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Laidlaw Leadership and Research Program

“The purpose of the scholarships is to encourage and develop future leaders in any field of activity. Looking around the world’s business and political leaders I can’t recall a time when better leaders were more urgently needed.” – Lord Laidlaw 

The Laidlaw Scholars Undergraduate Leadership and Research Programme, also known as the Laidlaw Scholars Program, provides students with funding to pursue research in any area of interest at U of T, or anywhere in the world. It aims to develop a new generation of leaders who are skilled researchers, and believe it is a moral imperative to lead with integrity. The program invests in talented and motivated undergraduate students, giving them the knowledge, skills, and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders. To date, more than one thousand passionate change-makers have completed the program all over the world. 

The Scholarship Program funds up to 25 academically strong and motivated undergraduate students per cycle and provides 16 months of programming that begins in the winter term of your first scholarship award year and ends in the fall term of your second scholarship award year. During the two summers of the program students have an opportunity to focus on Independent Research and Leadership-in-Action (LiA) components of the program.  

The Leadership component of the program has been significantly developed, and scholars now receive bespoke leadership training both during the semesters leading up to, as well as during the months of their summer research. Please note that it is also expected that all students have one global/overseas experience at some stage during the program. 

Benefits of becoming a Laidlaw Scholar

Students who participate in the program will: 

  • work alongside leading researchers to develop their academic potential 
  • receive a generous stipend to engage in summer research, as well as many opportunities to expand leadership abilities 

Selected scholars will conduct research on a topic they propose for 6 weeks. The research period should begin on June 17th 2024 and conclude on July 29th 2024. This research will be carried out in Canada or internationally (if approved) with a research supervisor to supervise scholars from U of T or any international institution.

Information for students regarding Research Supervisor(s) eligibility

  • All research projects that require REB approval must be supervised by a U of T faculty member or a member outlined in the Principal investigators document. We are not able to accommodate projects that require REB approval with a research supervisor who is not affiliated with U of T or does not meet the guidelines laid out in the document listed.
  • If your research project doesn’t require REB approval, your research supervisor(s) are not required to be associated with U of T.
  • The Laidlaw Scholars Program is not able to accommodate research supervisor(s) switches once the research begins.
  • Teaching assistants and graduate students are not eligible research supervisors.

Scholars will receive leadership training in sessions held throughout the year including a leadership training retreat in the winter term, to develop problem-solving and communication skills. 

The program will focus on the importance of developing leadership skills, understanding teamwork, and applying lessons to day-to-day challenges. In addition, all scholars will also be required to participate in an online Ethical Leadership Masterclass led by a leading faculty member at the London Business School along with all other Laidlaw Scholars from other universities in the program. 

Please note that due to the fact that the Leadership component of the program extends through the entirety of the Fall and Winter terms, scholars are required to be available for in-person programming in Toronto and so, cannot participate in Exchange during this time.  

The LiA component is a 6-week immersive project that will take place in the second summer of the program. This, in a variety of different aspects, will be a key focus of the program and will encourage scholars to partake in an experience that is in a new and challenging environment, working with communities in need, and developing leadership skills. An international or global opportunity either through the Leadership in Action experience, or at a different point in the program is highly encouraged. There are three ways in which an LiA summer can be planned, and the planning for this will be discussed with program administrators as well.  

  • Implement your research findings (6 weeks long) 
  • Work with a university approved program (could be self-proposed) implementing your leadership skills, while ideally working with an NGO or organization on a project that may have impact in a community in need (6 weeks long) 
  • Participate in a Leadership-in-Action experience through a centrally offered partner project- more details on this will be available after your first summer in the program. 

Network Building

  • Join and participate through the Laidlaw Scholars Network, an online community for scholars from all Laidlaw partnered institutions to learn from one another.

Global Experience

  • Establish a global mindset through Research or Leadership in Action summers to experience and learn from a global community

Ethical Leadership Workshops

  • Participate in an ethical leadership certificate offered through Oxford University. Scholars will participate in sessions offered throughout the year virtually which will allow them to work towards becoming an ethical and principled leader.

Laidlaw Scholars Annual Conference

  • Take part in this annual conference to connect and exchange ideas with fellow scholars from different institutions.

 
 

  • receive mentoring from a specialist supervisor 
  • actively learn from participants and teams while managing projects 
  • develop transferable skills pertaining to decision-making, planning, and communicating 
  • explore potential careers while building confidence and breadth of knowledge 
  • gain access to a network of like-minded peers across the University and beyond 

All scholars in the program will present their research findings to faculty and staff from across the university at a symposium organized by the Laidlaw Scholars Program. 

All scholars will also be required to write a final research paper outlining the findings of their work and produce a report on the work that they carried out in the second summer of the program.  

The history

Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay used his vision and commitment to create this program, which is now offered at 14 universities around the world. The long-term vision for the Laidlaw Scholarship is to create a wide-reaching and diverse international network of leaders who will reinvest their skills, knowledge and experience to help students, peers and colleagues. 

For more information about the history and vision of the program, please visit the Laidlaw Scholars website. 

Up to 25 academically strong, motivated students are selected annually. If you are selected as a Laidlaw Scholar, here is what to expect:

  • Summer 1: up to $5000
  • Summer 2: Funding will be determined based on the student’s opportunity during the Leadership-in-Action summer period, but no more than $5000. 

Extra funds: you are also eligible to apply for up to $2,500. This funding can be applied to travel expenses, which are dependent on global travel restrictions and all University of Toronto guidelines, as well as extra lab funding (up to $1000 out of the $2500 mentioned above) that cannot be covered by the main research amount. This extra fund covers the entirety of a scholars’ engagement in the program.

Eligibility

Applicants will be assessed for their passion, drive, enthusiasm, and ambition, while also keeping in mind their academic background and achievements.

You are eligible if you are:

  • A first or second-year undergraduate student in your first program of study at the University of Toronto
  • Maintain full-time status for the entire duration of your enrolment as a Laidlaw Scholar. You must inform the program of any change in your status if selected
  • Studying in any of our three campuses
  • Enrolled in any fields of study and from any background.

You are not eligible if you are:

  • A visiting student
  • A graduate student

Applications

Applications for the 2024 cohort will be available on October 10th 2023. Access the program and application by clicking on the Experiential Learning Module in CLNx . Select “View Available Programs/Courses” and apply to the 2024 Laidlaw Scholars Programme (program name: Laidlaw Scholars Programme Recruitment and Application).

Document Guidelines

For details on how to submit an application for the 2024 Laidlaw Scholars cohort, please read the application guidelines here.

Important Dates

Please refer below for important dates related to the program. 

  • Tuesday, October 10th 2023 – Application Available
  • Thursday, October 26th 2023 – Information Session (4.00PM – 5.00PM EST)
    Please register here.
  • Wednesday, November 1st 2023 – Information Session (12.00PM – 1.00PM EST)
    Please register here.
  • Tuesday, November 7th 2023- Laidlaw Scholar Office Hours (12.00PM-1.00PM EST)
    Please register here.
  • Wednesday, November 8th, 2023 – Laidlaw Scholar Office Hours (12.00PM-1.00PM EST)
    Please register here.
  • Thursday, November 9th 2023- Laidlaw Scholar Office Hours (12.00PM-1.00PM EST)
    Please register here.
  • Thursday, January 18th 2024- Laidlaw Scholar Office Hours (12.00PM-1.00PM EST)
    Please register here.
  • Monday, January 29th 2024 – Application DUE by 9.00AM  
  • February 28th 2024 – March 11th 2024 (tentative) – Laidlaw Scholars Interviews  
  • Friday, March 14th 2024 (approximately) – Candidates notified of acceptance  
  • Wednesday, March 20th 2024 – 2024 Laidlaw Scholar Welcome Event
  • Saturday, March 23rd 2024 – Leadership Session 1
  • April 1st 2024 – April 20th 2024 – Individual Check-In meetings
  • June 17th 2024 – July 29th 2024 – Research Summer I  
  • September 2024 to April 2025 – Leadership Program
    (Finalized schedule will be released in September 2024)  
  • Summer 2025 – Leadership-in-Action (LiA) Summer 

All information sessions will be held online using Zoom.  

UTSG students should register through the CLNx link above.   

UTM and UTSC students – Please email laidlaw.scholars@utoronto.ca to be added to the registration list.   

Laidlaw Scholars Bios

2023 Scholars

Alazne Qaisar

University of Toronto – St. George 

Faculty of Arts and Science – University College

Major: Peace, Conflict & Justice Studies; Double Minors: Political Science and South Asian Studies

Research Topic: What factors contribute towards the cultivation of rape culture among young male students in India? Investigating the sources of misogyny and sexual violence in schools and colleges through a case study of Delhi.

Alice Ferguson-O’brien

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Trinity College

Double Majors: Cognitive Science and Philosophy

Research Topic: Is Uncertainty at the Core of Conspiracy Theory Belief and Cognitive Pathologies?

Andy liao

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Woodsworth College

International Relations Specialist

Research Topic: The Impact of the War in Ukraine on Food Insecurity in Developing Economies: A Case Study of the Effects of Food Inflation on the Urban Population in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Augustine wong

University of Toronto St. George

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design

Architectural Studies Specialist; Minor: Forest Conservation (Arts)

Research Topic: How can learnings from the evaluation of company town developments in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries be applied to modern corporate-dominated settlements?

Bavan Pushpalingam

University of Toronto Scarborough

Major: Public Policy; Double Minor: French and Food Studies

Research Topic: Urban Food Insecurity and Scarborough’s Racialized Youth.

Benji jacob

University of Toronto Mississauga

Double Major: Psychology & Biology for Health Science; Minor: Biomedical Communications

Research Topic: Giving Voice: Understanding Personality Development & Well-Being in Queer People of Color at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Bhavana akilan

University of Toronto Scarborough

Double Majors: Neuroscience and Human Biology

Research Topic: Exploring the feasibility of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease through Deep Learning associated with open source EEG datasets.

boluwatito mafikuyomi

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – St. Michael’s College

Major: Global Health; Minor: immunology minor and physiology

Research Topic: Comparing sex differences in post-concussion mental health symptoms among world rugby athletes.

cooper price

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Victoria College

Major: Social Sciences

Research Topic: Sustainable Development and Paris 2024: Evaluating Perceptions of Olympic Sustainability among the Public and Civil Society.

Emma Hwang

University of Toronto St. George

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design

Architectural Studies Specialist; Major: Human Geography, Focus in Planning

Research Topic: The Invisible City: A Spatial Analysis of Public Infrastructure & Foreign Investment.

Fatima Qureshi

University of Toronto Scarborough

Mental Health Studies Specialist

Research Topic: The far-right extremist memes on Instagram and the recurring and dominant messages being conveyed through them: A qualitative analysis.

Gabrielle Dumé

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Trinity College

Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Double Minors: Immunology and English

Research Topic: Community-Led Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiatives in Barbados.

George eilender

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Victoria College

Math and Philosophy Specialist

Research Topic: Right Wing Youtube as a Case Study in the Continuous Mapping of Online Political Communities.

Hannah katherine

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Innis College

Specialist: Literature and Critical Theory (Cultural Stream); Minor 1: Practical French; Minor 2: Creative Expressions and Society, Certificate: Sustainability Pathways

Research Topic: How Can Climate Fiction Inspire Climate Action in Canadian Environmental Politics?

jake barton

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – New College

Major: International Relations and Public Policy; Minor: History

Research Topic: Worker-Owned Businesses in Ontario: Why and How They Should Be Encouraged.

Jackie ko

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Victoria College

Major: Criminology & Sociolegal Studies; Minors: Sociology and Writing & Rhetorics

Research Topic: Future of Nuclear Regulatory Regimes: Risk & Liability in South Korea.

kalaishiga kalaichelvan

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Victoria College

Major: Sociology, Minors: Philosophy and French

Research Topic: What role, if any, do hiring practices play in maintaining gender inequality, particularly for women of colour, in accessing health care leadership positions?

mathula muhundan

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Victoria College

Biochemistry Specialist; Major: Chemistry; Minor: Statistics

Research Topic: Stable isotope labelling of transplanted BAT (brown adipose tissue) to trace metabolites produced by transplant tissue and elucidate a mechanism for BAT regulation of glucose homeostasis.

mridula sathyanarayanan

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Victoria College

Intended Major: Neuroscience; Intended Minors: Philosophy, Buddhism, Mental Health, Psychology

Research Topic: The Internal Dimension of Buddhist Meditation Practice.

pritika vij

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Innis College

Double Major: Economics and International Relations

Research Topic: Community-led Childhood Obesity Prevention in Barbados.

rebeca alarcon delgado

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Arts and Science – Trinity College

Work and Organizations and Political Science

Research Topic: Assessing the impact of technological skills training initiatives on employment outcomes for women from non-traditional backgrounds: Coding Bootcamps in Latin America.

valentina bravo

University of Toronto Mississauga

Major: Biology for Health Sciences; Major: Political Science; Minor: Biomedical Communications

Research Topic: Carrión’s Disease: Neglected Diseases of Neglected People.

vishweswar eswaran

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

Research Topic: Wearable System for Remote CPR Guidance: Integrating Haptic and Audiovisual Feedback.

youness robert tahiri

University of Toronto St. George
Faculty of Arts and Science – Woodsworth College

Psychology Specialist

Research Topic: How do kind emotions and behaviour develop across the early years? Do early emotional experiences affect behaviour trajectories? How does exposure to adversity, such as poverty, family conflict, and community violence, affect pathways of kindness?

Zoë Reichert

University of Toronto St. George

Faculty Arts and Science – University College

Major: Political Science and History; Minor: History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

Research Topic: How Canada can help promote democratic discourse online— Using legislation to combat digital transnational repression.

2022 Scholars

Amy Mann

University of Toronto – St. George 

Victoria College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Research Topic: What is the trajectory of sea ice in the Last Ice Area? How has it moved and what are the implications?

Jolie Gan

University of Toronto – St. George 

Trinity College

Political Science & Health Studies

Research Topic: How do systemic forms of discrimination influence access and, to a lesser extent, quality of healthcare for ethnic minorities in Malaysia? What actionable steps can be taken to reduce institutionalized prejudice towards minorities within healthcare?

Je Ho Cho

University of Toronto – St. George 

New College

International Relations, and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies

Research Topic: How have liberal and illiberal states differed in their use of contact tracing applications and what accounts for this potential difference?

Daniel Corredor Llorente

University of Toronto – St. George 

Trinity College

Economics & International Relations

Research Topic: The policy response of South American countries to the Venezuelan migrations crisis. He will examine the effectiveness of granting Venezuelan migrants a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in Colombia, and whether such a policy could be implemented in Peru and Chile, the second and third largest refugee-hosting countries after Colombia. Daniel will be interviewing policymakers from these three countries throughout the summer of 2022.

Isha Dinesh Sharma

University of Toronto – St. George 

HBA Architectural Studies specialist, Energy and Environment science minor

Research Topic: Public spaces and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comparative analysis of the use of sidewalks in Downtown Toronto

Ajantha Nadesalingam

University of Toronto – St. George 

Victoria College

Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, double minor in Environmental Studies and Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health

Research Topic: Do mobile application-based mindfulness meditations improve mental, neurological, and cognitive wellbeing in university students? If so, which meditations within Calm and Headspace applications utilize a mindfulness meditation-based approach?

Emma Hopkins

University of Toronto – St. George 

Woodsworth College

History and English

Research Topic: For my research topic, I will be investigating equity and diversity studies within the Ontario high school curriculum. My research will delve into how people of diverse backgrounds are represented within English, History, Law, and other Humanities courses in high school, what requirements are in place for diversity studies, and areas of the curriculum that may not represent marginalized groups.

Ruhani Walia

University of Toronto – St. George

Victoria College        

(Intended) Financial Economics Specialist, Statistical Science Minor, Psychology of Economics and Management Certificate

Research Topic: What aspects of observation (e.g., a larger audience, an observer of perceived higher authority) serve
as the most influential nudges towards pro-social behaviour and decision-making?

Anuj (AJ) Manchanda

University of Toronto – St. George

University College

Rotman Commerce 

Research Topic: Investigating the impact of environmental corporate responsibility initiatives on consumer behaviour in the fast-moving consumer goods industry.

Serena Honekin

University of Toronto – St. George Campus

Innis College

Psychology Specialist and Sociology Major

Research Topic: What is the effect of a majority group’s judgement on bicultural Canadian’s ability to identify a criminal suspect, given that their visible minority status has been made salient?

Shiri Yeung

University of Toronto – St. George Campus

Victoria College

Sociology and Urban Studies

Research Topic: An investigation of the relationship between professional media’s portrayal and individual perceptions of Indigenous homelessness

Mariela Torroba Hennigen

University of Toronto Mississauga 

Double-major in Communications, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT) and Professional Writing and Communication (PWC)

Research Topic: This research project aims to investigate how social media’s diffusion of information about COVID-19 influences individuals’ perceptions of their pandemic-related behaviors. Additionally, the research project will also aim to gain insight into how other people’s behaviors, in turn, shape individual’s self-perception of their pandemic-related behaviors. This investigation will happen across the following three different countries: Canada, Brazil, and the United States.

Derek Yu

The University of Toronto Scarborough    

Life Sciences 

Research Topic: Is impulsive behaviour a contributing factor that increases the risk of suicide ideators attempting suicide?

Taha Bin Aamir

University of Toronto Mississauga 

Economics and Mathematical Sciences

Research Topic: Cost of Economic Relief: An analysis of how the IMF bailout program fosters socio-economic inequality in Pakistan.

Isabel Sternthal

University of Toronto – St. George 

Victoria College

Life Sciences

Research Topic: My research will investigate the effectiveness of a hospital working group as a mechanism by which to address cancer care disparities affecting LGBTQ+ patients and their caregivers.

Vinay Malik

University of Toronto – St. George 

St. Michael’s College 

International Relations and Political Science 

Research Topic: How and to what extent does the influx of Syrian migrants contribute to the rise in nationalism and xenophobia in modern Turkey?

Victoria Liu

University of Toronto – St. George

Trinity College    

Daniels Faculty         

Research Topic: My research aims to investigate methods to improve East Asian communities’ mental health amid the Anti-Asian racism during Covid-19. This involves examining the existing structural, and cultural barriers, which prevent East Asian populations from accessing mental health services. 

Joseph Boyce

University of Toronto – St. George 

Victoria  College          

Philosophy and Ethics, Society, and Law

Research Topic: How does our conception of the university differ from that which was dominant at Oxbridge from 1880-1920? What can we learn from past understandings?

Meerab Anwar

The University of Toronto Scarborough

Human Biology and Population Health Double Major 

Research Topic: Exploring the relationship between eating behaviours in the 21st century, mental health and wellbeing, and the concept of time scarcity

Ali Eren Kaya

University of Toronto – St. George Campus 

New College   

Computer Science, Mathematics

Research Topic: Can any form of AI be an artist?

Noor Al-Sehail

University of Toronto – St. George Campus

Specialist in Architectural Studies

Research Topic: In the wake of the climate refugee crisis, how can architects redesign temporary shelters using biomimicry, a sustainable and intelligent design approach that emulates nature and utilizes its evolution to withstand and survive climatic factors?

Anna Lysenko

University of Toronto- St. George Campus

University College 

International Relations Specialist

Research Topic: To what extent do cyber-attacks on the US decrease American public confidence in democracy?

Madeleine Luntley

University of Toronto – St. George Campus

Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance

Research Topic: What explains the failure to produce research on neglected tropical diseases in low and middle income countries?

Gerd Bizi

University of Toronto – St. George Campus

Victoria College

Specialist in Biochemistry and Computer Science

Research Topic: How can we use Computer Vision to efficiently analyze protein-to-protein interactions through fluorescence microscopy?

Yu Xin Li

University of Toronto – St. George Campus 

Engineering Science

Research Topic: I wish to investigate how surface electromyography (sEMG) can be used to retore the motor skills of amputees. More specifically, using machine learning to classify sEMG datasets, to better understand how the electrical activity within the muscle is connected with movement. The purpose of my project is to focus on extracting new features from data by applying neural network architectures. The ultimate goal of my research is to allow amputees to control their prosthetic limbs through neuro activity. 

2021 Scholars

Abhayjeet Sachal

Abhay Sachal

St. George Campus 

Victoria College                      

Global Health & Peace, Conflict, and Justice

Research Topic: An investigation on the impacts of climate change on the mental health of youth climate activists in Canada.

Ahmed Moselhi

Ahmed Moslehi

St. George Campus

Trinity College

Research Topic: Defining structural and functional features of the intestinal organoids and determining how intestinal microbes are capable of making alteration that may be conducive to neurodegenerative disease.

Aly Sayani

Aly Sayani

University of Toronto Mississauga

International Affairs Specialist 

Research Topic: Linking Political orientation and Environmentalism: An analysis of changing environmental attitudes and subsequent party support in Canada

Asha Mior

Asha Mior

St. George Campus

Victoria College 

Life Sciences 

Research Topic: Do colonial legacies affect the attitudes of Indigenous peoples in Canada toward the COVID-19 vaccine?

Claire Parish

Claire Parish

St. George Campus 

Trinity College 

Environmental Studies and International Relations

Research Topic: My research centers around bison reintroduction efforts in the North American West. More specifically, I plan to systematically examine the motives, methods, and efforts toward collaboration of bison-related actors in Montana and Alberta, with the goal of understanding how diverse interests have interacted during reintroduction work. 

Dalal Mahir

Dalal Mahir

University of Toronto Mississauga

Psychology major 

Research Topic: My research seeks to investigates if the emotion of awe can promote empathy in politically polarized settings. 

Ecem Sungur

Ecem Sungur

St. George Campus 

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design   

Architectural Studies 

Research Topic: Underground Architecture Typology as Crisis Management: An Analysis Through Derinkuyu Underground City

Fatima Formuli

Fatima Formuli

University of Toronto Scarborough              

Specialist in Mental Health Studies Co-op 

Research Topic: A review of mental health frameworks among minorities to inform mental health research for Muslim Canadians

Iman Lalani

Iman Lalani

University of Toronto Mississauga

Double Major in Environmental Management and Geography, Minor in Environmental Policy and Law 

Research Topic: What challenges does sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face in responding to the effects of climate change? An analysis of the region’s environmental, financial, technical, institutional, social, and cultural barriers.

Jenny Liu

Jenny Liu

St. George Campus

Molecular Genetics & Microbiology (Major), Immunology (Major), Creative Expression & Society (Minor)

Research Topic: My research aims to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of runt-related transcription factor 3 (Runx3) expression within early proprioceptor development. Ultimately, I hope to inform neurogenesis studies and contribute potential clinical applications for approaching ataxias and peripheral neuropathy disease modelling and treatment. 

Justice Tomlinson

St. George Campus

Victoria College

Cognitive Science, Psychology majors, Computer Science minor

Research Topic: An Investigation into the Reward Maximizing Performance of TS-PostDiff: Comparing TS-PostDiff to Other Promising and Popular Multi-Armed Bandit Algorithms

Keah Sharma

Keah Sharma

St. George Campus 

Victoria College, Faculty of the Arts & Sciences

Political Science & International Relations, Minor: Literature and Critical Theory          

Research Topic: Analyzing and producing written work on South Asian diasporic literature with the aim of deconstructing the phenomenon of “model minorities” and providing visible leadership pathways for immigrant communities.

Nhu Huynh

Nhu Huynh

St. George Campus 

Victoria college        

Double major in Neuroscience and Health Studies

Research Topic: In my research project, I will explore the relationship between substance use disorder and factors that predict offending (termed “criminogenic needs) in a forensic population in the context of Canada’s Youth Justice System. In addition, I will examine the extent to which youths are matched to appropriate service(s) while on probation and what impacts this has on their recidivism outcomes.

Peter Ma

Peter Ma

St. George Campus 

Victoria University  

Math and Physics Specialist

Research Topic: My research pertains to developing a high performance machine learning algorithm to run on both the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa and the VLA telescope in New Mexico.  The goal is to use this algorithm to survey the nearest 1 million stars in our galaxy for signs of life beyond Earth.

Priyansh Parakh

Priyansh Parakh

St. George Campus 

Computer Engineering 

Research Topic: Analysing the performance of different ML algorithms against various optimisation tasks

Rachel Kim

Rachel Kim

St. George Campus

Victoria College 

Computer Science, Mathematics

Research Topic: How have sentiments and discussions around the idea of a UBI changed on Reddit over time? Do the UBI discussions on Reddit parallel the UBI discussions in academic literature?

Salma Ragheb

Salma Ragheb

St. George Campus  

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design 

Double major in Visual Arts and Neuroscience 

Research Topic: My project aims to characterize the phenotype of the rare leukemic stem cells of a HOXB4 transgene-dependent leukemia model hosted in mice. 

Samraggi Hazra

Samraggi Hazra

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Currently in Social Sciences, hoping for a double major in International Relations and Ethics, Society, and Law, with a minor in Political Science

Research Topic: I will be researching health policies and health inequities in developed nations. I will analyze Canada, the United States of America, and Denmark to outline socioeconomic and political factors that contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

Shaina Sharma

Shaina Sharma

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Economics major, Statistics and Political Science minors

Research Topic: How did the governments of Hungary, India, and Brazil use pandemic-related restrictions to expand their own political powers at the cost of their countries’ democracies? (Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on global democracy)

Shysta Sehgal

Shysta Sehgal

St. George    

Victoria College       

Cognitive science and computer science

Research Topic: Evaluating the drivers of women in STEM in the academy and doing a comparison of these drivers in Sweden and Hungary.

Nathan Ching

Tung Kwan Nathan Ching

St. George

Victoria College

Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, Public Policy, Political Sciences

Research Topic: How Self-Defence is used to protect Domestic Abuse Victims in Canada and other Common Law Countries.

Vedika Jha

St. George Campus

Victoria College 

Molecular Genetics, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Research Topic: Identify the occurrence and frequency of copy number variations (CNVs) and single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in selected genes associated with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and brain function.

Julie Francesca Seeger

St. George Campus

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design 

Specialist in Architectural Studies, Minor in Mental Health, Buddhism, and Psychology, Minor in Visual Studies

Research Topic: What is it about the design of universities that impact the mental health and  emotional state of their users? What can we learn from the design of other building types that  tend to have more positive impacts on their users, such as malls, libraries, churches, theaters,  and hospitals? 

Roxanne Angel Bella

St. George Campus

Trinity College 

Major in Peace, Conflict & Justice Studies, Double Minor in Environmental Science and Creative Expression & Society

Research Topic:  My research seeks to fill the literature gap in the sociological and cultural  aspects of the sachet economy in the Philippines. Through interviews and Photovoice, I hope to  create a body of accounts from Filipinos, themselves, about what the sachet economy means to  them and how they think it can be improved to cater to their needs while mitigating its negative  impacts on the environment.

William Lloyd

St. George Campus 

Trinity College 

Peace, Conflict, and Justice – American Studies

Research Topic: Does climate change serve as a threat multiplier for ongoing U.S. security concerns in the Lake Chad Basin of Western Africa?

Yusra Shafi

Yusra Shafi

St. George Campus 

St. Michael’s College 

Psychology Specialist 

Research Topic: Challenging Perceptions : ‘Positive’ Universities – Exploring student experience through Positive Psychology

2020 Scholars

Aanya Bahl

Aanya Bahl

St. George Campus 

University College   

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Physiology, Spanish     

Research Topic: Studying the anthropogenic impact of the growth and spread of invasive species in the Galápagos.

Ahmed Aldarraji

University of Toronto Mississauga 

Erindale

Life Sciences

Research Topic: Testing the binding affinity of inhibitors to the Erbb4 receptor.

Anne Field

Anne Field

St. George Campus 

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design   

Bachelor of Arts, Specialist in Architectural Studies: Design of Architecture, Landscape, and Urbanism     

Research Topic: Exploring the historic and ongoing intersections of architecture and music.

Areesha Imaan Siddiqui

Areesha Siddiqui

University of Toronto Mississauga 

Double major in Psychology and Anthropology with a minor in French

Research Topic: Studying homeless women in Toronto and the social and cultural processes as well as policies that affect how women are re-integrated into society.

Ashley Mutasa

Ashley Mutasa

University of Toronto Mississauga               

Neuroscience Specialist and double minor in Statistics and Biology

Research Topic: The Friendship Bench: Grassroots intervention and the opioid crisis in Zimbabwe.

Asma Behery

Asma Behery

University of Toronto Mississauga               

Honours Bachelor of Life Sciences Program (Double Major in Biology for Health Sciences and Psychology) 

Research Topic: The Synergistic Effects of Mindfulness and Relaxation Response Meditation on Perceived Stress Levels.

Avril Wang

Avril Wang

St. George Campus 

Trinity College                         

Molecular genetics and microbiology specialist, ecology and evolutionary biology major

Research Topic: Effects of urbanization on parasite assemblages of foxes and coyotes.

Ben Xu

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology     

Research Topic: Using human pluripotent stem cells and CRISPR gene-editing to investigate the role of alternative chloride channels in Cystic Fibrosis personalized medicine.

Brandon Yu

Brandon Yu

University of Toronto Scarborough

Department of Biological Sciences               

Specialist in Human Biology

Research Topic: Elucidating the effects of N-acetylglucosamine on B cell activation, in hopes of better understanding the role of aberrant B cell activation in autoimmune disease.

Hend Wahdan

Hend Wahdan

University of Toronto Mississauga               

Double Major in Anthropology & Psychology         

Research Topic: Patterns of gendered pragmatics in Egyptian Arabic: how does the preference for masculine linguistic forms differ across generations in Egypt?

Joel Ndongmi

Joel Ndongmi

St. George Campus 

Victoria College                      

Political Science and English Literature       

Research Topic: Researching American newspapers’ portrayal of veiled Muslim women.

Joelle Weir

Joelle Weir

University of Toronto Scarborough

Journalism

Research Topic: Looking at the Paradox of Plenty and why countries with an abundance of resources generally have lower GDPs and stunted economic growth.

Lara Wulandari

Lara Wulandari

University of Toronto Mississauga               

Financial Economic Specialist and Mathematics Minor     

Research Topic: My research aimed at estimating Indonesia’s value of statistical life, society’s willingness to pay for a fatal risk reduction

Lucas Penny

Lucas Penny

St. George Campus 

St. Michael’s College

Biochemistry and Computer Science major

Research Topic: Understanding HIV self-testing acceptability in priority populations: an analysis of integrating mobile health solutions with linkage to care in Canada

Lucy Stark

Lucy Stark

St. George Campus 

University College   

History and Economics        

Research Topic: The implementation of “Housing First” and homelessness prevention initiatives in an international context.

Melody (Chi Lok) Chan

Melody Chan

St. George Campus 

Trinity College                         

Double Major in Peace, Conflict & Justice and Urban Studies        

Research Topic: Filipino Migrant Domestic Workers and their Hong Kong-born Children on Home Country Return.  

Michelle Wang

Michelle Wang

St. George Campus 

Victoria College       

Criminology and Political Science   

Research Topic: Examining the political systems in China and Singapore and how their management of social media platforms shape citizen activism at the grassroots level. 

Raquel Serrano

Raquel Serrano

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Research Topic: Rise of the adolescent fertility rate in Ecuador

Saeeda Saeed

Saeeda Saeed

University of Toronto – Scarborough           

Neuroscience and biochemistry     

Research Topic: Factors affecting change blindness in real-world situations.

Vamika Jain

Vamika Jain

St. George Campus 

Woodsworth College 

International Relations, Contemporary Asian Studies and Political Science

Research Topic: From Benevolence to Harsh Refoulment: Access to Legal Rights for Refugee Populations in India.

Yeshodha Vasanth

Yeshodha Vasanth

St. George Campus 

New College              

Human Geography (Major), Urban Studies (Minor) and Art History (Minor)         

Research Topic: Analysis of the Livelihoods of Waste-workers across the Global South.

2019 Scholars

Ali Sajid

Ali Sajid

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Economics, Statistics, and Mathematics

Research Topic: Elder Sibling Spillover Effects on Academic Achievement 

Alykhan Jetha

Alykhan Jetha

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Economics and Mathematics

Research Topic: Deradicalization Programs for Western Islamic Terrorism  

Ameer Sarwar

Ameer Sarwar

St. George Campus 

University College   

Graduate Student (Masters) Philosophy

Research Topic: Neuroscientific views of the mind  

Celine Simone

Celine Simone

St. George Campus

Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Specialist Degree in Architecture, Major in History

Research Topic: Architecture’s Role in the Rise of the Nazi Regime

Christine Sutcliffe

Christine Sutcliffe

St. George Campus 

Trinity College                         

Music and Art History

Research Topic: “Opera’s ‘Influencers’” The Dissemination of Opera in the Internet Age

Denise Lee

Denise Lee

St. George Campus 

University College   

Economics & Environmental Science

Research Topic: The Scalability of Direct Air Capture Technologies

Eliana Bravos

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Psychology (major), Peace Conflict and Justice (major), Linguistics (minor)

Research Topic: Examining autism and interview discrimination

Emma Guyonnet

Emma Guyonnet

St. George Campus 

New College

Physiology and Nutritional Sciences  

Research Topic: Development of Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) scores with different food groups and biomarkers

Katie Kwang

Katie Kwang

St. George Campus

Victoria College

Psychology Specialist

Research Topic: how does Islamophobia manifest and spread on Chinese social media platforms

Keenan Krause

Keenan Krause

St. George Campus 

Trinity College

International Relations, Diaspora and Transnational Studies, African Studies

Research Topic: Analysing Ontario’s education policies for newcomers, focused on language learning, and exploring whether the policies adhere to Ontario’s goal of multiculturalism

Kelly Cao

Kelly Cao

St. George Campus 

Woodsworth College 

Rotman Commerce 

Research Topic: Correlation between education and entrepreneurial intentions

Leo Cosenza

Leonardo Pinna Cosenza

St. George Campus 

University College   

Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies

Research Topic: The influence of partisan politics in the Brazilian Bolsa Familia Program

Nubaira Forkan

Nubaira Forkan

St. George Campus 

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy       

Doctor of Pharmacy Program          

Research Topic: Identifying Diagnostic Biomarkers for Depression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Ryan Marten

Ryan Marten

St. George Campus 

Trinity College          

Computer Science   

Research Topic: Computer Vision

Sanjna Ullal

Sanjna Ullal

St. George Campus 

Victoria College       

Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies and Global Health  

Research Topic: My work looked at the access-to-justice obstacles for Dalit women in urban centres in India.

Suehyun Cho

St. George Campus

Trinity College

Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology Specialist

Research Topic: What is the ideal design of FAT2 binders as the novel therapeutic strategy for head and neck cancers?

Tahmeed Shafiq

St. George Campus

University College

Physics and Philosophy specialist

Research Topic: Studying mocha diffusion and fluid mechanics

Zoe Chen

Zoe Chen

St. George Campus 

Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering  

Engineering Science

Research Topic: Oxidative potential analysis of CHILD house dust.

The work of current and former Laidlaw Scholars can be found on the Laidlaw Scholars Network. For more information, please visit:  

Laidlaw Scholarship – Laidlaw Scholars Network (https://laidlawscholars.network/)  

Arts & Humanities (https://laidlawscholars.network/channels/2072-arts-humanities)  

Medicine & Health (https://laidlawscholars.network/channels/2075-medicine-health)  

Social Sciences (https://laidlawscholars.network/channels/2073-social-sciences)  

STEM (https://laidlawscholars.network/channels/2076-stem)  

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Work alongside leading researchers to develop their academic potential
  • Receive a generous stipend to engage in summer research, as well as many opportunities to expand leadership abilities
  • Receive mentoring from a specialist supervisor
  • Actively learn from participants and teams while managing projects
  • Develop transferable skills pertaining to decision-making, planning and communicating
  • Explore potential careers while building confidence and breadth of knowledge
  • Gain access to a network of like-minded peers across the University and beyond
  • Receive an Ethical Leadership Certificate from Oxford University
  • Gain global experiences through participation in either Research or Leadership in Action summers, and also by potentially attending the Laidlaw Scholars Conference

It is possible to participate in PEY / another co-op at the same time as being a Laidlaw Scholar. However, one of the most important considerations is time over the summer. The Laidlaw Scholars Program requires that you reserve 6 weeks of the summer to conduct full time research. All scholars are required to carry out research from June 17th 2024 to July 29th 2024. If your co-op/PEY can work around this timeline, it is possible for you to do both.

Due to the nature of the leadership program, it is not possible for selected scholars to engage in international exchange/learning abroad opportunities while participating in the Laidlaw Scholars Program.

No. The Laidlaw Scholars Program Research Funding is a standalone funding opportunity for summer research and cannot be combined with any other scholarships or funding during the program. If you receive more than one scholarship, you will need to choose which one to accept. 

In order to find an appropriate Research Supervisor, you first need to determine whether your research requires REB (Research Ethics Board) approval. If you are not sure whether your research requires REB approval, please review this website. You may also contact Human Research & Ethics Unit (HREU) at ethics.review@utoronto.ca for more information.

If your research requires REB approval, you must be supervised by a U of T faculty member or a member outlined in the Principal investigators document. We are unable to accept projects that require REB approval with a research supervisor who is not affiliated with U of T.

If your research project does not require REB approval, your research supervisor may be faculty from U of T or elsewhere.

Please note:

• The Laidlaw Scholars Program is not able to accommodate research supervisor(s) switches once the research starts.

• Teaching assistants and U of T students (at any level; including doctoral and masters students) are not eligible to be research supervisors.

No. The program is designed to encourage students in their first and second years at U of T explore their interest in independent research. While some selected scholars may have some prior experience with research, within our program, most of our scholars are first-time researchers.

Laidlaw Scholars carry out research in a variety of academic disciplines. Past research examples can be found at the Laidlaw Scholars Network website.

For any questions about the scholarship or to discuss any specifics of your research idea, please contact us at laidlaw.scholars@utoronto.ca to set up a meeting.