Professor Dr. Neil Pearson profile photo

Professor Dr. Neil Pearson

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Neil Pearson. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Neil Pearson is the Harry Brandt Distinguished Professor of Financial Markets at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has held positions since 1995. With a Ph.D. in Finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he specializes in financial derivatives, financial engineering, and risk management. His research interests focus on models for pricing and hedging financial derivatives and improving risk management practices. Pearson has served as an Associate Editor for both the Journal of Risk and the Journal of Financial Quantitative Analysis, contributing to the field through his extensive research and publications, including forthcoming studies in prominent journals. He has also led initiatives within academia to enhance education in financial risk management, teaching several courses and developing program curricula. Pearson's academic work has been recognized through various grants, and he actively engages in service roles within the academic community, fostering collaboration in the finance discipline.

Research Interests

Financial Derivatives Risk Management

Experience

Harry Brandt Distinguished Professor of Financial Markets

2006-01-01 — Present

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • Champaign, IL

Holds position as the Harry Brandt Distinguished Professor, focusing on financial market options.

Director PhD Program

2003-01-01 — 2008-01-01

University of Illinois • Champaign, IL

Oversaw and managed the PhD program within the Department of Finance.

Professor of Finance

2003-01-01 — Present

University of Illinois • Champaign, IL

Teaching and conducting research in the field of finance.

Associate Professor of Finance

1997-01-01 — 2003-01-01

University of Illinois • Champaign, IL

Engaged in teaching and research as an Associate Professor.

Assistant Professor of Finance

1995-01-01 — 1997-01-01

University of Illinois • Champaign, IL

Started academic career teaching finance.

Visiting Academic Fellow

1994-01-01 — 1995-01-01

United States Securities Exchange Commission •

Worked as a visiting academic fellow.

Assistant Professor of Finance

1989-01-01 — 1995-01-01

University of Rochester •

Taught finance courses at the University of Rochester.

Courses

Financial Risk Management (FIN 537)

Requirements for University of Illinois

Master Program

Requirements

GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:17
Reading
Required:19
Writing
Required:21
Speaking
Required:20
Total
Required:103
GRE General

Prerequisites

Mathematical background Linear Algebra Calculus

Application Checklist

  • Online application
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Resume/CV

Specialization Notes

GRE is optional for admission to all graduate programs in Statistics. Full status admission requires higher language scores than limited status.