Jesper Petersen (born 25 August 1981 in Haderslev) is a Danish politician, who is a member of the Folketing for the Social Democrats political party. He is currently serving as Minister of Higher Education and Science. He was elected into parliament at the 2007 Danish general election, as a member of the Socialist People's Party. He switched party to the Social Democrats in 2013.

Petersen was first elected into parliament at the 2007 election, where he was a member of the Socialist People's Party. He was reelected in 2011, but during the term he switched party to the Social Democrats. The switch happened on 21 March 2013. He was reelected as a member of his new party in 2015 and 2019. On 16 August he became the Minister of Higher Education and Science after a minor cabinet shuffle in the Frederiksen Cabinet.^[1][2]