Rotman Finance Lab

About the Lab

In recent years, world financial markets have grown exponentially in size and exposure. With increasing globalization, market and company developments require rapid, accurate, and sophisticated in-depth analysis. To enhance its competitiveness in this environment and to further its reputation for academic excellence, the Rotman School of Management has developed the BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab. This high-tech facility enables students, faculty and staff to interact with the global financial community and its resources in a real-time setting.

For training sessions, the Lab has 71 dual flat panel stations equipped with Factset, S&P Capital IQ, and real-time data feeds, six Bloomberg terminals, two media/data awalls and an integrated sound system. In addition, the Lab has a growing stock of custom-designed applications software. For example, trading and risk management simulations are conducted using Rotman Interactive Trader; and portfolio management training using Rotman Portfolio Manager. Research databases include NYSE's TAQ, TSE (CFRMC), Compustat, CRSP, and Datastream.

Students' training will be enhanced by providing access to worldwide information on fundamentals, research, news and prices, as well as by using industry applications. This allows students to implement the material they are learning in the classroom. In addition, according to Founding Director Tom McCurdy, "a primary objective of the Lab is for participants to learn how to make good financial decisions in complex environments taking account of, and managing, uncertainty about the future. Our simulation-based learning applications are designed to achieve this objective. For example, our RIT cases provide an opportunity for students to learn how to develop robust strategies that work well across the whole range of potential outcomes. Our learning-by-doing approach is a foundation for learning how to learn which supports life-long learning and innovation."

This state-of-the-art multi-function laboratory creates new opportunities for training, teaching, research, product and curriculum development. The Finance Lab provides a focal point for research and training in a range of financial disciplines including: investment strategy and portfolio management; financial engineering and risk management; trading; and analysis of the microstructure of markets.

Tom McCurdy (Academic Director)

Bonham Chair in International Finance
Professor of Finance,
Lab Founder and Academic Director

Email:

Send an email to Tom McCurdy

Website:

www-2.rotman.utoronto.ca/~tmccurdy

Eric Kang (Senior Research Associate)

Email:

Send an email to Eric Kang

About

Eric is an alumnus of the University of Toronto Rotman Commerce program. He was initially a lab assistant at the Finance Lab for previous years. His experience includes an analyst role at Business Development Asia LLC, a mid-market investment banking firm specialized in cross border M&A transactions. He served his military duty as a riot police sergeant in Korea.

Marco Amadasi (Administrative Assistant)

Email:

Send an email to Marco Amadasi

Email:

jackfy.chen@mail.utoronto.ca

About

Lab Assistant - Research Database Management

Zeyu (Billy) Sun

Email:

billy.sun@mail.utoronto.ca

About

Lab Assistant - Research Database Management

Lisa Wu

Email:

lisayue.wu@mail.utoronto.ca

About

Lab Assistant - Research Database Management

Jasper Chan

Email:

jasper.chan@utoronto.ca

About

Jasper Chan is an alumnus of the University of Toronto Engineering Science program. He is currently pursuing doctoral studies in physics at the California Institute of Technology. He is the programmer behind both Rotman Interactive Trader and Rotman Portfolio Manager.

Lab Alumni

If you are a Finance Lab alumnus but do not see yourself on this page, please e-mail one of the co-head lab assistants (sergey.sapelnyk@mail.utoronto.ca or mansour.dia@mail.utoronto.ca) and you will promptly be added to this page.