Hi! This is Ben (Zhiyao) Zhao, I am currently working as a full time Credit Risk Senior Analyst at Citigroup. During my time at UTD, I worked as a graduate teaching assistant for Finance Trading Lab during calendar year 2020. This was one of my beautiful times at college. I not only learned necessary skills I am using day to day now, but also participated in many interesting events and made friends. Finance lab provides opportunities for students to learn and touch financial tools that many financial institutions are using. I learned how to use FactSet and Capital IQ, learned how to obtain financial resources such as projection, debt structure, and credit ratings. I also got the chance to have many leaderships experiences as organize Finance lab’s events and schedule. I was networking at Finance Lab getting to know many professionals, studying at Finance Lab to learn knowledge, and helping students to understand financial materials. This was a memorable experience I will always take in mind.
Lab resources helped me gain deeper understanding of the financial world while simultaneously helping me become aware of wide range of things you can do while leveraging them. Databases such as Capital IQ, FactSet gave me a head start while at my time at CITI. Relationships formed with colleagues, peers and students were some of the best parts of my time at University which I will always cherish!
Working with Dr. Liping Ma and serving in the finance trading lab was the favorite part of my UTD journey. I feel fortunate that I received an opportunity to join the lab right after coming to the US. Each day at work was a learning experience and helped me grow my skills including event organization, time management, and networking. I would recommend incoming JSOM students to take advantage of the lab facilities and the resources available. Being a part of Finance Trading Lab has helped me transform my professional career and made me an all-round individual.
During my time at UTD, my best experience has been at the trading lab. As a top performer in the UTD stock track competition, access to financial databases at the trading was crucial to my success. In addition to that, the peer learning environment at the lab helped me enhance my skills, which made me more competitive in interviews. Overall, I can confidently say that the Trading Lab contributed to my development not only in the technical aspect but also helped me form connections and networks I will cherish forever.
In spring 2021, I worked at the trading lab as a teaching assistant. As a student who joined during quarantine, it was the first time I connected with hard-working Finance students in JSOM! I strongly recommend you step into the lab and have conversations with lab workers and students. You can study as a group and access financial tools and databases in the lab. The finance lab provides various workshops, competitions, and events, which enhanced my analytical and technical skills and prepared me for the job market. As an MS Finance alumnus who currently works for a financial service company, I can proudly say that Finance Lab helped me get this job. The tableau competition and Capital IQ workshops specifically guided me on using databases and enhancing my visualization skills. The Finance Lab always welcomes everyone and feeds their curious minds. One should enter and explore the intriguing place JSOM Finance lab is!
I worked in the Finance Lab from Fall 2019 to Spring 2020 as a student worker. Any day I was on campus, the Lab was a must-go stop. Like we always say: "I'll meet you at the Lab." The Finance lab offered some great resources to current students, whether we're working on course-related papers, case competitions, or just want to self-learn and get familiar with some financial modeling databases. Every semester, the lab arranges a variety of events to enhance the students' experience and provides an excellent platform for students to network and talk to professionals, professors, and alumni.
Request Information
Thank you for your interest in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas. Tell us a little bit about yourself, and we’ll send you customized information about our programs. We hope to meet you soon.
