Students Interview 2023
NAME: Stuart Taisei HATTER
YEAR: PEARL 4th
RESEARCH TOPIC: Quantifying Magnitude and Direction of Excess Co-Movement in Dual-Listed Securities
A Journey into Dual-Listed Securities Research.
1. Why did you choose to take part in the Independent Research Project?
Participating in the Independent Research Project within the PEARL program presented a unique opportunity to delve into an area of finance that has always intrigued me. The chance to explore the complexities of dual-listed securities and quantify their co-movement was both challenging and intellectually stimulating. Moreover, PEARL’s reputation for fostering independent research and innovation was a key factor in my decision. It provided me with access to invaluable resources, mentorship, and a platform to develop my research skills. Being part of this program allowed me to deepen my understanding of finance and apply my knowledge in a real-world context, which was an exciting prospect for me.
2. What was the most rewarding experience?
The most rewarding experience during my participation in the Independent Research Project was the moment when my research really began to come together. It was incredibly satisfying to see how the quantitative methods and analytical tools I had learned could be applied to a real-world financial problem. Witnessing the results of my research, which provided insights into the excess co-movement of dual-listed securities, was not only intellectually fulfilling but also had practical implications for the finance industry. This sense of accomplishment and the recognition of my work by peers and mentors were truly gratifying and solidified my passion for financial research.
3. How do you apply what you have learned here to the future?
The skills and knowledge I acquired during the Independent Research Project are invaluable assets that I plan to carry forward in my academic and professional journey. The ability to conduct rigorous research, analyze complex financial data, and communicate findings effectively will be instrumental in my future endeavors. I intend to apply these skills to further explore the intricacies of financial markets and contribute to the development of innovative investment strategies.
4. Short message to future participants
To all future participants of the PEARL Independent Research Project, embrace this opportunity with curiosity and dedication. Your journey will be challenging, but the knowledge and experiences you gain will be transformative. Dive into your research with passion, learn from your mentors and peers, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. This program offers a unique platform to grow as a researcher and make a meaningful impact.
NAME: Leif LINCOLN
YEAR: PEARL 4th
RESEARCH TOPIC: Quantitative Finance
Beginning anew through reprise
1. Why did you choose to take part in the Independent Research Project?
As I approached the close of my studies as an undergraduate, I came to the realization that I had found more possibilities for beginnings than ends. Although I had managed to find my own raison d’être along the way and through my studies, I saw this as a reason to continue before I brought my studies to an end. The Independent Research Project was a path for me to bring my undergraduate studies to an amicable ending whereby the outcome was not just a summation of what I have accomplished but also an entry into something new. Though, the most enticing aspect of the project that drove me to action was the opportunity to work closely with my professor to contemplate approaches to problems and refine my understanding of the topic.
2. What was the most rewarding experience?
Though the feeling of completion or success in my trials after various setbacks did provide encouragement along the way, I found reflection to be the most rewarding experience. The little victories along the way add up, but it was only once I took the time to look back at my older files or reflect on how far I have come that I realized that I have attained some of the original goals I set out for myself or become capable of what I had once aspired to do.
3. How do you apply what you have learned here to the future?
Moving into my graduate program after Keio, the underlying skills and eye for the research process that I have obtained over the past year working on the project with my professor will surely be linearly connected to my studies in graduate school. However, the skills that I have learned do not stop within the realm of academia. Due to the self-governed and elective nature of the project, the student maintains the privilege to choose exactly the topic and tools within which they would like to deepen their understanding. Though the tools and topics that I choose to pursue are related to quantitative finance and will connect to my future professional endeavors, my experience is non-extensive to the program. I firmly believe that any student with any interest holds the power to choose how what they learn during this project can shape their future.
4. Short message to future participants
Consistent planning in advance is one of the most important habits to maintain during the project. Upon applying for the Independent Research Project, you will find that the deadlines are earlier than other classes and even more so due to the need to contact professors in advance with your preliminary proposal already in hand. Though above the time management skills for this ask and those you will develop along the way, I recommend that future students have in mind what they would like to achieve by completing the project.
NAME: Moran SHAO
YEAR: PEARL 4th
RESEARCH TOPIC: Effect of national socioeconomic factors on number of Pink Floyd visits received
You get to do whatever you want—think big
1. Why did you choose to take part in the Independent Research Project?
I knew that I would not have as much freedom to do research on whatever I desire in a seminar than I would in the IRP, and that was what motivated me to choose to take part in the project. Getting to work one-on-one with my supervisor was also one of the project’s greatest appeals to me. My supervisor, Professor Sasahara, who was right by my side for an hour and a half each week and always quick to reply to my emails, gave me all the help I could ever ask for. In retrospect, the IRP’s working environment granted me autonomy over what I did and allowed me to work with stronger focus, higher efficiency, and more reliable guidance.
2. What was the most rewarding experience?
Through a year of work I was able to learn more about Pink Floyd, one of my favorite rock bands, than I ever did in my free time and than I ever would have imagined. Observing and analyzing the band’s touring patterns was my primary aim, but much more than that was discovered along the way. A lot of new knowledge I acquired had to do with the dynamics of the band’s members—the places they went, how they formed and broke up, their new endeavors over time, etc.—over the near-sixty years of the band’s history. It was mainly because of the IRP that I was able to learn this much about one of my subjects of interest, as fascination alone may not lead me to learn as much about a subject than the need to write a ten-thousand word paper on it would.
3. How do you apply what you have learned here to the future?
In collecting and organizing data I familiarized myself with a number of data processing softwares. For one, I deepened my understanding of Microsoft Excel in the discovery of how to save time when generating tables and regression outputs with the use of commands and shortcuts, as well as that of several minor functions that will come in handy if I want to present my data in a more visually appealing manner. What was entirely new to me was the software Gretl, which generated regression outputs from datasets that the user provides. Seeing how intuitive the interface is, I may very well rely on the software for future needs.
4. Short message to future participants
It is best to see the IRP, apart from an alternative for a research seminar, as a chance to develop a better understanding of just about anything you wish. Free from the limitations of a research seminar where your topic has to revolve around a certain discipline, the project gives you a chance to temper your wildest passions with academic rigor, and it is for people who seek to acquire a deep, statistical understanding of something that interests them, an understanding that may far exceed the level of an average enthusiast. In its core, the project is a platform for you to prove how much you love something rather than how excellent you are.
