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)
Professor of Finance,
Lab Founder and Academic Director
Eric Kang (Senior Research Associate)
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)
Marco is a graduate of the University of Toronto Economics and Asia-Pacific Studies programs. After his internship experiences in asset management and marketing firms in the US and Europe, he worked in the real estate finance industry in Toronto for two and a half years. He joined the Finance Lab in 2017.
Lab Assistants 2018 - 2019
The lab assistant team is dedicated to helping students use the various financial programs and software available at the lab stations. Each of the lab assistants has a specialized role that keeps the lab functioning in an efficient manner, as identified below. Lab assistants are available at the lab from 9:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m from Monday through Friday, feel free to approach any on-duty lab assistant if you have any questions or concerns related to lab resources.
Saarah Sheikh
Co-head Lab Assistant
Saarah is a fourth year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. She loves singing, travelling, and dancing. Outside the lab, you can find Saarah exploring the city with her friends.
William Rodgers
Co-head Lab Assistant
William is a third year student at Rotman specializing in Finance & Economics. He enjoys competitive Taekwondo and travelling around the world.
Judson Asiruwa
Lab Assistant - Rotman International Trading Competition Event Co-Organizer
Judson is a third year student at Rotman specializing in Finance & Economics. He loves to take long walks on the beach and hosting backyard BBQs.
Janki Shah
Lab Assistant - Rotman International Trading Competition Event Co-Organizer
Janki is a second year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. She enjoys travelling and she takes pleasure in photography. She wishes to go backpacking across Europe one day.
Mary Li
Lab Assistant - Competition Management
Mary is a third year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. She enjoys watching movies and long walks by Lake Shore.
Milliene Xu
Lab Assistant - Competition Management
Milliene is a third year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics with a Computer Science minor. She loves traveling and is passionate about food, with a huge appreciation for it's cultural variety and an unending list of places she wants to try eating at.
Diana Zhang
Lab Assistant - Competition Management
Diana is a third year Rotman Commerce student specializing in Finance and Economics. She is a world traveller in the making, health and fitness junkie, and total fan of anything and everything food related.
Yi-Yin (Tony) Tsai
Lab Assistant - Software / Workstation Management
Tony is a fourth year student at Rotman Commerce. In his spare time, Tony likes to travel around with his friends and capture natural sceneries with a camera.
Jinhyung Kwon
Lab Assistant - Software / Workstation Management
Jin is a third year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. He enjoys playing soccer and is a big Liverpool fan.
Anh Nguyen
Lab Assistant - Software / Workstation Management
Anh is a second year student at Rotman specializing in Finance and Economics. She enjoys photography, and plays badminton in her spare time.
Ralph Kerrebijn
Lab Assistant - Software / Workstation Management
Ralph is a second year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. He enjoys travelling, soccer and working out. He wishes to one day move back to Europe after enjoying life in Toronto.
Rebecca Kay
Lab Assistant - Development
Rebecca is a fourth year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. She is an active tree planter and enjoys canoing by the lake.
Thomas Ma
Lab Assistant - Development
Thomas is a third year student studying the Economics and Mathematics specialist and Computer Science minor. In addition to working in the finance lab, Thomas is a peer mentor in the FLC program and is actively pursuing research in applied math and computer science.
Dorothy Zhang
Lab Assistant - Development
Dorothy is a third year Engineering Science student majoring in Mathematics, Statistics, and Finance. She loves to explore international museums and is an avid tennis player.
Zena Xing
Lab Assistant - Product Management
Zena is a fourth year student specializing in Finance & Economics at Rotman Commerce. In her spare time, Zena likes to plan events, practice piano and explore the outdoors.
Yuxi (Chelsea) Chen
Lab Assistant - Product Management
Chelsea is a third year student specializing in Finance & Economics at Rotman Commerce. She likes classical guitar, graphic design, and badminton.
Jacky Liu
Lab Assistant - Research Database Management
Jacky is a fourth year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance, Economics, and Computer Science. He is a competitive eater and enjoys playing competitive poker.
Jack Chen
Lab Assistant - Research Database Management
Jack is a third year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. Besides working at the lab, he is also involved in the Rotman Commerce Students' Association. Jack is originally from Vancouver and enjoys skiing and travelling.
Zeyu (Billy) Sun
Lab Assistant - Research Database Management
Billy is a fourth year student at Rotman Commerce specializing in Finance & Economics. He enjoys downhill skiing and is a huge Toronto Raptors fan.
Lisa Wu
Lab Assistant - Research Database Management
Lisa is a second year student specializing in Finance & Economics at Rotman Commerce. She enjoys jamming out to pop music and loves to cook new foods.
Jasper Chan
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 (william.rodgers5@gmail.com or saarah.sheikh@mail.utoronto.ca) and you will promptly be added to this page.
2018
Ye, Tony
Contact:
tonyzj.ye@mail.utoronto.ca
Employment:
Princeton PhD Operations Research and Financial Engineering
2017
Li, Esther
Dai, David
Contact:
dave.dai@clsa.com
Employment:
Regional Head of Utilities research at Credit Suisse based in Hong Kong- RSM 2302 - Security Analysis and Portfolio Management
- RSM 2303 - Risk Modelling and Financial Trading Strategies
- RSM 2306 - Options and Futures Markets
- RSM 2310 - Analysis of Fixed Income Securities
- RSM 2315 - Value Investing
- RSM 2317 - Applied Portfolio Management
- RSM 4318 - Applied Portfolio Management
- RSM 4319 - Forecasting Risks and Opportunities for Financial Securities
- RSM 6302 - Financial Markets, Risk, and Institutions
- RSM 6304 - Operational Risk
- RSM 6306 - Probabilistic Modelling for Risk-Informed Decisions
- MMF 1920 - Investment and Finance
- RSM 230 - Financial Markets
- RSM 330 - Investments
- RSM 333 - Corporate Finance
- RSM 361 - Human Resource Management
- RSM 430 - Analysis of Fixed Income Securities
- RSM 432 - Risk Management for Financial Managers
- RSM 434 - Financial Trading Strategies
- RSM 435 - Futures and Options Markets
- JRE300 - Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance
- Masters of Financial Risk Management MATLAB Sessions
- Microsoft Excel Training
- Masters of Finance VBA Training
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
The following courses integrate the Rotman Finance Lab in their lectures and assignments: