Laura Ballerini is pursuing a DPhil in International Development at the University of Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar. Her primary research interests include entrepreneurship, global health, and African politics and history. Laura’s DPhil project examines the rising prominence of social enterprises in development and health projects in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya.

Prior to the DPhil, Laura completed an MPhil in Development Studies at the University of Oxford, where she received the Eugene Havas Memorial Prize for best overall performance. Her academic work has been published in the Journal of Development Studies and Sustainability Science, and she has contributed articles to various news outlets, including the Italian national newspaper Il Giorno.