Nan Zhu

Dr. Nan Zhu is an Associate Professor of Risk Management at the Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University, specializing in actuarial science and risk management. He holds a PhD in Risk Management and Insurance from Georgia State University and advanced degrees in Financial Mathematics and Economics from Peking University. His research focuses on mortality modeling, longevity risk management, and insurance contract theory, with particular contributions to secondary life markets and asymmetric information in financial instruments. He has been awarded the 2017 Redington Prize (Society of Actuaries) for his work on variable annuities and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst (CERA).

Education: PhD (2012, Georgia State), MS (2007, Peking University), BS/B.A. (2005, Peking University).

Research Interests: Dr. Zhu’s work addresses critical issues in actuarial science including stochastic mortality modeling, secondary market dynamics for life insurance products, and the economic implications of longevity risk. His methodologies often integrate advanced mathematical modeling with empirical financial data analysis, particularly in evaluating policyholder behavior and hedging strategies.

Publications: His recent work includes studies on longevity risk hedging mechanisms, asymmetric information in life settlements markets, and policyholder behavior in variable annuities. These contributions highlight innovative approaches to risk quantification and market structure analysis.

Awards: In addition to academic accolades, Dr. Zhu has received teaching recognition including Penn State Teaching Fellow (2023) and the Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Advising & Grants: While specific grants are not detailed, his research has been supported by the 2011 Geneva Association Research Grant. He advises students in actuarial science and risk management disciplines.