statistical analysis and interviews with experts, policymakers, and activists, my project aims to challenge damaging assumptions around drug addiction and harm in Ireland, particularly narratives that simplistically link economic growth and employment with reduced harm. Grateful for this opportunity and excited for what lies ahead.

I am interested in the 1960s-70s prisoners' rights movement. In the past, I spent significant time researching the Attica Prison Uprising, the deadliest prison rebellion in the United States. Prison writing was a defining mobilizing force for the incarcerated people at Attica, and I am eager to delve into prison autobiographies in particular this summer as a progressive art form that has challenged literary expectations and engendered a collective voice of incarceration. Outside of research, I am heavily involved in advocacy and volunteering related to criminal justice.

Hi everyone! I am Muskaan, a Laidlaw Scholar from Duke University, and a proud member of the class of 2028. Currently, I am studying Chemistry with minors in Computational Biology and Spanish. I am from Dubai, and spent my childhood growing up in the Middle East. I love learning languages, trying new foods, and spending time outdoors! I am interested in global health, biochemistry and public policy and particularly how they all intersect! In a world that hosts a multitude of problems, which are often multi-faceted and complex, a call for interdisciplinary, open-minded thinking becomes all the more pertinent. Therefore, it is my goal to bring my views and values to the table, and to encourage others to view challenges through different lenses. Diversity in thinking is essential not only for developing more innovative solutions, but also for ensuring that those solutions are equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the communities they are intended to serve. 

Hello there! I'm a history major at Columbia University. I spent 14 years as a border-crossing student, living in mainland China and commuting to Hong Kong every day. I  spent my high school years in Houston, Texas. My primary focus is transnational Asian history, though I am also broadly interested in philosophy, IR, and political theory.  I spent my freshman year at Rice and transferred to Columbia as a sophomore. I'm currently a rising junior.  I speak English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. I am currently unsuccessfully acquiring Japanese and French.

Hi, my name is Sarah McGuire! I am currently studying History and English at Trinity College Dublin and am a member of the 2026 Trinity Laidlaw Scholars cohort.  I am interested in the ways in which literature can be used to construct and convey identity, and in finding ways to interrogate limiting beliefs that influence how we engage with national and cultural identity, gender, and class. With my own background from the North East of Ireland, I believe that it is essential to question the roots of our identities, and more important than ever to push back against exclusionary and arbitrary definitions of who ‘gets’ to identity as Irish.   My Summer 1 research project is entitled ‘This is Your Magazine: Literary Periodicals and Identity in Mid-twentieth century Ireland’, and will focus on short stories published in The Bell Magazine (1940-1954) and what they can tell us about the complexity of Irish identity in this period. This study aims to explore the ways in which people engaged with the literary periodical and short story form as a crucial means of self expression in a period of censorship, and how they wrote back against the dominant ideology which created narrow parameters surrounding the normative portrayal of Irish identity post-partition.    Beyond my research, I love to write short fiction of my own, contribute to college publications as a writer and editor, and read widely on literary, art, and music history.  I would love to connect with fellow scholars, feel free to reach out to discuss research or similar interests!

Hi! My name is Izzy and I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University studying Neuroscience and Behavior on a pre-medical track, aspiring to become an emergency room physician or trauma surgeon in the future. Within the last year, I earned my EMT certification and have been involved in various clubs and volunteer activities on and off campus, but am definitely looking for more ways to help the community! I am very excited to be a part of the Laidlaw program and spend the summer in New York. Out of school, I love playing soccer, listening to music, and trying new foods/drinks around the city :) Please reach out if you have any interest/advice for my research this summer or if you just want to make a new friend!

Hi! I'm Bruna, a first-year English Literature undergraduate at Durham University, currently working on my research project. My passion for stories is reflected in my research which focuses on examining storytelling's role in policymaking in creative fields in County Durham.  I am from Brazil but have lived in the Netherlands and Kuwait and therefore have come to love learning all about languages and cultures. Moving around also means I am always open to learning more and adapting to new situations.  In my free time, I am usually cosplaying an old grandma: I crochet, embroider, bake and read. At times, I may also be playing the sims. Please feel free to reach out!  qmcj48@durham.ac.uk 

Born and raised in San Diego, California, Adelina is a pre-law student majoring in Sociology with interests in education policy, immigration law and the intersections of race and political representation. As a Chicana scholar committed to utilizing well-informed research as a pathway to meaningful action, she believes in uplifting overlooked histories as pathways to empowerment. Her Laidlaw research investigates how the forced displacement of Mexican American families from Chávez Ravine to construct Dodger Stadium shapes the relationship between the L.A. Dodgers and Latino communities. Outside of being a Laidlaw Scholar, Adelina remains committed to public service by continuing to advocate for youth-centered policy initiatives as Governor Gavin Newsom's appointee to the California Youth Empowerment Commission. She has also worked with New York City's Project Rousseau as an Immigration Legal Services Intern and conducted research with the Columbia University Policy Institute, further developing her interests in civic engagement, educational equity and policy reform. As a Barnard pre-law student, Adelina is committed to pursuing a legal career dedicated to advancing representation and justice for historically marginalized communities.