Hi! I’m Sophie Kleina, a Psychological and Behavioural Sciences student at the University of Cambridge.
I’m passionate about language learning and preservation, which is why my Laidlaw research project focuses on the Kashubian language- a regional and Indigenous language of northern Poland, and a heritage I’m proud to be part of.
My academic interests span sociology, linguistics, psychology, and education, and I’m especially drawn to work that supports cultural diversity, educational access, and meaningful social change. I care deeply about doing work that helps people, strengthens communities, and protects the richness of human language and identity.
I’m always eager to learn from others and collaborate on projects that make a difference- feel free to connect!
Hello! I am a junior in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service studying Science, Technology, and international affairs with a minor in Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies.
As a Laidlaw scholar, I am working under the Atmos Jones Lab guided by Dr. Taylor Jones. My research utilizes ECOSTRESS data from the international space station and the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software to map average evapotranspiration rates and land surface temperatures in Washington, DC neighborhoods. The objective of this research is to understand how local DC communities can utilize ECOSTRESS data to combat extreme heat days.
Outside of Laidlaw, I am an implementation team member for the Global Governance Strategy for Planetary Health under the Helm Lab at Georgetown University. My research is focused on the role of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate change and International Law (COSIS) in reducing international law fragmentation.
In my free time I love spending time at the beach and exploring new places. I am an avid scuba diver and have had the opportunity to dive in 7 countries all over the Caribbean.
Please feel free to reach out to me here or at fc689@georgetown.edu !
Reese Taylor is a rising junior majoring in Philosophy, History, and Human Rights on a pre-law track. As a Laidlaw Scholar, she spent her first summer researching the role of labor in the economic and social uplift of Black Americans in the wake of Reconstruction. She was selected to present this research at Johns Hopkins University, The University of Pennsylvania, and the Global Laidlaw Scholars Conference. In her second summer, Reese founded The Voices in Action Initiative which is a program developed to empower and mobilize youth voices by providing them skills and practice in speech and debate. She enacted the program in Nassau, Bahamas with sponsorship from both the Laidlaw Foundation and The Kiwanis Club of Nassau.
I am a junior at Georgetown University double-majoring in History and Linguistics.
For my research project, I am assisting Dr. Edna Bosire and Dr. Emily Mendenhall with their research into perceptions of aging in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya.
I am an undergraduate student at Georgetown University (CAS '27) studying Physics and Science, Technology, & International Affairs. I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and am pursuing a career in medicine. Outside academics, I am a volunteer EMT, I am involved in the Georgetown Filipino community, and I spend my free time finding new ways to physically challenge myself (marathons, fencing, wilderness exploration, etc.).
As a Laidlaw Program Scholar, I aim to rewrite the narrative surrounding leadership as a practice defined by community impact. Especially in the field I am pursuing, there exists a strong need for advocates who lead alongside those they serve. Through the personal development inherent to the Laidlaw Program, I aim to join a unique cohort of young professionals dedicated toward social change.
My Laidlaw research project involves the identification of metabolomic biomarkers indicative of acute radiation exposure. I will utilize mass spectrometry data collected from non-human primate urine, saliva, and serum to improve upon existing radiation exposure models. I anticipate facing the coming research challenges and future opportunities available through the Laidlaw Scholars Network.
Hello! My name is Lena and I'm a rising Junior at Tufts University. I am double-majoring in biology and community health and I am passionate about health equity and primary care. For my first Laidlaw summer I will be conducting qualitative research on respiratory health in a nearby Latinx community. Feel free to contact me through My LinkedIn Profile if you have similar interests or want to chat!
Hello! My name is Mara, and I'm a junior at Georgetown University studying Psychology with a minor in Education, Inquiry, and Justice. I'm passionate about understanding how support systems, community structures, and institutions shape outcomes, particularly for those involved in the criminal legal system. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, exploring vintage/thrift stores, and crafting!
This summer, my research project examines cross-filed Civil Protection Orders (CPOs) filed in the District of Columbia. I hope my project will highlight the nuanced nature of intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence (DV), while uncovering areas of the filing process that can be improved to increase access to justice in CPO hearings.
Feel free to reach out and connect!
Email: maralewis1017@gmail.com
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mara-lew
Hi everyone! My name is Beatrice Wharton-Hood and I am a Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering student from Trinity College Dublin. I am from Johannesburg, South Africa, and moved to Dublin for university. I am super excited to be a part of the Laidlaw community and look forward to connecting with all of you!
My Summer 1 research project this summer delves into the world of nanomaterials and how they can be used to enhance and improve perovskite solar cells. This project aims to identify which nanomaterial is the champion in enhancing the cell's efficiency, stability and durability, as well as how it can help the cell be manufactured on a larger scale. Furthermore, the environmental and economic impacts of the material's inclusion will be analysed and discussed.
This summer, I am completing my LiA! I am currently working on a documentary that focuses on 2 organisations that are working together to deliver digital education in the Greater Bushbuckridge region of Mpumalanga, South Africa, and to create an economic and employment ecosystem within the area.
Apart from having a keen interest in sustainability and engineering, I am an avid sports fan, particularly tennis and field hockey!
Hey! My name is Toye Adebayo, and I am a rising sophomore at Tufts University majoring in Computer Science. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I am working with Professor Laura Gee in the Department of Economics on a research project exploring how measurement methods impact perceived disparities in labor market outcomes. I'm especially interested in how research can be used to drive more equitable systems and decision-making. I’m excited to be part of the Laidlaw community and to learn from others' research and leadership journeys!
I am an undergraduate studying Law at the University of Cambridge. I am particularly interested in the role gender plays within different domestic legal systems, and how these structures interact with gender-queer individuals. My research explores the ways in which legal recognition of all trans people could be achieved, and the practical impact different structures of recognition could have for the lives of queer people.
Andrew Singleton has recently joined the Tufts-Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Programme team as a Programme Administrator and is excited to continue to elevate the Laidlaw Programming for current and future scholars. He joined the programme from Venture Café, which connects and educates the entrepreneurial and innovation community in Boston through programs/spaces/events and many other cities around the world. He has a B.S. from MIT in Biology and a background in social-impact enterprises, wind-power, user-computer-interfaces, as well as computer network design. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys travel, hiking, and wildlife photography.
Hi! My name is Anagha (pronounced uh-nuh-guh) and I am an undergraduate at Barnard College in the Class of 2027. I am majoring in Sociology as a pre-medical student; I hope to pursue an MD-PhD in Medical Anthropology.
My research this summer connects my academic interests in medical sociology and queer studies. Through exploring diverse forms of gender affirming care, I hope to understand how medical and spiritual healers help individuals transition.
In my free time, I love junk journaling, singing in Barnard's a capella group, and trying new vegetarian recipes. I'd love to chat about anything from your latest cooking attempts to your favorite (or least favorite) sociological theories - please feel free to reach out and say hi! :)
Hi!
I’m Katya, a third-year English and French student at the University of Leeds and part of the 2025/26 Laidlaw Scholar cohort.
My research project topic in 2025 was titled ‘Distinctiveness in the Poetry Activity of the Leeds City Region’. I worked in partnership with the National Poetry Centre to conduct interviews with key stakeholders in the poetry scene, which enabled me to draw conclusions about the levels of connectivity and accessibility in Leeds's poetry scene.
In the second year of the programme, I completed my LiA in Auckland, New Zealand, volunteering as a Community Engagement and Media Intern at Youth Arts New Zealand to amplify youth creativity through storytelling and community engagement. After that, I spent a month working as an Events and Marketing Intern at the Laidlaw Foundation.
I’m originally from Russia but moved to Slovenia for political reasons when I was 15, then to the UK at 19, and just completed an academic year abroad in Canada, so I’ve had a fair share of adapting to new places. Moving countries meant leaving behind everything I knew, including eight years of acrobatic gymnastics, but it also helped me become more open to change. I see each new chapter as a chance to grow, connect, and tell meaningful stories.
Outside of uni, you’ll probably find me at the gym (a post-acrobatics obsession), with my nose in a book, or planning my next trip—I’ve been to 36 countries so far and don’t plan on slowing down!
Hello wonderful people :D
My name is Deep and I am a first-year undergraduate studying Biology at Pembroke College, the University of Oxford.
I am also proud to be part of the 2025-2026 Laidlaw Scholars Cohort at the Oxford SDG Impact Lab!
I'm excited to learn about and get experience in using biology to create a meaningful impact in the world, particularly in the fields of conservation, climate change, ecology and sustainability.
I am also passionate about learning science and student empowerment! I hope to help build a world in which every child and student has the resources, support, guidance and opportunities to dream big; turn their dreams into goals; and turn their goals into reality. I hope to help build a world that is brighter, kinder and more loving, in which more people reach their full, golden glowing potential.
So far in my leadership journey, I have been creating meaningful impact on a small scale, through volunteering as a tutor and at my high school's pupil support centre; my current role as a student mentor at Biology By Clare; and more recently starting an online academic empowerment project! Over the years, I have become fascinated with ways we could empower more students using larger-scale initiatives, at the levels of education policy, charities and other organisations. Hence, I am very excited about my Laidlaw research project!
For my research project, I am going to be working in a group with some of my Laidlaw Scholar friends at the Oxford SDG Impact Lab. We are going to be researching how we can use co-curricular programmes to improve student well-being and educational outcomes, particularly with the hope of helping solve educational inequity in Oxfordshire.
Outside of Biology and academic empowerment, I love English Literature; Drama, Theatre and Film (I'm currently obsessed with the Wicked!). I am also a big Taylor Swift fan :)
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, want to work on a meaningful project together, or just want to have a good conversation :)
(I prefer email or Instagram)
I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and for being part of this incredible global community. Wishing and sending everyone here so much joy, light and happiness! I'm rooting for you!
Here is a link to my YouTube channel by the way, in case you want to check it out :D
A link to my YouTube channel, in case you want to check it out :D
A link to my empowerment Instagram channel
A link to my personal Instagram account
My email: deep.thakkar.world@gmail.com