Finance Prof. Gao awarded Greater China Collaboration Grant for investor research

Pengjie Gao, assistant finance professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, was awarded a 2017-2018 Greater China Collaboration Grant for his research examining investor biases.

The grant was one of six awarded to University researchers by Notre Dame International as part of its effort to build, sustain and encourage academic and research collaboration leading universities in the Greater China region, including mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. This grant program is part of the University’s broader international strategy to engage Greater China by building upon existing academic partnerships and strengthening opportunities for research, scholarship, and graduate student training.

 “The University’s Beijing Global Gateway and Hong Kong Global Center will amplify the impact and relevance of the research by Notre Dame faculty in cooperation with leading scholars and researchers in Greater China by convening conferences, symposia, or workshops,” said Jonathan Noble, assistant provost for Asia and director of the Beijing Global Gateway.

Gao’s research, “Contracting with Behaviorally Biased Investors: Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment” is being conducted in collaboration with Beijing-based Tsinghua University and Financial Data Technology Inc., which is headquartered in Hong Kong.  

Gao conducts research on asset prices. In recent papers, he has investigated topics including institutional investment policy constraints, information processing capability of institutional investors and their performance, and investor attention and asset prices. He earned his doctoral degree in financial economics from Northwestern University in 2007. Prior to joining academics, he worked for Pequot Capital and Zacks IFE.

The Greater China Collaboration Grant is generously funded by alumni from the region, who aligned with Notre Dame International to promote the University’s research collaboration and impact in Greater China. The Greater China Collaboration Grant program joins Notre Dame International’s portfolio of international research funding opportunities, including similar funding in Mexico and Chile, and broader grants encouraging research at the University’s Global Gateways and Centers around the world. 

“Notre Dame International’s research funding opportunities, including the Greater China Collaboration Grant, will enable scholars and researchers to enhance the impact of their research in concert with the University’s global network, and strengthen academic partnerships throughout the world,” said Warren von Eschenbach, associate vice president and assistant provost for internationalization.

In addition to Gao’s award, faculty based in the Colleges of Science and Engineering received grants: Xiaobo Sharon Hu, Computer Science and Engineering; Umesh Garg, Physics; Khachatur Manukyan, Physics; Yiyu Shi, Computer Science and Engineering; and Haifeng Gao, Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Notre Dame International provides several collaboration grant opportunities for international research. More information can be found at international.nd.edu/nd-faculty-resources.

Contact: Warren von Eschenbach, associate vice president and assistant provost for internationalization, at wvonesch@nd.edu.