Statement of Land Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the University of Toronto operates. For thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land. Read about U of T’s Statement of Land Acknowledgement.
Vision Statement
To be a leading global center of excellence in financial and non-financial Research and education, where students, faculty, and industry professionals collaborate to push the boundaries of knowledge, innovation, and practical application in the financial sector.
Mission Statement
The BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab (BMO FRT-Lab) at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management is dedicated to providing a cutting-edge, inclusive environment that bridges theory and practice. Our mission is to enhance the learning journey and research capabilities of our students and faculty by offering state-of-the-art resources, real-time market data, and hands-on training. By fostering innovation, developing new curricula, and contributing to the global financial community, the Lab equips students with the skills and knowledge to excel in a rapidly evolving industry.
The Lab Mandate
Focal Point for Research and Training: The Lab serves as a dynamic hub for research and training across a wide range of financial disciplines. Whether delving into investment strategy and portfolio management, mastering financial engineering and risk management, or exploring trading and market microstructure analysis, the Lab provides the resources and environment to deepen your expertise and practical skills.
Integration of Theory and Practice: The Lab aims to seamlessly blend theoretical knowledge with practical application. By offering hands-on experiences, the Lab enhances your learning and positions you at the forefront of the financial industry. This approach not only boosts your global competitiveness but also prepares you to tackle real-world financial challenges with confidence and insight.
Innovation in Curriculum Development: As a leader in educational innovation, the Lab continually develops cutting-edge curricula, business initiatives, and software tools. These advancements benefit both the Rotman School and the broader academic and business community, ensuring that students and partners remain ahead of industry trends and technological advancements.
Enhancement of Teaching and Training: The Lab significantly enriches the Rotman School's educational offerings. By providing students with real-time access to the global financial community and its resources, the Lab creates a vibrant learning environment where theoretical concepts come to life. This real-world interaction equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the competitive financial sector.
Staff
Bachir Chehab
Associate Director
Craig Geoffrey
Academic Director
Oriana Rahman
Educational Developer
Julie Beaulieu
Administrative and Development Coordinator
Sonya Ho
Project Coordinator
2024-2025 Lab Assistants
Ipek Akyol
Yara Alameddine
Shaswata Chowdury
Khushi Dadlani
Matthew DeMarinis
Bonnie Ding
Chloe Fang
Aishwarya Gupta
Sherry Jiang
Izora Kayumova
Shawn Liu
Tanya Pandey
Edward Papiev
Prisha Tharwani
Felicity Tran
Suki Wang
Simon Xin
Estella Xu
Joyce Xue
Amy Zhang
Howard Zhang
About the Lab
Welcome to the BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab (BMO FRT-Lab) at the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management. Our multi-function laboratory integrates theory and practice by providing a focal point for research and training in a range of financial disciplines including investment strategy and portfolio management, financial engineering and risk management, analyses of the microstructure of markets and trading, as well as other financial decision-making disciplines.
The Financial Research and Trading Lab (FRT-Lab) was founded by Professor Tom McCurdy, funded by a grant from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF), and opened in 1999. In 2013, thanks to the financial support of the BMO Financial Group, the FRT-Lab was renamed the BMO Financial Group Finance Research and Trading Lab (BMO FRT-Lab) and moved to a new location in a newly renovated and larger space. This high-tech facility enables students, faculty, and staff to interact with the global financial community and its resources in a real-time setting.
The Lab has 71 stations with ultrawide monitors and two media/data walls. The stations provide access to our research data delivery portals and real-time market data and information feeds. Training is enhanced by providing access to worldwide information on fundamentals, research, news, and prices, as well as by using industry applications and custom simulation-based-learning applications. This allows students to practice implementing the material they are learning in the classroom. To access information on some of our current FRT-Lab resources, please visit this link.
Lab Assistants Alumni
2024 – 2023
Brandon Chen
Shaswata Chowdury
Matthew DeMarinis
Bonnie Ding
Aryan Goel
Aishwarya Gupta
Izora Kayumova
Dhairya Khara
Christina Lin
Sophia Lou
Ruben Navasardyan
Edward Papiev
Prithvi Thapar
Suki Wang
Simon Xin
Estella Xu
Joyce Xue
Amy Zhang
2023 – 2022
Amy Zhang
Aryan Goel
Aviral Bhardwaj
Brandon Chen
Joyce Xue
Christina Lin
Crystal Zhang
Dhairya Khara
Suki Wang
Victor Xiao
Simon Xin
Prithvi Thapar
Ruben Navasardyan
Shaswata Chowdhury
Jeremy Jiang
Justin Xu
Sophia Lou
2022 – 2021
Cindy Li
Edward Shen
Emily Wen
Eric Zhang
Ivanna Lytovchenko
Jason Mao
Joey Poh
Joshua Hur
Kamil Mansoori
Lisa Wu
Petra Torovic
Shahriyar Habib
Sofija Kotarac
2021 – 2020
Anh Nguyen
Jenny Zhang
Cheryl Zhang
Mike Hambardzumyan
Janki Shah
Angela Fu
William Rodgers
Christopher Lor
Ralph Kerrebijn
Danny Huh
2020 – 2019
Judson Asiruwa
Jack Chen
Chelsea Chen
Rebecca Kay
Jinhyung Kwon
Mary Li
Jacky Liu
Saarah Sheikh
Tony Tsai
Milliene Xu
Diana Zhang
2019 – 2018
Billy Sun
Zena Xing
2018 -2017
Mansour Dia
Cavelle Van Nest
Annie Sun
Jessica Leung
Tianquan Wang
Tony Ye
2017 – 2016
Sergey Sapel’Nyk
Laura Murphy
Amanda Wildi
Filip Pejic
Tony Guo
Edward Xiao
Crystal Lou
Iven Poon
2016 – 2015
Tony Ding
Paige Franzoi
Michael Mazza
Jeremy Chiu
Roman Bohulevych
Linpan Li
Steven He
2015 – 2014
Annie Du
Catherine Qian
Esther Li
Janice Cha
Kirtpal Khattra
Rae Kim
2014 – 2013
Vincent Wang
Megan Jiang
Radhika Karker
Wallace Chau
Dottie Omino
Charles Liu
David Allen
2013 – 2012
Nina Baktina
Carrie Guo
Olivia Li
Richard Li
Ruijiang Ma
Violeta Peczulis
Matthew Tang
2012 – 2011
Brittney Franzoi
Steve El-Hage
Kiana Xu
Tony Chuang
Dawoon Chung
Junwei Huo
2011 – 2010
Richard Gao
Jasper Chan
Angel Liang
Tian Shen
Kimberley Ling
Jack Zhu
Mamoun Toukan
Aaron Ma
Richard Li
Winter Li
Sherry Xu
2010 – 2009
Paul Xing
Gary Liang
Eric Tsui
Michael Gorev
Evan Koetsenruijter
Shabnam Mohsenzadeh
Salman Razzak
Eric Chiu
Han Lin
2009 – 2008
William Ma
Jesse Chen
Chelsey Tam
2008 – 2007
Dmitri Izmailov
Yiyi Yang
Emily Shi
Ali Akber Kanchwala
Armana Hossain
Min Teo
2007 – 2006
Henry Zhang
Bryce Cheung
Mazen Issa
Diana Potapenko
Haswin Utomo
2006 – 2005
Ian Kim
Babak Golpayegani
Klara Gotz
Li Dai
Calvin Liang
Yanrong Cao
2005 – 2004
Huan Liu
Jing Feng
David Dai
Sophia Zhang
Annie Theriault
Bill Bobey
2004 – 2003
Nick Lee
Charles Williams
Mike Larkin
2003 – 2002
Collin Chu
Mavis Chen