The Research Ambassadors program is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students who are eager to utilize their knowledge, skills and interests to enhance the research culture at UNBC. As champions for research at UNBC, Research Ambassadors have research experience across a broad spectrum of research fields, ranging from sciences, natural sciences, and health sciences, to social sciences and humanities.
UNBC’s Research Ambassadors work closely with the Office of Research and Innovation and are passionate about sharing their research experiences with students. They promote research involvement, participate in formal and informal discussions, visit classes and participate in outreach activities. UNBC's Research Ambassadors also work closely with the Student Recruitment team to share their research experiences and opportunities with High School and incoming UNBC students.
Contact the Research Ambassadors at researchambassadors@unbc.ca or check out some of their activities on the UNBC RA Open Ed platform. You can also follow the Research Ambassadors on Instagram @unbc_researchambassadors.
Meet our Summer Research Ambassadors
Faten Elshal
Hello everyone! My name is Faten Elshal, and I was born and raised in Egypt. I moved to Canada in 2023 and transferred to UNBC to continue my undergraduate studies in Computer Science.
I chose UNBC because of its strong reputation as a top-rated small university with many opportunities for research, mentorship, and the close-knit sense of community. Currently, I'm in my final year, I’ve worked on projects that use machine learning and deep learning models to derive insights from data, fueling my passion for AI research. I am particularly interested in how AI can solve real-world problems and create smarter, more efficient systems.
In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to work as a summer camp leader at UNBC, where I used my computer science experience to teach coding to kids, an incredibly rewarding experience that further deepened my interest in education and technology.
As a research ambassador, I hope to inspire other students, particularly in the fields of AI and computer science, to get involved in research. It can be daunting at first, but the opportunities and support available at UNBC make it an incredibly rewarding experience. If you’d like to discuss research or learn more about the opportunities here, feel free to contact me at elshal@unbc.ca
Nusrat Panna
Hello everyone! My name is Nusrat Jahan Panna, and I come from Bangladesh. Currently, I’m pursuing my Master’s in Gender Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), and I have the privilege of serving as a Research Ambassador for the 2024-2025 academic year. My academic journey, beginning with a Bachelor’s and master’s in philosophy from the University of Dhaka, has nurtured my deep interest in gender, ethics, and cultural narratives—perspectives that continue to shape my research focus here in Canada.\
Research, for me, is about more than just quantitative analysis or lab-based experimentation. In my field, qualitative research takes center stage, allowing us to dive into human experiences, cultural identities, and ethical dilemmas through interviews, case studies, and deep observation. These methods give us profound insights into the complexities of society that numbers alone cannot fully capture. As a Research Ambassador, I am eager to inspire students to consider all forms of research and embrace the value of diverse methodologies.
UNBC’s intimate academic community is one of its greatest strengths. Here, you are not just a student—you are a collaborator, a critical thinker, and a key contributor to a vibrant intellectual environment. Our small class sizes and accessible faculty create ample opportunities for mentorship and personalized guidance, making it easier to immerse yourself in meaningful research that aligns with your passions. I am excited to be part of this community and to help foster connections between students and faculty, encouraging a collaborative research culture together.