How to become a researcher and a leader in your first year

“I’m so proud… and I'm still having to pinch myself and remind myself that you only did this at the end of your first year at university.”

Gathered in the North Cloisters, twenty five undergrads stand beside their research posters as Dr Ruth Siddall, the Laidlaw Research and Leadership Programme’s supervisor, proudly inaugurates the evening of display, discussion and celebration. Having only just started their second year at UCL, they also stand as recognised Laidlaw Scholars.

Amongst the 25 are Alexa Marroquin, MSc Chemistry, and Jessica Manuel, BA History of Art with Material Studies.

Red Pigments in Roman Britain: a bond between two Laidlaw Scholars 

Alexa and Jessica formed a close bond as they brought their fields together to analyse the red pigments used in Romano-British wall painting fragments for their summer research project – one of the key parts of the Laidlaw Programme.

Starting with reading articles and texts, Alexa and Jess soon obtained archaeological samples and obtained modern analogues to identify, in a barrage of analytical methods, the organic and inorganic compositions in red pigment samples.

“It was really exciting to finally do some analysing in the lab. I’ve learnt a lot of analytical techniques that I’d only ever read about back in A-Level Chemistry!” Jess shares, just over a year into her degree now.

As a result of their project, not only did they produce a reference data set and a research poster detailing their efforts, but an installation that graced the Material Museum in the foyer of the UCL Slade School of Fine Art this past November. Yet, for Alexa and Jess, the best part about the Laidlaw Programme isn’t just the research.

“I didn’t expect to be paired up with the best research partner! I really learnt a lot from Alexa, and the fact that our degrees are so different made the whole interdisciplinary aspect of the project extremely exciting.”

“Working with Jess made it ten times better. It’s a match made in heaven!”

Their story is just one of many – what will yours be?  

Ambitious and driven? Be a researcher and a leader.

Through a mix of bespoke leadership training and intensive summer research periods, the Laidlaw Programme strives to create leaders of the future. Between November 26th, 2018 – January 20th, 2019, all first year undergraduates are invited to submit their applications. You’ll find out if you’re in by March 15th, 2019.

In your two-year scholarship, you’ll conduct two pieces of independent research and  receive tailored leadership training emphasising on communication skills and how to be a dynamic leader. No matter what you go on to do, your ability to speak confidently and fluently about your ideas will serve you for the rest of your life.

From Term 2 of Year 1 to Term 1 of Year 3, your participation in the Laidlaw Programme entails:

•    Six days (three weekends) of leadership training – in March, June and November
•    Two summer research periods of six weeks – usually at the start of your first and second year summer holidays
•    Compulsory attendance of the UCL Global Citizenship Programme, and acting as a Global Citizenship Ambassador.
•    A £3,300/year bursary in your first and second years, covering your London living costs for six weeks each summer.

Each summer, you take on a project of your choosing – related to your degree or otherwise. Will you be inspired by Alexa and Jess, or one of the other Laidlaw Scholars of years’ past? It’s up to you.

In your first year? Give it a shot!

Could you be one of the 25 first years accepting a bursary to conduct your own research project less than a year into your studies? From now until January 20th, 2019, send in your application and discover for yourself.

Jess’s advice? “Go for it! Apply, apply, apply! It doesn’t hurt to try: the one thing the programme really expects from you is your effort and enthusiasm for the project.” And Alexa? “Be brave and push yourself.”

For your chance to talk about the research you’d like to do with current Scholars and Supervisors, save the date: Tuesday, January 8 2019 at 12.30-2pm in Room 642, the Institute of Education – it’s a great opportunity.

Robert Vilkelis