Sarah Hasselbarth studied Political Science and Islamic Studies (M.A.) in Erlangen and Birzeit and Arabic and Hebrew in Haifa. During her studies, she gained first work experience in the Federal Foreign Office and with Save the Children in the Palestinian Territories. She worked as programme officer for the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in the Training for International Diplomats of the Federal Foreign Office. During her Mercator fellowship, she will compare the situation of the Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon and investigate options for regional cooperation.