Jessica Edelson

Research Associate

jedelson@cohengroup.net

Ms. Jessica Edelson joined The Cohen Group in January 2024 after earning her master’s degree in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University as a Schwarzman Scholar. Her capstone project examined Chinese technology investments in the Middle East, with a focus on smart cities, artificial intelligence, and cloud projects.

Ms. Edelson received her BA from Duke University, where she studied political science, media studies, and information science as a Robertson Scholar. On campus, Ms. Edelson led the university’s cyber policy team, conducted research within the Tech Policy Lab, and served as a representative to the Board of Trustees. Her honors research focused on state-backed digital repression, including spyware, targeted cyber attacks, disinformation, censorship, and surveillance.

Previously, Ms. Edelson interned for a Responsible AI research team at Microsoft and a strategy team at Nokia. She has worked at multiple NGOs on projects pertaining to privacy, cybersecurity, internet governance, and civic technology.

Raised in Pennsylvania, Ms. Edelson has also lived in Jerusalem and Beijing. She enjoys hiking, reading, and cheering for Duke basketball.