The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Program is a transformative global leadership program that empowers undergraduate students to become ethical leaders equipped to address the world's most pressing challenges. By combining academic research, leadership development, and hands-on community engagement, this competitive program encourages scholars to think critically, act courageously, and lead with integrity. The program runs at many leading universities across the globe, creating a large network of past and present scholars. It is generously funded by the Laidlaw Foundation. Laidlaw Scholars gain the skills, experiences, and global perspective needed to create meaningful and lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
At NYU Abu Dhabi, the program reflects the University's commitment to interdisciplinary learning, global citizenship, and public service. Over two academic years, scholars undertake a faculty-mentored research project, participate in leadership development workshops, and complete a six-week Leadership in Action (LIA) experience, applying their knowledge in partnership with communities and organizations tackling real-world challenges. Through this unique journey, scholars deepen their understanding of leadership and character, strengthen their ability to collaborate across cultures, and join a lifelong global network of changemakers committed to building a more equitable and sustainable future.
I’m incredibly grateful to the Laidlaw Foundation for giving me the opportunity to explore and closely analyze my academic interests, particularly South Asian law and media. The program is especially meaningful to me for its emphasis on developing skills beyond purely academic contexts, through experiences such as the Leadership in Action opportunity, and the Laidlaw Annual Conference. Through Laidlaw, I’m gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of ambition, confidence, and, most importantly, kindness within leadership.
Explore the values steering the Laidlaw Program.
The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Program is an eighteen-month journey that combines academic research, leadership development, and real-world experience. Each stage builds on the previous one, enabling scholars to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become ethical leaders who create meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
Develop the skills, confidence, and self-awareness to lead with integrity through workshops, mentoring, reflection, and experiential learning. Scholars explore ethical leadership, effective communication, teamwork, and strategies for creating meaningful social impact.
Students will also take part in the Laidlaw Scholars Leadership Program, a bespoke character-based leadership program, funded by the Laidlaw Foundation and accredited by the University of Oxford, cultivating ethical, self-aware, and values-driven leaders.
Undertake a fully funded, faculty-mentored research project during the first summer. Scholars investigate a topic of their choice, strengthen their research skills, and contribute to addressing real-world questions across a wide range of disciplines.
The program provides full funding for both the Research and Leadership in Action experiences, enabling scholars to focus on learning, leadership, and impact. Funding covers approved program expenses, helping make these transformative opportunities accessible to all selected scholars.
Put leadership into practice through a six-week immersive experience with a community or social impact organization. Working alongside local partners, scholars apply their knowledge, collaborate across cultures, and contribute to projects that create lasting impact.
Join an international community of Laidlaw Scholars, alumni, mentors, and partner institutions. The program provides opportunities to build lifelong connections, collaborate across universities, and engage with a global network of emerging leaders.
Understanding Space Conditions
Kenyan student Meshack Moseti, Class of 2029, worked in the Space Exploration Lab at NYUAD under the guidance of Principal Investigator Dimitra Atri, studying how space conditions affect astronauts and their equipment. By using materials on Earth that replicate the Moon’s surface, known as lunar simulants, he tested tools before they are sent into space.
Advancing 3D Printing in Bio-Engineering
Mechanical Engineering student Hani Keshtkar, Class of 2028, worked with Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering Sanjairaj Vijayavenkataraman to resesarch additive manufacturing. By fabricating Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice structures with metal-based filaments on a 3D printing platform, Hani evaluated how effectively these complex geometries can be fabricated and processed for use in the bioengineering industry.
Mayada Abuhaleeqa, Class of 2028, is pursuing a major in Legal Studies with minors in Social Research and Public Policy, and Arab Crossroad Studies. As a published writer and aspiring lawyer, she is interested in comparative law, sociology, and politics.
"I’m incredibly grateful to the Laidlaw Foundation for giving me the opportunity to explore and closely analyze my academic interests, particularly South Asian law and media. The program is especially meaningful to me for its emphasis on developing skills beyond purely academic contexts, through experiences such as the Leadership in Action opportunity, and the Laidlaw Annual Conference. Through Laidlaw, I’m gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of ambition, confidence, and, most importantly, kindness within leadership.”
Yordanos (Jordan) Legesse, Class of 2028, investigated cultural misrepresentation in text-to-image generative AI models under the supervision of Amar Ahmad at NYUAD. His research analyzed outputs across four global regions to examine whether models like Stable Diffusion XL systematically default to Western aesthetics when given culturally neutral prompts.
Jordan noted, "“I am excited to contribute to research that centers voices and cultures that are often invisible in the datasets powering the AI tools millions of people use every day. As someone from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this question feels both urgent and personal.”
Ghalia Fohami, Class of 2029, worked closely with Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Fares Abu Dakka on teaching robots to master “hands-on” tasks by having them mimic human touch and pressure. Using a framework called Dynamic Movement Primitives, this research refines how robots feel and adapt to physical contact.
“This research serves to bridge the gap between rigid machine motion and the tactile adaptability of humans to pave the way for robots that can safely assist humans in everyday, unpredictable environments.”
Alex Kurian, Class of 2028, worked with the World Behaviors and Stereotypes Dataset collected by Professor of Economics Nikos Nikiforakis and his team from the NYUAD Center for Behavioral Institutional Design (C-BID).
Prior to starting, he said, “I’m looking forward to the people I’ll meet through this program, whether that’s postdocs at C-BID during my research, fellow Laidlaw scholars, or others through the Leadership in Action project.”
Class of 2029 Zena Muqattash's research focus as a Laidlaw scholar was on how students use tools like generative AI to learn new languages more effectively.
“As an economics student, I’m interested in how people adapt their behavior when new technologies are introduced, and this project explores that in a very practical way.”
Physics major Mohammed Faheem, Class of 2028, conducted research with the Gene Machines Group in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford. His project modeled global transcription kinetics in E. coli to analyze how molecular traffic jams inside stressed cells impact biological processes, contributing to a deeper understanding of disease development.
"As a Laidlaw Scholar at NYU Abu Dhabi, I have been exposed to a variety of opportunities since the start of the program. The most important one as a young researcher in the sciences is the opportunity to connect with past Laidlaw Scholars through their network. Additionally, I am able to view the progress made by my fellow Scholars through the website and daily updates. This enables a sense of collaboration, even if the network is dispersed over many countries. Through this program, I have learned how research works, and why it is important to be curious as a young scientist. The implications research and curiosity has is only amplified the earlier you start, and the more you learn!"
The program is open to first- and second-year NYU Abu Dhabi students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to creating positive social impact. Applications are submitted by NYUAD students through the NYUAD student portal.
