Zainab works as a Research Assistant for the Water Management in Basra, Iraq project led by Dr Michael Mason. She has a BSc in Modern History and International Relations from the University of Essex and a Master’s in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Upon competition of her academic studies, Zainab started her professional career working within the NGO and charity sector. In May 2019, Zainab completed an internship for a 2-year European Commission funded project called Safe Women in Migration (SWIM) at the British Red Cross (BRC). 

British-born to Iraqi parents, Zainab has been conducting research and submitting entries on Iraqi contemporary politics and Iraqi history since 2013. Topics raised include reasons for US support to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War, the US and democratisation in Iraq, the rise of ISIS in Iraq, and the recent 2019 protests regarding corruption, limited public services and unemployment issues.