Hello! I am a current undergraduate medical student at Imperial College London with a strong interest in surgical innovation and trauma care. My research project focuses on tracking the recovery of burns patients using digitised tools, aiming to enhance outcomes and personalise post-trauma care through technology-driven solutions.

Hi, everyone! I'm Martin. I'm a third-year student at Georgetown majoring in Biology (with a concentration in Molecular Bio), and I'm planning to minor in Japanese. My focus has always been on cancer biology; so many people I've known have been affected by it, and my life's goal is to contribute to a cure. I'm half-American, half-Bulgarian, the child of two diplomats; I speak English fluently, and intermediate Bulgarian, Japanese, and Spanish. I have a lot of different interests outside of science: basketball and baseball, chess, politics, music, and a whole other list that's way too long for this blurb. Here's a random fact about me which I think is kinda cool: I once saw the tallest manmade thing on Earth (the Burj Khalifa) and the tallest thing on Earth, period (Mt. Everest) from the window of the same flight! My research project for Laidlaw this summer is an application of the fields I've spent so much time studying- the focus is on cancer genetics, molecular biology, and laboratory technique. The goal of this project is to uncover information about a certain protein called SON, which is thought to be involved in the processes of gene splicing and transcription into RNA. Errors in these functions often result in cancer, so figuring out the roles and behaviors of proteins like SON could really help future endeavors like genetic libraries and drug discovery programs. I won't bog this down with an excessively detailed explanation of my method, but in brief, I'm using CRISPR technology to edit the SON gene and add DNA which encodes something called a protein tag. CRISPR can use a few different DNA repair techniques as a sort of "glue" to insert this protein tag; I'll be testing two of these techniques (NHEJ and MMEJ) to add depth to the experimental process. When the modified gene gets translated into SON protein, this tag gets produced as well. The tag can be lit up and investigated with a fluorescent microscope to determine where in the cell the SON protein localizes; it can also be targeted for degradation, allowing me to research the behaviors of cells with no SON protein and thus deduce its function through this knockout treatment. Which of these goals I can accomplish depends on the time and resources I have available, but I hope that summary sheds light on the problems I'm trying to tackle with this research project. In a word, I want to find out what SON does, and I'm going to use CRISPR-mediated protein tags to find out.

Hi, i'm a medical student from Imperial College London! My research project is on assessing the environmental footprint of aesthetic medical practice. As aesthetic procedures are becoming more accessible, I hope my work will help build the framework for the development of standardised auditing tools that will push for a more sustainable aesthetic industry.  If you would like to know more do drop a message, and I would love to hear about what you are working on!

Hi, my name is Sophie! I'm a first year Bsc Geography undergraduate at Durham University. My research project this summer is a pilot study investigating the effect of e-cigarette and cigarette exposure on prenatal development, focussing on upper facial movement. I hope to obtain an understanding of the potential implications to healthcare policymaking regarding maternal use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. I am driven to take action to improve the lives of others, and therefore motivated to understand the impact of maternal actions on the lives of the younger generations and actions that can prevent negative impacts.  I really enjoy spending time outdoors, either walking or running. I also love to travel and explore new places! My favourite way to spend time with friends is to visit a café and have a good catch up over a coffee! 

Hi there! I’m a third-year student at Trinity College, University of Toronto, studying International Relations and History. This summer, I’m researching how civil war and genocide shape political transitions, specifically, why some post-conflict societies move toward autocracy instead of democracy. I'm exploring contemporary and historical case studies to better understand these patterns and the role of international support. Always happy to connect, feel free to reach out!

Rising sophomore at Columbia studying Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science  

Hi everyone! I'm Jacob and I'm entering my third year at the University of Toronto where I study Financial Economics, Public Policy, and Mathematics. This summer I'm undertaking research on how political campaign strategies influence representation in parliament. Outside of the classroom, I'm an avid reader of just about anything that piques my curiosity. My apartment is nearly bursting at the seams with 481 books (and counting). I love learning new things whether it's a new tune on my tenor saxophone or a new language (I'm currently working on Russian and Italian). You'll also find me outside on my bike or the nearest tennis court when I'm not working at my desk and dreaming up new policy ideas to combat inequality. 

Hello LSN! 👋 I'm Annie from the University of Toronto, and I am thrilled to be among the 2025 Laidlaw Scholars cohort!  Program: Engineering Science (2T7) -- and in the upcoming fall I'm about to start my third year in aerospace engineering! Finally something interesting after two years of core courses 😵‍💫  Research Topic: gender bias in AI chatbots' responses & how to avoid such bias in AI development 🌟 Now the interests!  Hobbies: climbing beginner (but really enjoys it) 🧗 | video editing 🎬 | journaling 📝 | hiking🚶‍♀️ Enjoys: musicals 🎵 | doctor who 📺 | Comic Con 🎨 Also, for any whovians out there, I am planning to build my first Dalek this summer! Full size, motorized Dalek that will turn up at Fan Expo Toronto this summer 👀 So if you're going too - just send me a message and let's hang out! ✌️

Hello! My name is Anjelica and I'm a rising sophomore at Columbia University in New York. My current research aims to look into how language affects our perception of femicide in the media. In my free time, I make podcast videos with people who I find inspiring, I write (and hunt for banger book quotes on Pinterest), I'm currently planning an initiative in my foundation, and I watch TikToks that my best friend sends to me.  A quote that I really love as of now is: "When God had made The Man, he made him out of stuff that sung all the time and glittered all over. Some angels got jealous and chopped him into millions of pieces, but still he glittered and hummed. So they beat him down to nothing but sparks but each little spark had a shine and a song. So they covered each one over with mud. And the lonesomeness in the sparks make them hunt for one another." Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God And yes, I love existential questions.