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.

Open Positions
I am recruiting PhD students for the 2027 intake and full-time research assistants. I am looking for candidates with a strong interest in AI, corporate finance, and behavioural finance, and a solid background in finance, econometrics, machine learning, or a related field. If you are interested, please email me at ranzhenkai@gmail.com with your CV. 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