What brought you to work at SSEES?
I have always been passionate about quantitative methods, not only as a research area, but also as a way of helping students understand complex economic and financial questions more clearly. SSEES has been a very inspiring place for me because I am surrounded by colleagues who care deeply about their fields and by students who are motivated, curious and willing to engage with challenging ideas. That combination makes it a very rewarding environment in which to teach, develop new materials, and contribute to the wider academic community.
If you weren’t working in higher education, what would be your dream job?
I would probably be working in financial market research. My PhD was in Quantitative Finance, focusing on currency crash risk in forex market, so I have always been interested in how financial markets behave, how risk is priced, and how quantitative models can help us understand uncertainty. A role that combines data, market behaviour and rigorous analysis would be a natural alternative path for me.
Can you tell us a bit about your current role and what you were doing before you arrived here?
I am currently a Lecturer in Economics and Business at UCL SSEES. My teaching focuses mainly on quantitative methods, applied econometrics, and topics related to financial markets. I have designed and delivered postgraduate and undergraduate courses, and I have also incorporated recent research topics in green finance and emerging market into traditional econometrics teaching. Alongside teaching, I run dissertation workshop and supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations in area of financial markets, macroeconomics and applied empirical research.
I also serve as an Admissions Tutor, which has allowed me to contribute to student recruitment, programme development and outreach activities. particularly enjoy this part of my role because it gives me the opportunity to showcase SSEES’s strengths and distinctive character to a wider audience, while helping ambitious students connect with the areas of study and research that SSEES is known for.
Before joining SSEES, I completed my PhD in Quantitative Finance at the University of Glasgow, where my research examined currency crash risk in Forex market. My academic background also includes high-performance computing and information systems, which has shaped the way I approach quantitative research and teaching. In addition, I have experience in investment consulting, where I have worked on trading strategies, portfolio construction and asset selection using mathematical and statistical models.
Outside of work, how do you unwind?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and my son. After a busy day of teaching, research or meetings, being with them helps me slow down and regain perspective. It is a very simple but important part of my life.
If you could recommend only one book, what would it be?
I would recommend Fooled by Randomness by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. The book explores how chance, uncertainty and human judgement shape outcomes, particularly in life and in financial markets. I like it because it reminds us to be humble when interpreting data and success. In my own work, whether I am teaching quantitative methods, researching financial markets, or thinking about risk, this message is very meaningful. Models are powerful tools, but we also need to understand their limitations and remain alert to uncertainty. That is an idea I try to bring into both my teaching and my research.
What is your biggest professional achievement to date?
My biggest professional achievement is probably building a career that connects rigorous quantitative research, teaching, and real-world financial practice. I am proud of having developed and delivered quantitative methods and econometrics teaching to students from different backgrounds, and of helping them gain confidence with technical material.
At the same time, my experience in investment consulting has allowed me to apply quantitative models beyond the classroom and academic research. Bringing these different parts of my professional life together, research, teaching, student support and practical market analysis is something I value deeply.