Kumar Venkataraman

Kumar Venkataraman is a Professor of Finance and Maguire Chair in Energy Management at the Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University. He serves as Academic Director of both the Maguire Energy Institute and the Kyle Miller Energy Management Program. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Finance Department from 2012 to 2015 and was a member of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Fixed Income Market Structure Advisory Committee (FIMSAC) from 2017 to 2021.

Dr. Venkataraman's research focuses on market microstructure, financial market design, and the functioning of equity, fixed income, and derivatives markets, with particular emphasis on energy markets. His work examines trading strategies, market fragility, liquidity, and price discovery mechanisms across various financial instruments. His research has been published in top-tier academic journals including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies.

His publications from 2012-2022 show a consistent focus on market microstructure with an evolving emphasis from equity markets to fixed income and corporate bond markets. His work demonstrates strong methodological rigor, often combining theoretical models with empirical analysis of market data, and has increasingly addressed regulatory concerns about market stability and efficiency.

• The Best 40 Business Professors Under the Age of 40, Poets and Quants ranking: 2011
• NASDAQ Best Paper Award in Market Microstructure: 2010, 2013, 2019
• Research Excellence Award (Cox School): 2004, 2013, 2016, 2017
• Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor: 2017-2019

Professor Venkataraman has held significant advisory roles with financial regulators, serving as a Visiting Economist at FINRA and consulting for the U.S. Department of Justice and Commodity Futures Trading Commission. His research is frequently cited by global central banks and regulators in market design initiatives. He teaches courses in Investments and Energy Finance at SMU's Cox School of Business.