
The Quant / Financial Engineering Podcast
Created by Professor Patrick Zoro The podcast aims to capture the latest trends in Data analytics, Asset Management, Blockchain, Risk Management.
Patrick Zoro is also the program manager of the Master of Financial Engineering program at Lehigh University
https://cbe.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/master-analytical-finance
Latest episodes

Apr 5, 2024 • 20min
Alpha Mining
Patrick Zoro discusses Alpha Mining with Bogdan Ivaniuk,
Co-Founder & CEO at AlphaCube. Bogdan is also a Quantitative Researcher and Algorithmic Trader.
Both discusses the interesting AlphaCube's approach of alpha mining algorithm, which has the capability to generate up to 40 million strategies daily on a single CPU. To achieve high-speed computation, AlphaCube employs a method of precalculating and storing large volumes of technical analysis data. The two further discuss the algorithm, which like an X-ray, can see available strategies in the market. Further AlphaCube is capable of reverse-engineering trading strategies.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdan-ivaniuk/

Mar 20, 2024 • 38min
“The 2-Hour Job Search“ Interview
Patrick Zoro https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/ in a vivid discussion with book author Steve Dalton https://www.linkedin.com/in/daltonsteve/
Various topics are addressed through the lens of the students seeking a first job to the hiring manager. The conversation explores the psychology behind a LinkedIn, faceless approach vs the face to face relationship building but challenging approach.
The two then compare and contrast the various approaches to seeking that first job after graduation, and how the skills acquired during that search can further help in your career.
There is a particular focus on the international students and how they can best foster the power of networking.

Feb 25, 2024 • 25min
Quant Finance and Physics
Exploring the interconnected evolution of modern physics and finance, discussing the mathematical similarities between quantum physics and quantitative finance. Delving into the influence of quantum physics on finance, highlighting the impact of mathematical structures on our modern view of uncertainty and randomness in different domains.

Feb 1, 2024 • 17min
"The January Effect" and Stock Prices
Professor Zoro speaks with Brett Friedman about one of the most popular Wall Street auguries the so-called “January Barometer,” or the belief that the market’s investment performance in January is indicative of the rest of the year.
Brett Friedman has managed risk for over 30 years and has broad experience working with financial institutions in risk management and operations. He has built and managed three risk management organizations from scratch, two trading startups, and has transacted on numerous exchanges and OTC markets, He brings a vast amount of first-hand risk management, operations, and valuation experience.
Mr. Friedman was formerly the Chief Risk Officer of Ospraie Management, an $8 billion natural resource-based hedge fund and private equity group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Friedman served as a Partner at Risk Capital Management, Chief Risk Officer for three energy trading firms, worked for 10 years as an energy futures and options trader, and traded foreign exchange futures and options for the Union Bank of Switzerland. He started his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.
Mr. Friedman is a monthly contributor to OptionMetrics, the premier provider of historical options and implied volatility data.
https://optionmetrics.com/blog/the-january-barometer-fact-fiction-or-both/
Patrick Zoro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/
Lehigh Master in Financial Engineeringhttps://business.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/ms-financial-engineering

Jan 17, 2024 • 20min
What about the Master in Financial Engineering?
Professor Zoro speaks with Quant Youtuber Mehul Mehta about the Master in Financial Engineering. Various aspects of the program are discussed including who is best for that program, the curriculum, the jobs
Mehul is currently working at Charles Schwab as a Manager in Risk Modeling/Analytics department. Prior to Charles Schwab, Mehul was working at Regions Bank as Assistant Vice President in the Treasury Department. As a Treasury Quantitative Modeler, Mehul was responsible for the development and maintenance of quantitative solutions across a wide range of subjects such as CCAR, PPNR Modeling, balance sheet forecasting, deposit analytics, prepayment, interest rate risk, market risk, economic capital, fixed income analysis, yield curve construction, derivatives valuation.
Mehul Mehta
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehul-mehta4/
https://www.youtube.com/@MehulMehta-ct7di
Patrick Zoro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/
https://www.youtube.com/@LehighMFE
Lehigh Master in Financial Engineeringhttps://business.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/ms-financial-engineering

Nov 16, 2023 • 30min
What about the VIX?
Professor Zoro speaks with Brett Friedman about the VIXX and how it has behaved recently. Various aspects of VIX are explored including how it is calculated, its relevancy and its behavior.
Brett Friedman has managed risk for over 30 years and has broad experience working with financial institutions in risk management and operations. He has built and managed three risk management organizations from scratch, two trading startups, and has transacted on numerous exchanges and OTC markets, He brings a vast amount of first-hand risk management, operations, and valuation experience.
Mr. Friedman was formerly the Chief Risk Officer of Ospraie Management, an $8 billion natural resource-based hedge fund and private equity group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Friedman served as a Partner at Risk Capital Management, Chief Risk Officer for three energy trading firms, worked for 10 years as an energy futures and options trader, and traded foreign exchange futures and options for the Union Bank of Switzerland. He started his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY.
Mr. Friedman is a monthly contributor to OptionMetrics, the premier provider of historical options and implied volatility data.
Patrick Zoro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/
Lehigh Master in Financial Engineeringhttps://business.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/ms-financial-engineering

Oct 27, 2023 • 23min
Crypto: The Latest Frontier in Research
Professor Zoro speaks with Omid Malekan about Crypto and the need for more peer reviewed academic research. Various aspects of this topic are explored including the need for a "Crypto PE" for example.
Omid is a an Adjunct Professor @ Columbia Business School, explainer in chief at https://www.linkedin.com/company/conversanceinc/ and a book author https://www.omidmalekan.com
Patrick Zoro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/
Lehigh Master in Financial Engineeringhttps://business.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/ms-financial-engineering

Sep 13, 2023 • 23min
Stock Options Perspective with Garrett DeSimone, PhD
Garrett DeSimone, Head of Quant Research at OptionMetrics, discusses various aspects of the Option environment including OptionMetrics, out of the money put, fat tails, long-dated options, and perspectives on the market. The discussion also touches on tail risk hedging, analytical tools for options-based research, and the use of Python and C++ in their work.

Aug 30, 2023 • 12min
Multi-Factor Investing Model with Asim Turk
Professor Zoro speaks with Asim Turk, MFE about the Multi-Factor Investing Model Asim has been working on. In additional to Multi Factor, various aspects of the project are being addressed such as Pandas - data manipulation for stocks and factor returns
Scikit-learn - multiple linear regression for stock returns and factor returns
Pulp - linear programming Library for Optimization
Tableu - visualization of the result
Asim Turk is a Master in Financial Engineering
https://www.linkedin.com/in/asim-turk-b3975517a/
Patrick Zoro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a/
Lehigh Master in Financial Engineeringhttps://business.lehigh.edu/academics/graduate/masters-programs/ms-financial-engineering

Aug 2, 2023 • 15min
CHATGPT: Wiki Page with Allan Frank and Kirin Zhang
Professor Zoro speaks with Allan Frank and Kirin Zhang about Kirin's new Wiki Page: what it is? how is it used? what will be its impact? and its relationship with ChatGpt.
https://bronze-shield-a82.notion.site/f01f5cf581284adbb0c8fcc1844f810b?v=f8e31c76015b4637a95afc1d4e54871c
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-z-08bb5b5a
Allan Frank brings over 45 years of technology and business leadership. His background includes CTO for Capgemini, CTO for the City of Philadelphia, Chief Digital Officer & Co-founder of The Hackett Group. He currently sponsors these ChatGpt talks via his "sand box" initiative.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanfrank
Kirin Zhang is a Master in Financial Engineering
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirin-zhang/
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