Laidlaw Scholarship

The Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme is a university-wide programme open to all first-year undergraduates to apply for.

Equipping students for the future

The Laidlaw Scholarship aims to better equip students for the future by giving them a range of diverse and transferable skills that will help them succeed in the workplace and their future careers. The scholarship comprises three main elements: leadership training, leadership in action and a research project.

The Leadership programme includes a two-day summer residential as well as one day workshop, where students will develop leadership styles, public engagement, presentation skills and networking.

Research project

The research project will see students undertake paid research over six weeks in the first summer of the programme. The students can either choose to complete a predefined research topic or identify a research topic of their own and will be guided by an academic supervisor who will mentor them through the research period.

Leadership in Action

There is also a Leadership in Action experience. Scholars can either join a charity expedition in a developing country with peers from Laidlaw partner universities or put your research into action by planning and leading a change project based on your research findings.

Student testimonies

Here are some of the students from the Faculty of Biological Sciences who are on the Laidlaw Scholarship Programme.

Megan Twigger, Sport and Exercise Sciences 

“As part of the Laidlaw Scholarship, I completed a Research Period in summer 2024, and I will be completing a Leadership in Action period in summer 2026. I really enjoyed the research period and I was even able to present at the Bioscience Education Summit in 2024 at NTU.

So far the scholarship has helped me build of loads of skills, and it was a great thing to talk about during placement interviews. I’m still in the planning stages of my second summer, but I’m excited to make an impact with an NGO abroad.”

Maria Ramadan, Biology 

"During my first-year research project, I investigated methods to reduce excessive microglial cell activation to slow the rate of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's patients. This research helps to elucidate the complexity of neurological diseases, as well as the multifaceted treatments that can be used help to support patients.

My Leadership in Action project will involve teaching programming and circuitry modules to students looking to develop their career prospects; to learn about the intersections of product design, sustainability and food security. During my project, I am aiming to develop my critical thinking, leadership skills and curiosity to inspire the next cohort at the Boston Design Academy."

Niamh Ferrigan, Biomedical Sciences 

“I have been mapping the extent of legislation and ethical review processes governing the use of animals in scientific research across Africa, and I have had the opportunity to present my findings at both national and international conferences. 

I will be completing my Leadership in Action placement at Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, contributing the the Uhifadhi wa Chui Leopard Conservation Programme. My work will support population monitoring and community based initiatives that promote sustainable human-wildlife coexistence. Together, these experiences have strengthened my analytical and leadership skills and deepened my commitment to evidence based, ethical approaches to global conservation and research.”