Laura Mahrenbach is a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute and an adjunct professor at the Technical University of Munich. Her current research explores how global power shifts and technology interact, with a special focus on AI and big data in emerging markets, including BRICS. Previous work examined dilemmas of national and global governance in trade, development, and finance. 

Dr. Mahrenbach has written extensively on these topics for academic and general audiences and is a frequent speaker in global policy and academic dialogues such as the Raisina Dialogue, the Transatlantic Digital Debates, and the 12th Sino–German Forum. Her current co-edited project proposes a new strategy — workarounding — to explain how middle powers are navigating U.S.–China competition in the realm of technology.

Dr. Mahrenbach additionally works as a research consultant in Germany and the United States and serves as a senior adviser to Cascade Advisory, a Washington, D.C.–based consulting firm specializing in digital technologies and clean energy. 

She holds the Venia Legendi in political science from the Technical University of Munich, a Ph.D. in social sciences from the Ruhr University Bochum, an M.A. in international affairs from Florida State University, and a B.A. in political science from Louisiana State University.