About
Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor in Finance & Financial Services at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. My research interests include AI and Finance, Behavioural Finance, Corporate Finance, and Corporate Governance. I received my Ph.D. from University of Cambridge, Judge Business School in 2026.
I am recruiting PhD students for the 2027 intake and full-time research assistants to work with me on AI and finance, behavioural finance, and corporate finance.
I am looking for candidates who:
- hold, or expect to complete before joining, a master's degree in finance, economics, or a related quantitative discipline;
- have a solid background in finance, econometrics, machine learning, or a related field;
- are comfortable working in Python, R, or Stata; and
- are fluent in written and spoken English.
A note for prospective PhD students. I generally expect students who plan to join me in the 2027 intake to first work with me full time as a research assistant for at least three months. A doctorate is a long commitment on both sides, and this gives us a realistic sense of how well we work together before either of us makes it.
If this sounds like you, please email me at ranzhenkai@gmail.com with your CV, a cover letter setting out your research interests and why you would like to work with me, transcripts covering your relevant prior education, and any research you have written on related topics. I review applications on a rolling basis and invite shortlisted candidates for online interviews at the end of each month.
Academic Position
Assistant Professor (Finance & Financial Services) — Jun 2026–Present
School of Accounting and Finance, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR
Education
PhD in Finance — Oct 2021–May 2026
Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Examiners: Prof. Sean Cao (Maryland), Prof. Xiao Xiao (Cambridge)
Supervisors: Prof. Andrei Kirilenko, Prof. Raghavendra Rau
Visiting PhD Student (Host: Prof. Mao Ye (Cornell)) — Jan–Jul 2024
SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, Ithaca, US
MRes in Management Studies (Finance Pathway) — Oct 2020–Jul 2021
Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
MPhil in Economic Research — Sep 2019–Oct 2020
Department of Economics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
BA in Economics and Finance — Sep 2016–Jul 2019
The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Awards & Honors
Queens’ College Cambridge Weil Awards 2025–2026; Keynes Fund PhD Awards Scheme 2025–2026; CJBS Dean’s Research Excellence Prize 2025–2026; AFA PhD Travel Grant 2026; AFA PhD Travel Grant 2025; EFA PhD Travel Grant 2025; Travel Grant for PhD Workshop in Governance and Sustainability; Honourable Mention CJBS Winter Doctoral Conference 2021; Outstanding Academic Achievement Award 2019