Aileen Schäfer is an economist and doctoral candidate within the Trade Policy Research Group at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, as well as at the Chair of International Economics at Bielefeld University. Her research focuses on international trade, trade policy, and international political economy. A particular emphasis lies on the interactions between political frameworks and the competitive environment of firms, for example in the context of trade agreements, as well as their effects on international trade flows.

Aileen Schäfer obtained her bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Sciences from the University of Würzburg, and her master's degree in International Economic Policy from the Universities of Würzburg and Umeå. As a student research assistant, she gained experience in field research, among other things, as part of the EU-funded study "Kids'n Groups."

Prior to her current position, she was affiliated as a Junior Fellow at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. She has also worked in the regional economic policy department at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, as well as in the strategy department at a multinational company in the food and pharmaceutical industry.