Hi there 👋 I'm Neha Gupta, a third year student at the University of Toronto.  I'm interested in the law and human health, along with it's intersections. Believing strongly in health as a human right, I am particularly interested in preventing gender-based violence and preserving reproductive health services.  My Summer I project looked at how paediatric oncology patients in nations with universal healthcare plans access psychosocial support. In Summer II, I hope to work with an organization to give marginalized communities (particularly women) the institutional support they need to stand up to injustices they face. 

Hi, my name is Amber and I'm a year two psychology student at the University of Hong Kong.  I spent my first summer at University of Leeds. My research project aims to identify features of boardgames that can predict its reading difficulty. We attempt to create a formula so that laymen can use it to grade boardgames and choose the appropriate game that balances entertainment and learning.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested in my research project, or anything about psychology! 

I'm a rising sophomore in Columbia College intending to major in Human Rights, with interests in Economics, Anthropology, History and African Studies. My current interests are in the relationship between the decline in narratives of the developmental state, the rise of non-institutional developmentalist efforts through civil society organizations, and the global shrinkage of the civil society space. 

Hi! I am a rising third-year in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in neurobiology and minoring in science, technology, and international affairs. During my research summer, I will be using metagenomics to study the diversity and ecological role of viruses in Antarctic soil microbial communities with the Johnson Biosignatures Lab at Georgetown. To give some context, metagenomics is a powerful bioinformatics sub-discipline that leverages genetic sequencing and data processing technologies to study microbial communities in their natural environments. Not only does this research allow us to better understand the ecological structure of environmental microbial ecosystems and how they play critical roles in cycling nutrients at a planetary scale, but studying microbial life can help us understand how life evolved on Earth in the first place. As we continue to overshoot planetary boundaries on Earth while simultaneously exploring deeper into outer space, these questions of how does our planetary system really work and what could such a living system look like on other planets become more and more important.  If you're interested in reaching out to talk about biology, any of my "hobbies," your research, or anything else, feel free!!

Hi! I am a rising sophomore intending to major in Biochemistry. 

My Laidlaw experience focuses on reframing the tourism industry to center the environment. In my first year, I developed a map of NYC's ecotourism, focused on environmental justice, circularity, and emissions reduction. In my second year in Santiago, Chile, I have collaborated with FEDETUR, the federation of tourism enterprises of Chile, to develop materials for tourism businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.

I'm a first year student at Columbia University studying Biochemistry. 

Hi! I am a first-generation sophomore at Columbia University studying Sociology and Human Rights. My interests are on public policy, education, and immigration. I was born in Venezuela, and live in Wisconsin. In my free time I love crocheting, watching movies, and exploring the city with my friends!

I am an undergraduate student at Columbia University majoring Political Science and History. My interests lie in education reform, carceral reform and alternative justice methods. 

Hi, I am a member of Columbia University's Class of 2027. I am passionate about topics at the intersection between economics and political science, my scope is usually focused on the U.S. but I am excited to gain a more international perspective! I have lived most of my life in the South of the U.S. and I am very proud to come from a Hispanic cultural background. In my free time, I enjoy exploring New York City or relaxing in my room with a good book (my current favorite author is Ocean Vuong).  Please reach out if my work interests you! I would love to discuss it and any related topics. 

Hi! I am a rising Junior at Columbia College majoring in Cognitive Science and Visual Arts. As part of the 2024 Laidlaw cohort, this summer, I am deeply interested in the intersections of psychology, culture, and the arts. I will specifically focus on understanding the role of forgiveness in Asian American communities. 

I am a sophomore at Columbia College. I am planning to study philosophy. My main interests in philosophy are ethics and philosophy of religion. My research looks into moral naturalism, neo-Aristotelian thought, and a little bit of moral psychology. 

Hello! I'm Hannah Smith, a first-year student at Columbia University studying Mathematics and East Asian Languages and Cultures. My interests in diasporic communities and media have led me to conduct research on the differing portrayals of the Chinese-American immigration experience through history, literature, and film.  

Hello! I'm Anna, an undergraduate student studying Climate System Science at Columbia University, ‘27. I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, currently living in New York. I love exploring everything about climate and sustainability - from ocean geochemistry, to conservation and restoration, and to urban sustainability. In summer 2024, I’ll be doing geoscience and climate change research at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia, investigating the impacts of ocean warming and acidification on regional carbon sequestration through a process known as biological pump. In my spare time, you can find me snowboarding on the New England mountains, cycling in Central Park, and listening to classical music concerts at Carnegie Hall.

Hello! I'm Tatum, a rising sophomore at Columbia University originally from Columbus, Ohio. I am studying Biology on a pre-med track with aspirations to become a pediatric physician. My personal experiences as a child with congenital heart disease have fueled my passion for pediatric cardiology. This summer, my interests in specialized care, genetics, children, cardiology, and athletics have converged in my first Laidlaw Summer Research project. Over a six-week period, I have conducted research at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital’s Program for Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, and Transplantation. My work culminated in a comprehensive database that includes the 781 unique patients seen by the physicians in the program over the past year (June 2023-June 2024). With the completion of the database, I am currently working on a publication that highlights the disparity in restrictions placed on children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy compared to other subtypes of cardiomyopathy. This involves analyzing which clinical data points are most crucial in making decisions to restrict patients from athletics and comparing the criteria for restriction within the Program for Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, and Transplantation to the 2024 AHA Guidelines for the Management of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Children. I hope this analysis will advance the field of pediatric cardiology, both in New York City and globally, by highlighting the need for specialized treatment that allows patients to experience as much normalcy as possible while growing up. I am also a student-athlete at Columbia University where I am a member of the softball team. The world of sports has taught me great amounts of leadership skills, while also demonstrating that you are never too young to learn. I am also a member of the Columbia Christian Athletes group and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. In my free time, I love to explore New York City by walking by Citi-bike, seeing performances, and trying new restaurants (I am a BIG foodie!). However, now as a college student, I greatly cherish the time I spend with my loved ones and family, simply relaxing together. I am grateful to be part of the Laidlaw Community, and I look forward with enthusiasm to the future, where I anticipate further developing my leadership skills, fostering more meaningful relationships, expanding my research knowledge, and building on my valuable clinical experience.

Hi everyone! My name is Noel Ullom and I am a student at Barnard College studying Political Science and Theatre. While I am more generally fascinated by the fields of political theory, metaphysics, and theatre, I am interested in researching the influence of contrasting philosophies around free will on the queer liberation movement in Italy for my Laidlaw project. I would love to connect with you all!

Reese Taylor is an intended philosophy major with a focus on human rights or race and ethnicity studies on a pre-law track. At the LaidLaw Institute, she aims to initiate research into the historical and contemporary impact of "self-help" rhetoric on Black communities, aspiring to unveil persistent oppression and advocate for meaningful change.

Hello! I am a rising sophomore interested in the intersection between health, environment, and advocacy. During Laidlaw, I am excited to research the impact of radiation on the Pacific Islands, specifically regarding contamination in local fruit and vegetation of Kiribati island. 

I am a rising Columbia University sophomore majoring in Urban Studies, Environment & Sustainability, and a 2024 Laidlaw Scholar. My summer research is with the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning Mapping Historical New York Initiative. I digitize historical maps and census data, contributing to a digital atlas of early New York settlements, focusing on Queens and the Bronx. My interests include urban planning and policy, green urbanism, grassroots organizing, and community storytelling. I also have a passion for transportation systems and quilting.