Chicago Booth is pleased to announce that Rohan Mathur is the first admitted student to our new Master in Finance Program, designed for accomplished recent college graduates who want to build on their existing quantitative skills to launch an exciting career in finance. He’s a fourth-year UChicago student studying Economics who’s lived in seven countries, speaks four languages, and enjoys stand-up comedy.
Interested in investment management and private equity, Mathur is currently a research assistant for Kilian Huber, associate professor of economics, and Niels Gormsen, Neubauer Family Associate Professor of Finance and Fama Faculty Fellow. He’s also a part of the Financial Markets Program—a collaboration between UChicago and Booth—which offers technical training, internship and recruiting support, and hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduates interested in quantitative finance careers.
We interviewed Mathur to learn more about his interest in the MiF Program and how it supports his career aspirations.
When I was reviewing the program materials for MiF, it struck me as an opportunity to gain a rigorous and comprehensive finance education. Having taken a number of Booth classes during my time in the College, I believe that a deeper engagement with the business school would be a great complement to my majors in economics and data science. Moreover, I’m interested in infrastructure and renewables finance and was looking for a program to help me take that thread forward. And since I love the UChicago community and Booth, this was a great opportunity for me to continue here and build those skills.
This past December, I had the opportunity to visit Dubai, UAE, as part of UChicago’s delegation to COP28. One of my takeaways from the conference was how critical mobilizing capital is for tackling the innovation, adaptation, scale, and data problems that climate change presents. With solar and wind building a positive net present value (NPV) over the past decade, a number of other tech innovations are on top of the cost curve, just waiting for the capital to bring them to scale. My goal, at least in the near term, is to make use of my MiF education in asset management to aid the transition by deploying private capital where it is most needed.
In the longer term, I’m interested in working at a multilateral development bank and using my finance skills there. The World Bank has a new president with a vision for how he wants to see multilateral financial mechanisms better serve countries in the global south. As someone who has lived in India and Bangladesh for almost half a decade, I would enjoy contributing to the development journeys of other countries that are on the rise.
“Engaging with Booth’s faculty and their pioneering research is an opportunity I eagerly anticipate as I transition from the College to Booth, one that will be invaluable for my career.”
Throughout undergrad, I’ve found the Booth alumni network to be exceptionally supportive and responsive. Their readiness to offer guidance and leverage their extensive networks on my behalf has been truly remarkable. One piece of advice that has stuck with me: “Always be willing to give more than you take.” This ethos of generosity and support is deeply embedded in the Booth community, emphasizing the importance of giving back and fostering a nurturing environment for both current students and alumni alike. This culture of kindness and support is not just about advancing one’s own career, but about uplifting the entire community, illustrating the profound impact of the Booth network.
Having worked on research with Booth professors Kilian Huber and Niels Gormsen, I’ve also learned that this is a fantastic research institution that is influencing the finance community as we speak. A visit to the Alper Study Room at the Harper Center makes this unmistakably clear; the north wall, adorned with portraits of Nobel Prize-winning faculty, stands as a testament to Booth’s rich intellectual heritage. Engaging with Booth’s faculty and their pioneering research is an opportunity I eagerly anticipate as I transition from the College to Booth, one that will be invaluable for my career.
I started working with Professors Huber and Gormsen in October 2022. I analyze data on costs of capital and hurdle rates from companies’ capital calls. Given the current inflationary environment, it’s really interesting to see how companies are adapting to market conditions and adjusting their costs of capital and their hurdle rates accordingly. It gives you a good sense of how companies respond to abnormal conditions.
I also think about how the data set that we’re creating is the first of its kind—that’s another example of the pioneering research that Booth does. This was definitely one thing that led me to the Master in Finance Program.
Learn more about Huber and Gormsen’s research on the recent boom in green technologies.
Some green projects are enjoying a boost thanks to unconventional cost-of-capital calculations.
A Golden Age for Green Investment?One aspect that Professor Huber, Professor Gormsen, and I look at specifically are the hurdle rates for environmental projects. I’m interested in renewable energy infrastructure and the climate transition and hope to learn more about them. For many years, people were thinking about a green premium; but now, as a lot of these technologies scale and become more accessible, there’s also the idea of a green discount. I’m interested in seeing how things pan out.
In addition to academic pursuits, I’m excited to help build a sense of community within both the Master in Finance and the Master in Management programs. Working alongside the administration to establish new career-oriented clubs, organize events, and participate in student government are initiatives I look forward to leading. While these programs draw from Booth’s academic and institutional strengths, the extracurricular dimensions offer a unique opportunity for personal development and a chance to influence the career trajectories of Booth master’s students far into the future.
Ready to embark on a fulfilling career in finance? Learn more about applying to the Asness and Liew Master in Finance Program.
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