Political economist and development researcher
Dina Zabaneh is a political economist and development researcher specializing in labour market policies, gender relations, and inclusive economic development in the Arab Mediterranean region. She holds a PhD (magna cum laude) in Politics and Gender Relations from Philipps Universität Marburg and a Master’s in Financial Economics from Kingston University London. Her work integrates feminist, institutional, and political economy approaches to address employment systems, SME development, and refugee inclusion across the Middle East and Europe. Dina has led and managed EU-funded and international projects with organizations such as the ILO, KOICA, and the European Union, bridging research with policy implementation. She is fluent in Arabic and English, with working proficiency in German, and focuses on translating evidence into practical, gender-responsive policy solutions.
Meet the professional
I am a political economist and development practitioner working on labour markets, gender-responsive policy, and inclusive economic development across the Middle East and the EU. My role combines applied research, project management, and policy design to translate complex socio-economic challenges into practical programs and reforms.
My work sits at the intersection of social science, data-driven research, and applied policy design, which positions it firmly within STEM-informed development practice. By using mixed research methodologies, labour market analytics, and evaluation tools, I systematically analyse economic systems and translate findings into evidence-based interventions. This approach allows me to design scalable solutions for SMEs, entrepreneurship programs, and refugee inclusion initiatives through digital tools, monitoring frameworks, and innovation models. In parallel, my involvement in EU-funded and interdisciplinary projects connects social policy with technology, skills development, and emerging innovation ecosystems. Overall, while grounded in political economy, my work contributes directly to STEM through rigorous data analysis, systems thinking, and research-driven problem solving.
Skills
Critical thinking
"An essential analytical skill, alongside reasoning and problem-solving."
Problem-solving
"Analysis, management, and development rank highest among my business skills."
Editing
"Particularly useful while working on my PhD research."
Presentations
"A communication skill I've relied on throughout my research career."
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
"At the forefront of IT, though skills vary by area of focus."
Leadership
"Crucial to my career, developed over more than a decade."
Negotiation
"Equally important alongside leadership and people management."
Public Relations
"Essential to understand, even without being my strongest area."
Adaptability
"Key when working on regional and international projects."
Advice to take away
I would tell students, you do not have to decide everything right away, and you do not have to figure out your career path by the time you are 22. I advise you to explore all the things you like, even if it seems hard or weird at times. Pursue the unpopular projects; this is where you can make a difference and choose a career path that will make you happy, not one that is expected of you.
Check out the materials
Disclaimer
This Career sheet has been provided by means of the IDEAL project. Scientix® is an initiative of European Schoolnet®.