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Seeking Quantitative Research Projects in Finance

Advisor

Jason Alexander New York, NY

I am currently employed and in the process of upgrading my technical skill-set in the programming and statistics realm and am looking to get involved with some projects in the financial services field on a part-time basis. Paid or not, purely academic or not, I am primarily interested in projects that would provide some entry-level exposure to the applications of certain technologies/ languages (ie Python, C++, Java, SAS, R, Matlab) in finance (options pricing, time-series analysis, Greek based risk management, Monte Carlo simulation, volatility analysis, etc). I already have rudimentary knowledge of OOP, just looking for way to connect the dots with finance. Any/all leads and information would be greatly appreciated.

3 November 2016 3 replies Education & Training

Answers

Advisor

John Green Cary, NC

I don't know that Greece would be a good example to follow given the failed Austerity measures there.

Are you asking about a graduate study program ? What offerings are there in your Alma mater ? Where did you graduate from , what University ?

What is the end-goal of your question ? Let's say you do "upgrade your technical skill-set", what will that buy you ? What is the point of upgrading ? What do you hope to do with your new found skill ?

3 November 2016 Helpful answer

Advisor

Richard Suvak Winchester, MA

As an investor who utilizes quantitative analysis in researching equities I suggest you spend more time learning a language(s) before diving into quantitative financial research. While I understand your desire to use financial research as a tool to learn higher level programming skills, I'm afraid your interest in financial research will get in the way of properly learning the language(s). Having said that, your stated path is not impossible. It's just that I believe it's not the most efficient. Essentially, you're at A, trying to get to C while only flirting with B. I'd suggest concentrating on B before you consider C.

However, if you choose to continue, I would focus on answering a specific question and/or building a specific application. Option based research is highly technical done largely by physicists and mathematicians these days, and there hasn't been a significant breakthrough since Black-Scholes. Time series analysis is done by many but not done particularly well by most. The key here is causality. Risk management, Monte Carlo simulation and volatility analysis (actually all of finance) needs an answer on inflection points. Answer that and you're an overnight billionaire.

I strongly recommend Matlab as it's the most flexible of the ones you mention.

Advisor

Jason Alexander New York, NY

I do not think that we are talking about the same subjects here. Some clarification, 'Greek based risk management' refers to options markets and trading risk management. I am primarily a cash trader in the front-end markets, not very quant intensive at all, although other markets and products are becoming increasingly quantitatively oriented. I have identified the most commonly used technologies in the investment management and trading fields and begun to familiarize myself with the basic/intermediate levels, I am currently looking to take the next step.

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