Dr. David Scharfstein

Professor

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Biography

David S. Scharfstein is the Edmund Cogswell Converse Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School, where he has been teaching since 2003. His research interests focus on financial intermediation, financial regulation, and the dynamics of risks faced by banks and non-bank financial institutions. Scharfstein has written extensively on topics such as risk management, corporate investment strategies, capital structures, and venture capital. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. summa cum laude from Princeton University. Scharfstein was a finance professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management from 1987 to 2003, and has held several prominent positions, including serving as a senior advisor to the U.S. Treasury Secretary and as the president of the American Finance Association. His work as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research helped shape his understanding of the financial system's structure and regulation.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2003-01-01 — Present

Harvard Business School • Boston, MA

Teaching various courses including financial intermediation in the MBA program.

Finance Professor

1987-01-01 — 2003-01-01

MIT Sloan School of Management • Cambridge, MA

Conducted research and taught finance-related subjects.

Requirements for Harvard Business School

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
GMAT
GRE General
TOEFL
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Overall
Required:7.5
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative and analytical background
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Writing Sample (Optional/Recommended)
Specialization Notes

The PhD in Business Administration is the primary doctoral degree encompassing various areas of study including Business Economics, Accounting, and Strategy.