Hi! I'm Amanda, a third year Neuroscience student and Laidlaw alum from UCL. I'm Swedish-Persian and grew up in Sweden before moving to London for uni. These days, alongside my studies, I work for the Foundation as a Marketing Assistant. For my first year research project, I worked on optimising alginate hydrogels for 3D astrocyte culture systems. In simpler terms, I was figuring out the best way to prepare a jelly-like scaffolds so that star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes could grow in three dimensions rather than flat on a dish. This matters because 3D environments mimic the brain more realistically, which could help researchers develop better treatments for neurological disorders!  For my Leadership-in-Action project, I co-created Beyond the Books, a resource designed to help students from underrepresented backgrounds navigate the unwritten rules of university life, from internships and networking to professional opportunities that aren't always obvious if you're the first in your family to go to uni. Always happy to connect, whether you want to chat about neuroscience, widening access, the Laidlaw experience, or just say hello! One of my favourite things about this community is getting to meet people from different universities and backgrounds, so please do reach out! 🌟

Community strategy, marketing and communications leader focused on community building, community led growth and community based marketing. A recognised leading specialist, speaker, trainer and lecturer with 25 years+ experience in a mix of consultancy, agency and in-house roles. Co-author of Community Based Marketing (CBM) Best Practice Guide and developer of The Periodic Table of Community Strategy. Michelle has also lectured in Community Strategy at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Community Management expert with over 15 years background building digital strategy and driving engagement with diverse audiences. Former Community Manager for MoneySavingExpert.com. Clients worked with include Facebook, Sky, Greenpeace, World Bank, Springer Nature Publishing, Innogy (formerly RWE), Scope, Mind, Society for Neuroscience, Digicel, Vorwerk, Truth Initiative (Mayo clinic), Townsquared, and the NHS.