As the 2025 summer term kicks off, the Global Journalism Innovation Lab is thrilled to welcome three new research assistants. All three are 2nd year master’s students at the University of British Columbia School of Journalism, Writing, and Media.
The students will be working on a variety of projects, including a life course analysis, research on AI and journalism platforms, and providing editorial and research support to GJIL media partner The Conversation Canada.
Check out their impressive bios below!
Rahat Sandhu
Rahat Sandhu is a writer and journalist with a keen interest in international politics, the global economy, and the evolving landscape of digital media. She is entering the second year of her Master of Journalism at the University of British Columbia, and has a B.A. in Journalism and Psychology from India. Rahat began her professional journalism career at Thomson Reuters, where she worked as a business correspondent and covered breaking news across business, politics, and human interest beats.
She has spent time working in public relations and has contributed articles to articles for different websites, including La Source/The Source Newspaper and is a current editorial intern at NUVO Magazine, where she writes lifestyle features and supports the magazine’s digital marketing initiatives.
Rahat is deeply interested in how journalism can amplify underrepresented voices and examine the role of media in shaping narratives around marginalised communities. She is also exploring the intersection of journalism and technology, including how AI, data, and digital platforms are reshaping storytelling and audience engagement.
Faiz Ahmed
Faiz Ahmed is working as a researcher with The Conversation Canada after completing the first year of his Master of Journalism at the University of British Columbia. Faiz has previously worked as a sports writer in Pakistan where he covered the national team’s soccer matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as well as the Indian tennis team’s historic Davis Cup encounter with Pakistan after a five-decade hiatus. He worked for the French wire service, Agence France-Presse, during the 2024 national elections in Pakistan where his written pieces were published in multiple US-based media outlets and AFP’s website.
Outside of work, Faiz likes to learn about history and the decisions that led to the world reaching 2025. The usual place to find him during a semester is the Thunderbird and participating in UBC intramural soccer leagues. Upon meeting a stranger, he likes to ask questions about their life and what led them to reach the place they are at, during that point in time.
If you ever cross Faiz on a street, try to steer away from politics and soccer as the conversation won’t end.
Elif Zaimler
Elif Zaimler is entering her second year in the Master of Journalism program at the University of British Columbia. Originally from Turkey, she has a background in International Relations from Ozyegin University and completed her Honours degree in Communication and Media Studies at Carleton University, graduating with distinction.
She currently works as a Communications and Digital Media Assistant with UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and as a Graduate Academic Assistant in the Global Journalism Innovation Lab. She previously interned with the editorial team at Vancouver Magazine, where she contributed to coverage on arts, culture, and community stories. Her writing has also been published in The Ubyssey and The Source, exploring themes such as environmental sustainability, local events, and cross-border political and economic issues.
Elif is trilingual in English, French, and Turkish, and is passionate about human rights, international affairs, and political reporting. She has also worked at Canada Life and Amazon, where she gained experience in client communications, internal coordination, and human resources support—skills that strengthened her ability to navigate large organizations and communicate effectively across teams.
Her academic achievements include the Faculty of Arts Graduate Award (2024), the Murdoch Maxwell MacOdrum Scholarship (2019–2020), the Dean’s Honour List at Carleton, and the James L. and Donald A. Duncan Fellowship (2025).