Jacob Mardell's research at MERICS focused on China’s global connectivity and development agenda, competition with China in third countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He has conducted field research on China's economic footprint in several countries, including in Central Asia and the Western Balkans. He holds a Master’s degree in Chinese Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and spent a year studying Chinese at Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics in Hangzhou.