Welcome
Our Mission
The Program for Financial Studies (PFS) at Columbia Business School seeks to support and promote the School’s research in financial economics and quantitative finance, to advance the School’s educational mission, and to foster engagement with industry partners.
The dropping cost of computational resources, the extraordinary growth in traditional and nontraditional data sets, and constant technological progress have combined to fundamentally transform research in the social sciences, and in financial economics in particular. In recognition of this, the PFS seeks to create a world-leading research center in quantitative finance and financial analytics at Columbia Business School.
As part of its educational missions, the PFS administers Columbia Business School’s Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE) program. The MSFE educates the next generation of industry leaders, ready to apply their quantitative training to solve real-world problems in the finance industry. Together, the research and educational missions of the PFS allow us to foster important interactions with industry partners, involving both the sharing of research & ideas, as well as student recruitment.
Because finance research is interdisciplinary in nature, our affiliated faculty come from multiple departments at Columbia Business School, including Finance; Decision, Risk, and Operations; Accounting; and Economics.
Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE)
MSFE Degree Program
The Program for Financial Studies (PFS) oversees the Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE) degree at the Business School.
Click HERE to read the FT article: Banking Hubs Retain Allure Amid Shocks article featuring the MSFE program and recent graduate Kevin Guo '22.
Our History
Bridging Research and Practice
Founded in 2010 by Laurie Hodrick, A. Barton Hepburn Professor Emerita of Economics, the Program for Financial Studies (PFS) is part of Columbia Business School's Centers and Programs, which support the MBA curriculum as hubs of specialized industry focus. Under renowned faculty leadership, the PFS operates over a decade of enriching the financial services and Business School community with extensive research and programming.
What We Do
Research
Seminar Series
Launched in 2021, Wall Street Voices is our premier seminar series that brings in experts in quantitative finance, capital markets, data science & finance, FinTech and the general financial services industry. Our No Free Lunch seminar series brings renowned faculty research into the Business School community through dynamic, shorter presentations geared towards students.
Events
We run events focused on research, industry thought-leadership and student programming. Many events are open to practitioners and alumni, as well as the faculty and student academic community. For a full list of events, please access our events section below.
Conferences
The PFS produces the annual News and Finance Conference as well as various other conferences in specific sub-specialties of finance. We invite you to learn more about our research-based conferences and programming.
Contact Us
Faculty Director
Harry Mamaysky
Faculty Director; Professor of Professional Practice in Business
Program for Financial Studies (PFS)
Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE)
E-mail: [email protected]
Co-Director
Melina Denebeim '12
Co-Director
Program for Financial Studies (PFS)
Master of Science in Financial Economics (MSFE)
E-mail: [email protected]