Application Information

Faculty Member Information

Faculty Supervisor Name: Trish Kahle

Faculty Supervisor Department: International History

Faculty Research Focus/Interest: I am an energy historian, currently working on a project on the global history of American electrification projects

Faculty Supervisor Email: pk712@georgetown.edu

Project Details

Project Title: The Heart of Electrical Empire: American Electrification from Colonial Rule to Development Aid in the Philippines

Project Summary: The Heart of Electrical Empire will examine how electric power systems shaped U.S.-Philippine relations over the course of the 20th century, from the early years of U.S. occupation through the People Power Revolution against the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. in 1986. We will consult newspaper and archival records from both Filipino and American sources to understand how electric power provision became a key site where the meaning and legitimacy of American presence in the archipelago was contested. We will also examine how, after Philippine independence, the U.S. influence continued through financial and technical assistance programs aimed at developing an extensive network of rural electric cooperatives. The history of electricity is often told from the perspective of engineers in the control room and policymakers and investors in the political and financial core of the United States, but we will focus on reading available sources against the grain to uncover the experiences and labors of Filipino electric workers, and colonial processes of racialization. We will also examine how rural electric power cooperatives deepened the afterlife of American colonialism in the Philippines as both the United States and Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. tried to turn these development programs to their own ends.

Laidlaw Scholar Responsibilities:

During the six-week project period, the scholar will assist me in conducting archival and newspaper research on electrification in the Philippines during the 20th century. For two weeks, the work will take place in Washington, D.C. at the Library of Congress, which has extensive microfilm holdings of Philippine newspapers. We will then spend one week in Ann Arbor, Michigan reviewing archival holdings of American colonial officials at the Bentley Historical Library. Finally, we will travel to Manila to complete three weeks of archival research at the National Library of the Philippines and the Rizal Library at Ateneo de Manila University. This is an ideal opportunity for a student interested in pursuing their own archival project to gain hands-on research experience.

The scholar will:

• Review and compile notes on newspaper coverage related to electrification projects
• Organize reproductions and notes into relevant project files
• Review and analyze archival documents along with me in the archive.
• Write weekly research memos for the project archive
• Work to develop their own independent research from the project materials.

Expected Scholar Deliverables:

The scholar will produce an essay of approximately 10,000 words based on the materials they have consulted in the archives that helps to advance our understanding of Philippine electrification and its relationship to U.S. colonial policy and post-independence U.S.-funded development projects.

Do you expect this project to run longer than six weeks?

Yes

Project Requirements or Skills:

• Experience with reading primary source materials
• Attention to detail and careful note-taking
• Basic knowledge of how to read cursive handwriting
• Helpful but not required: Proficiency in Filipino/Tagalog

Faculty Member Information

Faculty Supervisor Name: Nadia Brown

Faculty Supervisor Department: Professor of Government and Director of Women’s and Gender Studies

Faculty Research Focus/Interest: political behavior, intersectionality, minority politics, elected officials

Faculty Supervisor Email: nb865@georgetown.edu

Project Details

Project Title: An Intersectional Analysis of Violence against Women Political Leaders

Project Summary: This project seeks to examine how race, gender and other identities influence how women political leaders respond to and resist this moment. Specifically, we ask: how are women meeting the challenges of the moment? What does this mean for their ability to govern? How do they think about their constituencies and communities, and defending democracy? How are they dealing with threats of violence and discrimination? And what does this mean for our understanding of descriptive and substantive representation?

Laidlaw Scholar Responsibilities:

Laidlaw Scholar will be responsible for developing an annotated bibliography for the project, assisting with scheduling focus groups and interviews with elected officials, and overseeing the final documentation of the project to submit to project funders.

Expected Scholar Deliverables:

The Laidlaw scholars may use the data collected from the project to present their own academic poster

Do you expect this project to run longer than six weeks?

No

Project Requirements or Skills:

• Excellent communicator
• Self-driven
• Self-starter
• Critical thinker
• Excellent writer
• Very organized

Faculty Member Information

Faculty Supervisor Name: Monica Sanders

Faculty Supervisor Department: Law Center, SCS-EDM Program

Faculty Research Focus/Interest: environmental and climate justice (law, policy), technology policy

Faculty Supervisor Email: ms4532@georgetown.edu

Project Details

Project Title: Mapping AI and Climate Resilience: Legal and Policy Perspectives

Project Summary: This project examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is being integrated into disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and sustainability governance. As part of the Anthem Series on Law, AI, and Resilience, the Scholar will analyze how legal frameworks, governance models, and ethical considerations shape the use of AI tools in climate risk management. The project will combine literature review, case study analysis, and applied digital mapping. Scholars will engage with academic sources and practitioner reports, gaining skills in interdisciplinary research and data visualization. By the end of the project, the Scholar will produce both a research essay and a StoryMap, creating an accessible way to share findings with a broader public. This project is designed to provide training in research, writing, and applied digital tools, while contributing to a timely global conversation on technology and resilience.

Laidlaw Scholar Responsibilities:

The Scholar will work closely with their mentor to explore the intersections of AI, law, and climate resilience. Day-to-day responsibilities will include:

•  Conducting a structured literature review on AI applications in disaster and climate governance.
• Identifying and analyzing case studies across different regions.
• Drafting research memos and supporting comparative analysis of legal frameworks.
• Designing a StoryMap that presents research findings in a visually engaging and accessible way, integrating maps, images, and case study summaries.
• Meeting regularly with their mentor for feedback, guidance on academic writing, and training in digital storytelling methods. 

This project will provide hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research and the opportunity to co-create outputs that bridge academic and public audiences.

Expected Scholar Deliverables:

The Scholar will produce a research essay (8–10 pages) summarizing their findings and an interactive StoryMap in lieu of a traditional academic poster. The StoryMap will visually display case studies and key insights on how AI is being used in climate resilience and governance. Together, these outputs will contribute to the Anthem Series and provide transferable skills in research, writing, and digital communication.

Do you expect this project to run longer than six weeks?

No

Project Requirements or Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Interest in technology, law, or climate-related issues.
• Willingness to learn digital storytelling tools such as ArcGIS StoryMaps.
• An openness to interdisciplinary work and enthusiasm for combining research with creative digital presentation.

Faculty Member Information

Faculty Supervisor Name: Rodrigo Maillard

Faculty Supervisor Department: Chemistry

Faculty Research Focus/Interest: Biochemistry and Biophysics, Computational Biology

Faculty Supervisor Email: ram279@georgetown.edu

Project Details

Project Title: Biophysical Principles in Transcription Regulation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Project Summary: Our lab studies how proteins in *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*—the bacterium that causes tuberculosis—control gene expression through physical and structural changes. We are especially interested in how signaling molecules and mechanical forces alter protein shape and stability, influencing how genes are turned on or off. Using advanced biophysical tools such as optical tweezers, we can measure the tiny forces and motions that occur when a single protein folds, unfolds, or binds to DNA.

We combine these experiments with computer simulations to visualize how changes at one site in a protein affect its overall motion and activity. By comparing the *M. tuberculosis* regulatory protein CRP with its well-studied counterpart in *E. coli*, we uncover how evolution has adjusted the physical properties that control gene regulation. This research connects molecular structure to biological function and helps explain how pathogens adapt to stress and survive under challenging conditions.

Laidlaw Scholar Responsibilities:

As a Laidlaw Scholar, the student will participate in experimental work aimed at understanding how proteins from *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* regulate gene expression. Day-to-day responsibilities will include preparing buffers, purifying proteins, and assisting with optical tweezers experiments to measure protein unfolding and binding forces. The scholar will learn how to handle delicate biophysical instruments, collect quantitative data, and ensure careful experimental documentation. These experiments will help reveal how structural changes in proteins influence their ability to control gene activity.

In addition to hands-on experiments, the student will engage in quantitative data analysis. This will involve using nonlinear least-squares fitting methods, statistical error analysis, and curve interpretation to extract thermodynamic parameters from experimental data. They will also learn how to assess data reproducibility and identify trends across biological replicates. Through this combination of laboratory and analytical work, the Laidlaw Scholar will gain a strong foundation in quantitative biochemistry and molecular biophysics.

Expected Scholar Deliverables:

By the end of the project, the Laidlaw Scholar will present a research poster summarizing their experimental and analytical findings on the biophysical mechanisms of gene regulation in *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*. The poster will include quantitative results from optical tweezers experiments and statistical data analyses. The scholar will also contribute to the preparation of a manuscript for publication, helping to organize figures, interpret data, and refine the scientific narrative that connects molecular measurements to biological function.

Do you expect this project to run longer than six weeks?

Yes

Project Requirements or Skills:

• Persistence and Problem-Solving: Experiments involving single molecules and protein purification require patience and troubleshooting. Scholars must be able to adapt protocols, think critically about unexpected outcomes, and approach challenges with curiosity and resilience.
• Attention to Detail: Scholars must be meticulous in preparing samples, maintaining experimental conditions, and recording data accurately, as small errors can affect biophysical measurements and quantitative analyses.
• Quantitative and Analytical Thinking: The project involves nonlinear curve fitting and statistical error analysis, so scholars should be comfortable with data interpretation, basic mathematical modeling, and identifying patterns or inconsistencies in experimental results.