I'm an undergraduate student in electrical engineering at EPFL. Formerly a student in biomedical engineering, having switched after my first year, I am passionate about the intersections of engineering, life sciences, and computer science. 

Hello everyone!  My name is Abi and I am a second year Geology student at Imperial College.  As someone who is passionate about sustainable energy and the preservation of our environment, my research project centres on how to make decarbonisation solutions economically viable - so that clean energy can be attained by all. I believe that money should never be a restriction - especially towards climate action, so I aim for my research to make decarbonisation a feasible target for everyone!  My hobbies include all things outdoors - hiking, travelling and climbing to mention a few - as well as crafty activities such as crochet and knitting!  I would like my Leadership in Action project to focus on my hobbies - using craft activities to help rebuild and give independence to a local community abroad, with an emphasis on sustainability. Perhaps using locally sourced material to produce goods which can be sold to help with living costs? If any of this sounds interesting, or if you’d simply like to chat, please feel free to reach out and connect! :)  

Hi everyone, I am Eleanor and I am an undergraduate leadership and research scholar! My project will focus in on the implementation of SDGs into large corporations and analysis using natural language processing and machine learning to compare raw data against what the companies are outputting. This will provide patterns of data on a global scale and will assist in promoting the most effective methods for invoking sustainability.  Sustainability is extremely important to me and I am part of the sustainability committee within my university. Aside from that I am also interested in hiking, climbing, cycling and music.  I am looking forward to my leadership in action project and I am aiming to help establish environmentally sustainable mitigation practices in a community affected greatly by climate change. 

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!

Hey everyone - I'm Gitika, but I go by Aki, and I'm a 2024 Laidlaw Scholar based at the University of St Andrews. I'm originally from California, but moved to Scotland to pursue my undergraduate studies in history and economics. My Laidlaw research focuses on the colonial and postcolonial histories of sexuality and gender in Asia, and particularly how it has impacted the current lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals based in India and Japan.  I'm eager to meet you all, so do reach out if you want to chat about research or just connect over a shared interest! Apart from my work in gender and sexuality history, I'm also keenly interested in archival history, colonial/postcolonial studies, and language / linguistics. Outside of academics, I'm often playing music, walking along the Fife coast with a hot cup of tea, writing, or watching Doctor Who with my friends.

Hello! I was Laidlaw scholar in 2019, and I studied national, regional, and local identity in northern Tajikistan through the lens of women's fashion.  For a year after graduating, I worked for the UN Mine Action Service which removes landmines from conflict and post-conflict regions. I then worked for the Laidlaw Foundation 2021-22 and completed a Master's Degree in Anthropology and Development Management at the London School of Economics. Now I'm working with the UN on innovative finance for biodiversity conservation, focusing on marine ecosystems. Please feel free to reach out on the network, on LinkedIn, or by email. I'm always happy to meet new people and chat.

I’m the Scholar Engagement Advisor at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, where I oversee two of the School’s prestigious and impact-driven scholarships:  the Laidlaw Scholarship and the Oxford–Pershing Square Graduate Scholarship. In this role, I support scholars from the application stage through to their time on course, acting as a key liaison between them, the School, and the respective foundations. My work includes scholar communications, events and programming, reporting, and community-building. I bring over a decade of experience across finance, higher education, events and marketing. Before joining Oxford Saïd in 2022, I spent nearly five years at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences as a Senior Finance Officer. Earlier in my career, I worked at Oxford Professional Education Group as Student Finance Manager and In-House Graphic Designer. After finishing my studies, I began my career in London with Marriott International, where I worked in sales, events, and marketing.

Hello everyone!  I'm Veronika, a 3rd year life science engineering student at EPFL, and part of the Laidlaw Scholars Board. I'm a strong proponent of mitigating existential risks, of which I'm feverishly passionate about research in biosecurity and infectious disease. As a Laidlaw Scholar, I did my research in the Laboratory of Digital Epidemiology on approximations of human-like crowd behavior during pandemics with AI agents, with the goal of creating an epidemiological model that can quickly and cheaply simulate dynamic crowd behavior. In my free time, I love to garden - I'm currently in the process of growing purple sweet potatoes native to Asia. I'm also currently learning oil painting, absolutely love camping whenever I can, and I'm a big fan of metal music and love to go to concerts.   Our goal in the Laidlaw Board is to make the program better for you (and for future cohorts)! So if you have any questions, complaints, compliments, or suggestions for the Laidlaw Scholars program, feel free to reach out by sending a message on here, on LinkedIn, or using this anonymous form --> https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=m1iBtASKYUmzmpVa7SUZOYAOFAGNJNdOhV2pziMDdMZURFE0SEkxVTFDSEQ2TjhXR0cwNlNSMUFKUy4u&route=shorturl

Hi! My name is Sam (he/him) and I am from the UK. I am in my first year of studying Arts and Sciences BASc at UCL, majoring in Engineering and minoring in Cultures. My Laidlaw research focuses on understanding the emotional experiences of students in university education under different teaching methods and assessment formats. By providing a platform for students to authentically voice their opinions, I hope to make actionable recommendations through my project that will enhance the university learning experience and ultimately improve student satisfaction.  In my free time, I enjoy playing the guitar, going on runs with friends, and visiting new places. I am very grateful to be part of the Laidlaw programme and I would love to connect with other scholars, so please feel free to get in touch!

Amy is the Programme Director of the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme. She works with universities, NGO’s, government departments, businesses and charity partners to manage and develop programmes which further the Laidlaw Foundation’s purpose – to reduce poverty and inequality by investing in the education of the underprivileged and underrepresented and to develop a new generation of diverse and ethical leaders.   Prior to joining the Laidlaw Foundation, Amy spent 9 years leading the US-UK Fulbright Scholarship Programme, working with students, academics, professionals, and teachers across every discipline. She has gained 15+ years working within Higher Education and is passionate about cultural exchange and the benefits it can bring to impactful research and solving global challenges. Prior to this, she led faculty-led programmes hosting US students in the UK and managed a busy student services. She studied American Studies at Sheffield University and University of Pittsburgh.  

Hi! I am a 4th year undergraduate scholar at Trinity College Dublin studying Global Business, and I am currently on my study abroad in ESCP Paris. My research project centres on the importance of female leaders from ethnic minorities in the business C-suite & the necessity for better racial and gender diversity on executive boards worldwide.  I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing new things on this journey!