Hao Chen is a political scientist with expertise in comparative political economy. His research focuses on business-government relations, state financialization, and industrial transformation. Currently, his research projects examine the role of modern states in economic growth and innovation, with particular attention to how state-backed venture capital facilitates innovation and industrial upgrading in emerging market economies. Methodologically, his work adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining large-N quantitative data on investments with qualitative analysis of company annual reports. Before joining the Kennedy School, he taught at the University of Southern California and in the Schwarzman Scholars Program. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Boston University.