New Ph.D. program launches
This fall marks start of UD's new doctoral program in financial services analytics
10:11 a.m., Oct. 16, 2014--A new University of Delaware doctoral program in financial services analytics (FSAN) teaches students to become experts at performing detailed research and analysis with large swaths of electronic information known as “big data” in the business world.
The unique program, resulting from a collaborative effort between the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, the College of Engineering, and JP Morgan Chase & Co. has gotten off to a strong start this semester.
Campus Stories
From graduates, faculty
Doctoral hooding
Ten students from diverse educational backgrounds were selected by a faculty committee to study and work as the first cohort of students in the FSAN program.
Current FSAN students and over 20 faculty members from several departments across campus came together for an informal meet and greet orientation on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Bintong Chen, professor of business administration and director of the program, asked the students and faculty to introduce themselves and share information about their backgrounds.
“I love how UD was able to merge finances, data mining, statistics and other areas to create the FSAN program,” said Leonardo De La Rosa Angarita, a current FSAN student. “This is also reflected in the diversity of the students. We come from different fields, and it is wonderful how we are able to complement each other in so many different ways.”
Long Chen, another doctoral candidate, said, “After I joined the program, I expected to learn about a broad range of disciplines to fill my toolkit, and that is exactly what we are doing for the first semester -- taking courses from the areas of finance, statistics and computer science. Although the program just started, I can tell we are heading in the right direction.”
Several faculty members across many disciplines are involved with teaching and mentoring FSAN students.
“The professors are always eager to help and assist us with any questions we might have,” said De La Rose Angarita. “You can see their enthusiasm and desire to teach us and help us understand the most important and crucial aspects of the financial services industry.”
Chen describes the FSAN program as one in which the students are trained as researchers and professionals who play key roles in interdisciplinary teams. He said that the program allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to convert vast amounts of data into meaningful information for businesses and consumers.
Students and faculty were excited to have such a diverse group of faculty and students in one room sharing information about their unique backgrounds and skills.
"I always wondered what would happen if engineers and economists would speak the same language, if professors would be more open to the world outside the walls of their offices and if industry would get more interested in what we study in our classrooms,” said Eriselda Danaj, another candidate in the program. “It is challenging and I love it."
Photos by Evan Krape