Nikunj Kapadia

Nikunj Kapadia is the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Professor of Finance at the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst. He holds a PhD in Finance from New York University (2005), and has held academic positions at UMass Amherst since 1996, progressing from Assistant Professor (1996-2003) to Associate Professor (2003-2013) before achieving his current rank. His professional experience includes a directorship at Aurionpro Solutions Ltd (2005-2014) and a visiting researcher role at the U.S. Treasury's Office of Financial Research (2012).

Education includes a Post-graduate Diploma in Management (IIM Bangalore, 1986) and a BE in Chemical Engineering (Maharaja Sayajirao University, 1984). His research focuses on option pricing, volatility modeling, credit risk, and default risk correlations. Notable contributions include work on correlated default risk (Journal of Finance, 2007) and volatility risk pricing (2015).

Research interests span theoretical and applied finance, with emphasis on derivatives markets, systemic risk, and financial engineering. Recent articles address issues like option liquidity disruptions (2019), credit rating biases (2013), and blockchain-based financial security mechanisms (2017). His work demonstrates interdisciplinary innovation at the intersection of traditional finance and emerging technologies.

Recipient of the 2012 College Researcher of the Year Award and 2008 Outstanding Teaching Award, he teaches doctoral seminars on options and undergraduate courses in financial modeling, international finance, and financial engineering. Active in both academia and industry, his career reflects a commitment to advancing financial theory while addressing real-world market challenges.