CASIF Doctoral Conference returns to showcase outstanding research in finance

The Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance (CASIF) hosted its second annual Doctoral Conference.

On 19th May 2026, the Centre for Advanced Studies in Finance (CASIF) hosted its annual conference bringing together postgraduate researchers (PGRs) for a day of scholarly exchange and community building. 

The conference provided a dynamic platform for second- and third-year doctoral researchers to present their ongoing work across a wide range of finance-related topics. This year's programme covered an impressive breadth of themes, spanning sustainable finance and corporate climate behaviour, banking stability and fintech, capital markets and investor dynamics, and the intersection of competition, labour, and corporate governance.

Third-year PGRs Fangqi Guo, Bipasha Barua, and Hao Xu presented alongside second-year PGRs Wen Yang, Wangyang Li, Yuxuan Liu, Minh Tran, and Zhoutong Cao, reflecting the strong pipeline of doctoral talent within CASIF. 

 

Fangqi Guo

 

Bipasha Barua

 

Hao Xu

 

Wen Yang

 

Wangyang Li

 

Yuxuan Liu

 

Minh Tran

 

Zhoutong Cao

The event was chaired by CASIF Directors Professor Kevin Keasey, Professor Danilo Mascia, and Dr Effie Symitsi. 

Throughout the day, presenters engaged in dialogue with peers and faculty, receiving valuable feedback to help shape the next stages of their research. Attendees once again highlighted the positive and collegial atmosphere as a standout feature of the event. 

Professor Kevin Keasey, Director of CASIF, underlined the significance of the conference for the School's research mission:

The CASIF Doctoral Conference has quickly become one of the highlights of our academic year. It is always a pleasure to see our doctoral researchers share their work in such an open and collegial setting, and the quality and variety of the research presented this year was truly impressive.

Professor Kevin Keasey

Professor Danilo Mascia, Deputy Director of CASIF and co-organiser of the conference, added:

It is wonderful to see the CASIF Doctoral Conference go from strength to strength. Each year, our doctoral researchers demonstrate the breadth and quality of the work being carried out within the School, and this year was no exception.

Dr Effie Symitsi, also a Deputy Director, said:

Watching our doctoral researchers present their work with such confidence and rigour is truly inspiring. The conference continues to play a vital role in fostering a vibrant and supportive research community at the Business School.

The conference is now firmly established as an annual fixture in the CASIF calendar, and the team looks forward to welcoming doctoral researchers back again next year.