FS-FIRE Research Centre: Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/x) (50% / 100%)

The FS-FIRE “Financial Intermediaries and the Real Economy” is a Research Centre (“Centre”) at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management (“Frankfurt School”). Our overall objective in the Centre is to conduct and disseminate new research across a wide array of financial topics and bring together academics, practitioners and regulators. Across different initiatives, our team provides high-level as well as in-depth research and analyses, develops and implements innovative projects, advises on policy development and changes, and provides trainings and workshops. Topics include bank management and crises, monetary policy, private equity, FinTechs and climate risk.

Finance is at the core of all our activities, and while we have a reputation for unbiased analysis and applying a mix of economic and financial assessments, we always consider the larger economic and political context in our work. Creative and unorthodox thinking combined with a strong focus on the project specific reality are part of our daily work, as we aim to provide conceptually sound and practical recommendations and solutions.

Our business is driven by a combination of proactive and responsive approaches. We often cooperate with institutions such as banks on project structuring and implementation, but also develop white-papers on various topics in financial economics. We offer an international faculty and a stimulating environment with close ties to commercial banks and the industry as well as governmental organizations. For further information, see our website.

In our “AI in Finance Initiative”, we adapt the range of our products and services to the latest developments and cutting-edge trends in financial economics, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. To achieve this goal, we work in strategic partnerships and networks. To leverage the rapidly expanding field of big data analysis and machine learning methodologies to help address methodological and data related challenges in particular, Frankfurt School assumed a central role in a strategic three-year R&D project at the nexus of artificial intelligence and finance. In this context, our team is coordinating one dedicated work package dealing with “Monetary Policy” as a use-case. The project will start in January 2021.

Initially limited for three years, we are currently seeking two promising candidates for postdoctoral positions (f/m/x). The aim of the project is to explore application possibilities for artificial intelligence and machine learning methods and develop respective algorithms to improve the understanding of monetary policy and to inform related decision-making processes in the financial services industry and in financial regulation. Moreover, in this project, we enhance the quality and availability of financial data related to monetary policy decisions, while improving related methodology development.

Our project is a strategic collaboration between different institutions but also within Frankfurt School (e.g. the FS-UNEP Centre and Frankfurt School`s Centre for Human and Machine Intelligence (HMI)). The position is tied to the project and limited to three years. The successful candidate will be based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. National and occasional international travel might be required. She/he will become part of the multidisciplinary team and contribute to an exciting project that aims to drive the transformation towards to more data-based decision making in the financial sector by applying innovative and cutting-edge methods and processes.

Responsibilities

• Assess and identify available data (micro-, macro data, financial market data) relevant to monetary policy, financial sector and systemic risk
• Analyze and identify data availability and gaps, data sources, formats, potential data partners, etc. in relation to the identified data needs
• Cooperate with data and computer scientists to develop and apply mathematical-statistical and econometrical methods to close the identified data gaps
• Support related consulting and advisory projects of the Centre
• Represent the Centre at outreach and networking events with the German financial and non-financial sector

Requirements

• Strong background in economics or finance, ideally with a focus on financial markets and monetary policy
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills
• Strong knowledge of mathematical-statistical methods (especially algebra, optimisation, stochastics) and using statistical packages for analysing datasets (Python, R, STATA,  etc.)
• Experience and technical expertise regarding firm level databases, database design development, data mining and segmentation techniques and good knowledge of database systems (SQL and NoSQL)
• Working knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms (neural networks, methods of uni- and multivariate analysis, time series analysis and data visualization etc.)
• Desired: knowledge in monetary policy, financial sector and systemic risk
• Strong ability to present complex relationships / topics to stakeholders with differing depths of knowledge and cultural backgrounds in a convincing manner
• Strong capacity for teamwork, but also ability to work independently
• Fluency in English, in particular the ability to write in an academic context. Corresponding German language skills would be an asset
• PhD in economics or closely related area

Are you interested?

Please submit your application, including your CV and a cover letter, via Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/83337.

For content-related inquiries about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Sascha Steffen, Head of the FIRE Research Center by email.

We offer a competitive compensation package together with a lean organizational structure and a pleasant working environment.

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management embraces diversity and seeks talented faculty, staff and students from diverse backgrounds. Frankfurt School is an equal-opportunities employer.

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