Claas Mertens

I am a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and a Junior Research Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford. My current work is supported by a Leverhulme fellowship for a project on geoeconomics. Previously, I was a Fellow at Princeton University’s Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance. I hold a DPhil (PhD) in International Relations from the University of Oxford.

My research examines geoeconomics—especially international economic conflict, power, and risk—and the political economy of climate change, including sanctions and net-zero regulation. My work has appeared in International Studies Quarterly and The Review of International Organizations.

I previously worked at the international management consultancy Kearney and have taught quantitative research methods at Oxford. I also provide independent geopolitical consulting.

I was Rowing World Champion in 2015 and represented Oxford in the 2018 Oxford–Cambridge Boat Race; these days, I am a passionate (if very average) surfer.