Susanna Kempe (She/Her)

Hi, I'm an undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics student at the University of Leeds. I have a nascent yet keen interest in AI ethics and the green economy, and I am fascinated about how these will shape the global political landscape in years to come.  My research focuses on how to make community voices truly heard – placing them at the heart of discussion and providing them with the tools to champion and facilitate local projects. I am proud advocate for community power: with the world at times feeling as alienated as ever, our communities and networks grow even more vital. I am indebted to the communities I grew up in, and they undoubtedly shaped who I am today.  I have a passion for filmmaking and run music events in Leeds and London, collaborating with some of my favourite DJs. I also love running and the outdoors, and want to see as much of the world as I can. 

I'm a third year student of Economics + Environmental Management at the University of Toronto (UofT). Growing up between Spain and Peru, I noticed early on how people's backgrounds and lived experiences with climate shape their views and actions in the climate space. An enthusiast of tourism, gap years, and adventure, I embarked on a gap year before starting university to explore 30+ countries and test myself in places where I could barely say "hello" in. Upon starting university, I represented UofT at the United Nations Conference of the Parties in Azerbaijan, where I met some awesome, young climate leaders! I've also led climate awareness campaigns across schools in Romania, Finland, Poland, and Greece.  My interest in sustainability and my adventurous traveler side led me to pursuing Laidlaw Research. I am currently investigating how tourism management policies, particularly in Machu Picchu, may be replicable models to other UNESCO World Heritage sites. I hope to apply my research findings during my LiA, while visiting another world wonder! 

I’m Oumou, someone who loves action, movement, and meaningful human connections. It’s no surprise that I’m naturally drawn to humanitarian action and volunteering. I study economics with the goal of working in policy implementation and peace-building initiatives, where I hope to contribute to solutions that improve people’s lives. I have volunteered at SOS Children’s Villages in Senegal as a French and mathematics tutor and participate yearly in the Emirates Red Crescent Ramadan Iftar distribution in collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi. I have also worked in operations at FedEx’s delivery unit, managed the social media accounts of a real estate company for two months, and interned in several customer service units. Random? At first sight, yes. But when I look deeper into this puzzle, I realize that every experience has offered me opportunities for creativity, innovation, and human interaction. Whether I was tutoring children, coordinating deliveries, or communicating with customers, I found myself drawn to environments where I could connect with people and contribute in tangible ways. Outside of academics, I enjoy solo sports and hobbies like reading, cooking, and painting, which allow me to reconnect with myself.

2026 Laidlaw Scholar and student at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Interested in the intersection of Public Health and International Relations and examining how political and cultural disparities translate to medicine and healthcare access. Honoured to join this talented network of skilled individuals. Feel free to reach out, I'd love to connect!   

Hello! My name is Christian Rebolledo, a rising sophomore in Columbia College at Columbia University studying Political Science and Medical Humanities with a Special Concentration in Public Health. I am passionate about intersecting the worlds of public health with political advocacy: people are social, and thus political. I am passionate about community building, civic engagement, and building systems for the next generation of leaders across disciplines. For my first summer as a Laidlaw scholar in the 2026 cohort, I will be characterizing postmortem data from ICE detention centers to identify trends across factors relatd to social determinants of health. I look forward to uncovering the quantitative facets of qualitative reporting currently populating the literature on carceral justice and public health.

Hi there!  I’m Claudia, a second-year undergraduate at the University of Leeds and a proud member of the 2026 cohort. I study Biology, History and Philosophy of Science which takes a holistic lens to science. This allows me to explore and question our current knowledge, and its objectivity.  This summer I’ll be setting off my Laidlaw experience researching at The University of Hong Kong’s School of Biomedical Sciences. With Professor Sugimura, I aim to transdifferentiate myeloid progenitor cells to Natural Killer cells, an essential part of our innate immune system. NK cells identify and destroy cancerous cells, thus constructing them in vitro could provide a useful treatment to cancer.  Alongside learning I feel the happiest outdoors with other people. I love being active, running and going on long walks, or being more relaxed, doing yoga and exploring new places with friends (especially love if a cafe is involved).  I’m really excited to be part of this incredible opportunity and hope to learn and connect with as many scholars as possible. Please reach out to talk about research or anything else at all!

Hi, I am Linh Khanh Pham, a Vietnamese student and an incoming third year studying Financial Economics and Mathematics at the University of Toronto as I believe that the best way to answer questions is through numbers. That is what brought me to research, and what keeps me going.  When I am not buried in problem sets, you will probably find me baking something (probably matcha flavored and convincing everyone around me that it belongs in everything :D)

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 everyone! I'm a rising sophomore majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior. My research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center's Troy Lab investigates how retinal vein occlusion (RVO) — a leading vascular cause of vision loss and blindness — affects the lateral geniculate nucleus, the thalamic structure that relays visual information from the retina to the cortex. RVO is typically treated as a disease of the eye, but vision depends on the entire pathway, and damage at the retina may drive changes deeper in the brain that go unrecognized in current care. I'm interested in characterizing those downstream effects on the LGN and identifying neurological markers that could help explain why some patients lose vision permanently while others recover, ultimately informing earlier intervention before blindness becomes irreversible.  Outside the lab, I love singing a capella with Columbia Sur and exploring the city. I'm excited to meet everyone and please feel free to reach out!

I'm a scholar of Comparative Intellectual History at Columbia University.

Hi! My name is Naziba and I am from Bangladesh, but currently in Hong Kong for my undergraduate studies at The University of Hong Kong where I study Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Besides my academics, I am a very passionate teacher who enjoys making high school science feel more interesting and less taxing. I also love watching movies with my cats and taking nature walks with my friends. I am excited to start my Laidlaw research journey this year under the Faculty of Health and Medicine at University of Leeds . I am really looking forward to making friends in the Laidlaw community so feel free to reach out in my DMs if you wish to connect!

Hi! I'm Emma and I'm a second year undergraduate student at the University of Leeds studying French and Italian. This summer I will undertake research for the project 'Listening to Feminist Art Histories: Researching and Sharing Voices from the FAMH Oral History Archive'. The Feminist Art Making Histories digital archive consists of interviews with artists, curators, and writers in the UK and Ireland from the 1970s onwards, exploring the relation between feminism and art. My findings will form part of Dr Elspeth Mitchell and the FAMH team's wider work of foregrounding the experiences of women artists in an engaging and accessible way to the public. My interest in intersectional feminism and of the importance of representation drew me towards this project, and I'm looking forward to engaging with feminst art histories with the FAMH. As a Modern Languages student and a native Welsh speaker, I'm passionate about languages and cross-cultural communication. I'm particularly interested in the way languages shape identities and build communities. Outside of my studies I enjoy reading, running, baking and travelling. I'm excited to begin my journey of research and leadership as a Laidlaw Scholar as well as connecting with other Scholars across the Global Network!

Hi, I'm Lorena Rodriguez, a sophomore at Cornell University studying Industrial and Labor Relations. I'm passionate about law, public service, and supporting communities that face barriers to accessing legal and educational resources. Over the past year, I've sought out opportunities that align with those interests. I volunteer as an ESL tutor with Friends of Farmworkers, where I teach English to Spanish-speaking farmworkers in one-on-one virtual sessions. I also serve as the organization's Social Media Chair, creating content and outreach strategies to increase engagement and connect more students with our mission. This summer, I'm completing my Leadership-in-Action project in Tabasco, Mexico, where I'm shadowing a Municipal Administrative Judge. Through this experience, I've observed how local disputes are resolved and gained insight into a different legal system while also learning about public service.

My name is Ishaan Jordan, and I am a student at Georgetown University pursuing a major in Government alongside a minor in Tech, Ethics, and Society. Driven by a passion for public service, leadership, and systemic change, my academic and extracurricular focus centers on how policy and emerging technologies intersect to shape a more equitable world. Through the Laidlaw Scholars Program, my primary objective is to conduct research that examines the ethical implications of technology in governance, specifically how algorithmic decision-making impacts civic trust. Furthermore, I am eager to immerse myself in Laidlaw’s leadership development track, refining the skills necessary to lead with integrity, empathy, and clarity. Outside of my academic commitments, I love to stay active and explore the city. I'm a huge fan of the NBA, and I love watching and playing just about any sport. Fitness is a core part of my daily routine, and you can usually find me training at the gym or unwinding by going on long walks to take in nature and clear my head. In my free time, I enjoy trying new coffee shops and restaurants. 

Hi! I'm Josie, a third-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!

Hi everyone, my name is Jayden! I'm entering my third-year at the University of Toronto, studying Environmental Health and Disease. My research and academic interests lie within digital health and emerging technologies, and this summer, I'll be researching AI implementation in healthcare.  I also love to read, talk about music, and go for drives! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone! 

After a year of studying English Literature at the University of Cambridge, I have recently changed degree to History of Art. I undertook my LiA project at Cambridge Junction, a charity, social enterprise and leading cultural venue in Cambridge, UK.