ProPublica announced the hiring of Gabriel Sandoval as a research reporter. In this role, he will work closely with the newsroom’s research team and colleagues across the newsroom, with a focus on projects with external partners through the Local Reporting Network and its newly launched sustainability desk. Sandoval is an alumnus of ProPublica; he worked as a research reporter from 2022-23 and was a member of the newsroom’s 2015 Emerging Reporters Program.

At ProPublica, Sandoval was on the reporting team of two award-winning series: “Checked Out,” which investigated how LA failed to stop landlords from turning low-cost housing into tourist hotels, with partners at Capital & Main; and “Uprooted,” which exposed how a university destroyed a black, middle-class neighborhood in Virginia, with the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism.

Sandoval was most recently a statehouse reporter at The Associated Press in Arizona, where he covered the border, immigration and election-related issues. He has also worked as a reporter at The City.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gabriel back to our team here at ProPublica,” said Lynn Dombek, research editor. “His organizational skills and keen eye for detail will elevate the work of our newsroom partners around the country, and our own newsroom.”

“ProPublica is an investigative powerhouse with a stellar track record for producing smart, ambitious journalism that spurs real-world change,” Sandoval said. “I’m beyond thrilled to return to the team and to collaborate with our colleagues across the newsroom and country.”