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The Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme
Group of Laidlaw Scholars

Laidlaw Supervisors

By becoming a Laidlaw Supervisor at Durham, you will support talented and motivated undergraduate students to develop as independent researchers and undertake original, academically rigorous research.

Laidlaw Scholars have the opportunity to explore research topics beyond their undergraduate studies while working closely with an academic supervisor. Supervisors play an important role in supporting scholars to develop their research skills, academic confidence and understanding of the research process.

All Laidlaw Scholars receive a stipend during the programme to support their living costs and enable them to focus on their research.

Propose a Project for 2027

If you have a research project suitable for a high-performing undergraduate student, we invite you to submit a pre-defined research project for the 2027 Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme.

Project Proposal Form:
[LINK]

Deadline for Project Proposals: 5 October 2026

At this stage, only an outline project proposal is required.

Projects should:

  • run for the equivalent of six weeks of full-time research, normally between 23 June and 9 August 2027;
  • be stimulating and academically challenging while remaining appropriate for an undergraduate researcher;
  • have clearly defined aims and achievable outcomes within the six-week research period;
  • provide an appropriate level of academic supervision and support.

If you anticipate any conflicts with the research period, please contact the Laidlaw Team. Alternative arrangements may be agreed where appropriate, provided the project remains equivalent to six weeks of full-time research.

As part of the Project Proposal Form, supervisors will be asked to identify up to three essential skills or criteria that applicants should demonstrate.

Please note that submitting a project does not guarantee that a scholar will be allocated to it. Allocation will depend on student applications and the programme selection process.

Your Role in the Selection Process

Prospective scholars are encouraged to contact and meet with supervisors before submitting their application to ensure that they understand the proposed project.

As a project supervisor, you may therefore be asked to:

  • answer questions from prospective applicants;
  • meet with prospective applicants to discuss the project;
  • review applications submitted for your project;
  • assess applicants against the essential criteria identified in your project proposal; and
  • provide feedback on your preferred applicant(s) to the Laidlaw Team.

Final decisions regarding admission to the programme and allocation of scholars to projects will be made through the Laidlaw selection process.

If a scholar is allocated to your project, you will work with them to further develop the research proposal before the Summer Research period.

Research Costs

Laidlaw Scholars receive a stipend to support their accommodation and living costs during the Summer Research period.

Limited additional research funding may also be available for eligible project-related expenses. Depending on the project, these may include research materials, travel, conference registration, accommodation or other reasonable research costs.

Research funding is limited and cannot be guaranteed. Any anticipated project costs should therefore be identified in the Project Proposal Form. Retrospective requests for funding cannot normally be considered.

Where research funding is requested, scholars should discuss the proposed expenditure with their supervisor and obtain their approval before submitting a request to the Laidlaw Team.

Supervisor Responsibilities

Academic supervisors are responsible for overseeing the scholar's research project and providing appropriate academic guidance throughout the six-week research period.

Responsibilities include:

  • working with the scholar to develop a clear research plan, including appropriate objectives, milestones and expected outputs;
  • providing regular academic supervision throughout the scholar’s agreed six-week research period;
  • ensuring that the scholar has an appropriate point of contact during the research period, particularly during any periods when the primary supervisor is unavailable;
  • setting clear tasks, deadlines and expectations for the scholar;
  • supporting the scholar with access to appropriate research facilities and resources where required;
  • facilitating the departmental ethics approval process where applicable;
  • agreeing any necessary research-related travel or resource arrangements with the scholar;
  • monitoring the scholar's academic progress and wellbeing during the research period; and
  • reviewing and signing off the scholar's final research outputs before publication on the Laidlaw Scholars Network.

Supervisors should be available during the research period to supervise and mentor their scholar. If you anticipate a period of absence, appropriate alternative support should be arranged to ensure continuity of supervision.

Supervisors will also be invited to an information session before scholars are assigned, where further guidance on the programme, supervision requirements and research period will be provided.

Research Outputs

At the end of their Summer Research project, scholars are expected to produce:

  • a research report of up to 3,000 words; and
  • an A1 academic research poster.

Research outputs are normally shared through the Laidlaw Scholars Network and may also be used to showcase scholars' research.

If a proposed project involves confidential, proprietary or unpublished research that may not be suitable for publication, please contact the Laidlaw Team before submitting the project proposal.

The Second Year – Leadership in Action

In their second summer, Laidlaw Scholars undertake a Leadership in Action (LiA) experience.

For most scholars, the LiA experience will be separate from their first-year research project. However, in some cases there may be an opportunity for scholars to apply their research findings in a community or impact-focused setting during their second summer.

The Project Proposal Form therefore asks supervisors whether their proposed research could potentially provide an opportunity for a related Leadership in Action experience.

How Scholars Are Selected

Students may apply to undertake one of the pre-defined research projects proposed by academics or develop their own self-defined research project with the support of an appropriate academic supervisor.

Applicants are assessed on both their research potential and their potential to develop as ethical leaders.

The selection process considers the student's application, proposed research, academic support, feedback from the proposed project supervisor where applicable, and interview performance.

Final selection and project allocation decisions are made through the Laidlaw Programme selection process.

Benefits of Becoming a Laidlaw Supervisor

Becoming a Laidlaw Supervisor provides an opportunity to:

  • work with and mentor talented and motivated undergraduate researchers;
  • support the development of potential future postgraduate researchers;
  • develop research ideas through the contribution of a student researcher;
  • engage with the wider Laidlaw community of academics, scholars and partner universities; and
  • showcase your research, your scholar's work and your Department through Laidlaw activities and events.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about proposing a project, supervisor responsibilities or the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Programme, please contact:

Laidlaw Team
laidlaw.scholarships@durham.ac.uk