Hometown: Wenzhou, China
Armed with an undergraduate degree in finance and economics, as well as a math minor, Lainey Lu came to the NYU Tandon School of Engineering ready to engage in the MS in Financial Engineering program. She is now expanding her skills and enjoying her classes. A particular favorite is a course on machine learning that focuses on the theory behind its applications in algorithms and predictions using data.
Lainey takes advantage of a myriad of opportunities available through her studies at Tandon. She has entered prestigious events including the International Association for Quantitative Finance (IAQF) Competition and the PRMIA Risk Management Challenge. “I find the best way to review a complex concept is to apply it to a project,” Lainey says. “Plus, the projects are a great chance to work on a team and experience different group dynamics.”
This hands-on practice has proven to be excellent preparation for real-world professional situations. Lainey is currently doing work for #BuiltByGirls, a company whose mission is to embed young women in tech firms and help develop the next generation of leaders. She is striving to improve their matching algorithm for students and professionals through a content-filtering technique.
Lainey is also making the most of the vast resources available through NYU, regularly accessing tangible resources such as Bloomberg terminals and various research tools. But the intangible resources, including NYU’s extensive and involved alumni base, may have an even greater impact on her future. “Every alumni I have had the pleasure to have a conversation with has been extremely nice and helpful, and provided me with detailed answers to my questions.”