Two doctoral students receive grants to attend American Finance Association meeting in Denver

Mark Gruskin and Yonghong Jia, both business doctoral students and graduate teaching assistants, will attend the American Finance Association (AFA) annual meeting in Denver, Colorado thanks to Doctoral Student Travel Grants.

The competitive grant from AFA, an academic association with a primary focus in financial economics, is given to third- and fourth-year finance students from top business schools. It awards doctoral students who demonstrate promising research potential and who have written an above average dissertation.

A faculty member from a student’s area of study makes the award nomination. Grants are limited to two per university. Gruskin was nominated by T. Norris Hitchman Endowed Chair and Professor of Finance Sudip Datta. Mai Datta, also a professor of finance, nominated Jia.

“It is honorable to receive the AFA Doctoral Grant.” Jia said. “I realize that it is not only my personal honor, it also represents the achievement of our new Ph.D. program.”

Jia also said she looks forward to networking with her peers.

The AFA meeting, which will take place the week of January 6, is a part of the 2011 Allied Social Science Association annual meeting.

Flattered he was chosen for the grant, Gruskin is also looking forward to networking.

“I hope to learn about new research in corporate finance,” he said. “I also hope to have an opportunity to meet leading faculty researching the same areas I am.”

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