Prize for best Master’s Thesis in Quantitative Finance
Prize for best Master’s Thesis in Quantitative Finance
Each year, Natixis Foundation for Research & Innovation awards the Prize for best Master’s Thesis in Quantitative Finance.
This prize, with a check of 6,000 euros, is awarded to one or several outstanding theses on current challenging issues that banks, insurance companies and asset management firms must address. These contributions call for the use of the most sophisticated quantitative finance techniques.
2016 Laureates
Guillaume Ausset : "Sets of Trees: Theory and Application to Scoring Models", realized at Crédit Agricole
- Master Mathématiques de l'Assurance, de l'Économie et de la Finance (MASEF)
Sébastien Geeraert : "Greeks Calculation by AAD (Adjoint Algorithmic Differentiation), realized at MUREX
- Master M2 Probabilités et Finance, École Polytechnique et Université Pierre & Marie Curie – Paris VI :
Abdou Kélani : "Optimal Hedging of Guarantees such as Variable Annuities, with Extreme Financial Risks", realized at the SAF Research Lab of ISFA (Institute of Financial and Actuarial Science)
- ISFA – Université Lyon 1
2015 Laureates
Claire Monin : "Optimisation multiobjectif de l’allocation stratégique par un algorithme génétique", realized at BNP Paribas Cardif
- Institut de Science Financière et d’Assurances (ISFA), University of Lyon 1
Julien Doumergue : "Optimal Hedging Strategies using Stochastic Space Barriers and its Application to Financial Products", realized at BNP Paribas UK
- Master M2 Probabilités & Finance de l’Université Pierre & Marie Curie – Paris VI
Shuren Tan : "Reconstructing the Joint Probability Distribution from Basket Prices"
- MSc in Mathematics and Finance of Imperial College
2014 Laureates
Johannes Heinrich : "Reinforcement Learning for Algorithmic trading"
- MSc in Mathematics and Finance of Imperial College
Joël Bun : "Out-of-Sample Risk Optimization Using Random Matrix Theory", written as part of an internship at Capital Fund Management
- Master 2 Modélisation Aléatoire, Université Paris Diderot
Salmane Lahdachi : "Environnement Multi-Courbes et Marges de Basis Stochastiques", written as part of an internship at Crédit Agricole – CIB
- Master M2 Probabilités & Finance de l'Université Pierre & Marie Curie–Paris VI
2013 Laureates

Jiatu Cai : "Risque de Contrepartie et de Liquidité", realized at CA-CIB
- Master 2 "Modélisation Aléatoire" – University Paris 7 – Paris Diderot
Jens Olov Michael Ronnqvist : "Default Contagion in Financial Networks"
- MSc in Mathematics and Finance – Imperial College – London
Olivier Daviet : "Commodity Futures Contagion and Diversification Potential : An Empirical Study in the U.S. Market"
- Master of Science in Finance - University of Geneva
2012 Laureates

Tung-Lam Dao: “Momentum Strategies: From Novel Estimation Techniques to Financial Applications”, realized at LYXOR
- Master “Modélisation Aléatoire”, University Paris 7 – Paris Diderot
Marouan Iben Taarit: “Market Liquidity and Adverse Permanent Effects in Hedging Equity & Interest Rates Derivatives”, realized at GRO (Crédit Agricole)
- Master “Mathématiques et Applications”, University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée – École des Ponts Paris Tech
Adrien Grangé Cabane: “Étude des Modèles de Corrélation en Finance”, realized at Société Générale
- Master “Probabilités et Finance”, University Pierre & Marie Curie Paris VI and École Polytechnique
2011 Laureates
Anthony Darné: “Remporter les appels d’offres de retraite supplémentaire grâce au Liability Driven Investment”, realized at BNP Paribas Assurances
- Master University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 – ISFA
Mauricio Labadie: “Optimal Algorithmic Trading and Market Microstructure”, realized at Chevreux (Crédit Agricole)
- University Paris Dauphine – Master 104
2010 Laureates
Rija Razanatsimba: “Validation de Modèles de Valorisation sur les Marchés Électriques”, realized at EDF Trading”
- Master University Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée
Martin Jimenez Sanchez: “Variable Annuities – the GMxB guarantees and the GMWB’s Optimal Surrender Behavior”, realized at Milliman
- Master University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 – ISFA
2009 Laureates
Anas Benabid: “The Wishart stochastic volatility model”
- Master 2 “Probabilités et finance” University Paris VI and École Polytechnique


