Laidlaw Scholars Application and Criteria

The program is open to Tufts first and second year undergraduate students, preferably in their sophomore year. Students must be able to commit to two consecutive summers while enrolled as an undergraduate. Students are not permitted to count the summer following their graduation as the second summer.

• Laidlaw Scholars should plan to:
  • Spend one summer working on a 6 week (210-240 hours) research project.
  • Spend one summer working on a 6 week (210-240 hours) Leadership in Action project.
  • Leadership-in-Action (LiA) experiences should meet the following criteria:
    • An experience in a new community and personally challenging environment
    • Collaborating with and learning from community leaders
    • On a project which creates a sustainable impact.
      • Projects considered “voluntourism” are not allowed. Please see the “Policy on Ethical Community Engagement” in the “Leadership-in-Action (LiA) Project Guidelines and Resources”
    • Developing and demonstrating your leadership skills, attributes, and Laidlaw values

  • Meet the "Overseas Component": All Scholar must meet the requirement via one of the following manners. They include and are not limited to the following:

  • Scholars spend at least 6-weeks in a area immersed in a culture not their own.
    • This may be during the research project, Leadership-in-Action project, or study abroad.
  • Scholars who are from a foreign nation.
  • Scholars who are unable to obtain travel document
  • Exemptions due to emergent issues must be approved by Tufts OEO.

  • MANDATORY IN-PERSON (Unless otherwise posted): 86 hours of leadership workshops and research presentations during the program. Exact dates and locations will be shared as soon as they are determined by the Foundation.

  • May 10 through May 17, 2025 on Tufts Medford Campus (Exact Schedule TBD)
  • Laidlaw Scholars Conference, 2025 (Location & Dates TBD)
  • 2 Presentation Days (September Dates TBD in 2025 & 2026)
  • Laidlaw - Ethics Program 6 one-hour online sessions (Dates TBD)

  DELIVERABLES (please see the Timeline for Posts on the Laidlaw Scholars Network):
  • During the first summer:

  • Submit 3 posts to the Laidlaw Network before and during the project
  • Produce a poster to present at Research Day and post on the Laidlaw Network
  • Submit a 10 page research paper on your project to the Laidlaw Network

  • During the second summer:

  • Submit 6 posts weekly to the Laidlaw Network during the project
  • Present a 5-10 minute talk for Presentation Day. (This will be recorded and publicly posted.)
  • Submit 5 page reflection on your LiA and Abroad Experiences on the Laidlaw Network as described in the “Leadership-in-Action (LiA) Project Guidelines and Resources”
• Serve as an ambassador of the program
• Keep the central Laidlaw Program informed of career developments in future years via the Laidlaw Network website