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 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. 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!

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.

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. 

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, currently completing a year abroad at the University of Montreal.   My research project topic this summer 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 allowed me to draw conclusions about the levels of connectivity and accessibility of poetry in Leeds. I’m originally from Russia but moved to Slovenia for political reasons when I was 15 and then to the UK at 19, 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. Currently on a year abroad in Canada, 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 34 countries so far and don’t plan on slowing down!

I’m a sophomore at Georgetown University’s College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Biology of Global Health on the pre-med track. My interests lie at the intersection of medicine, bioethics, and global health, particularly in understanding how cultural barriers shape access to care. I’m especially passionate about migrant health and clinical ethics, and hope to one day integrate these values into my work as a physician and health advocate. This summer, I’m working in collaboration with the Pathogen Data Network and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. My research explores the ethical challenges of wastewater surveillance (WWS), a public health tool used to monitor infectious disease transmission through community wastewater. While WWS offers important benefits as an early warning system, it also raises concerns about privacy, data governance, and the equitable treatment of communities under surveillance. My research draws on ethical guidance from the World Health Organization, European Union, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Canadian federal agencies. Through comparative analysis, this work aims to propose a unified ethical framework that embeds privacy protections, fosters community trust, and ensures fair, transparent governance in the use of pathogen data. In my free time, I enjoy creative writing, strolling through D.C.’s historic neighborhoods, and curling up in bed with a good horror movie.

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

Hello! I'm Cate, a second-year undergraduate student originally from Connecticut in the US, and I study English and Political Science at Brown University (and maybe also French!). I'm interested in immigration, human rights, social movements, US constitutional law, and comparative law, and—as you might have already guessed—I'm considering going into the legal field after undergrad.  In 2025, I'm entering my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, and I'm excited to be participating in a research project called "In the Wake of George Floyd." This project is about documenting current and past protests across Rhode Island in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd and writing about them in the context of social movements, racism, and police violence in the state of Rhode Island and throughout the country. 

Hello, I am a Laidlaw scholar at EPFL. I study Environmental sciences and engineering and I am passionate about sustainable development, high and low tech. I did an internship in the laboratory of soils mechanics during past summer. In my free time, I love doing all kind of sports like running and hiking. I also enjoy improv theatre, literature and cooking. I am always happy to meet new people so don't hesitate to write me! 

Hello!  I am Lottie Knee, a Philosophy and Politics undergraduate student at the University of Leeds and a part of the 2025 cohort of Laidlaw Scholars.  Building on my background in normative ethics, international development, and foreign policy, this summer I investigated Academic Freedom and Censorship in Biodiversity Conservation. My research explores how political pressures, freedom of speech, and censorship influence conservation work, engaging with real incidents where knowledge and debate have been constrained. This project challenges me to enter a new area of study while strengthening the critical and ethical frameworks developed in my degree.  Outside of academia, I love to travel. I took a gap year before attending university where I solo travelled Australia, Indonesia and The Philippines. This was a fantastic opportunity for adventure, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.  I am always open to connect with others within the Laidlaw community! 

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!