Neil Pearson

Neil Pearson is the Harry A. Brandt Distinguished Professor of Financial Markets and Options at the Department of Finance, Gies College of Business, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he has held faculty positions since 1995, progressing from Assistant to Full Professor. He currently serves as Research Fellow at the Canadian Derivatives Institute and previously directed the PhD Program (2003-2008).

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Finance, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1990)
• A.B. summa cum laude, Princeton University (1981)

Professor Pearson specializes in financial derivatives and risk management, with research focusing on options pricing models, market microstructure, and the impact of derivatives on underlying asset markets. His work bridges theoretical finance with empirical market analysis, particularly examining how options markets influence stock price discovery and volatility.

His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on market anomalies, stock lending dynamics, and the predictive power of options market information. Key trends include analyzing short-sale constraints through stock lending fees, measuring retail investor sentiment via structured products, and investigating cost structures in complex options trading.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Research Fellow, Canadian Derivatives Institute (2019-present)

He has secured significant research funding including the Gies Grant for 'Unveiling the Security-based Swaps Market' (2024-2027) and maintains influential editorial roles as Associate Editor for the Journal of Risk (2006-present) and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (1998-present), shaping academic discourse in financial economics.