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.
The Lab Mandate
To provide a focal point for research and training in a range of financial disciplines, including: investment strategy and portfolio management; financial engineering and risk management; trading; and analysis of the microstructure of markets.
To contribute to the integration of theory and practice by delivering a hands-on experience to users to enhance the global competitiveness of our students and our School.
To become an innovator in new curriculum development, business initiatives, software development & other activities of value to the Rotman School and business communities.
To enhance the Rotman School’s teaching and training by providing students with access to the global financial community and its resources in a real-time setting.
The Lab Team
Craig Geoffrey
Academic Director, Assistant Professor Teaching Stream in Finance
Bachir Chehab
Associate Director
Julie Beaulieu
Administrative and Development Coordinator
Oriana Rahman
Educational Developer
Sonya Ho
Project Coordinator
Lab Assistants
Aishwarya Gupta
Brandon Chen
Christina Lin
Dhairya Khara
Joyce Xue
Prithvi Thapar
Ruben Navasardyan
Shaswata Chowdhury
Simon Xin
Sophia Lou
Suki Wang
Amy Zhang
Edward Papiev
Izora Kayumova
Bonnie Ding
Estella Xu
Matthew DeMarinis
Aryan Goel
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