PhD Position in Banking Analytics: Multimodal Tabular Foundation Models for Credit Risk

I am recruiting one new Ph.D. student for entry in September 2027 (Deadline: January 31st, 2027).

The Banking Analytics Lab at Western University invites applications for one fully funded Ph.D. position on multimodal tabular foundation models for credit risk. This project will focus on developing a fully featured, regulatory-compliant process for creating, training, and deploying these models within modern retail banking environments, following what we have already been doing with fintech companies and banks worldwide.

Position Details:

• All PhD positions in my lab are fully funded, guaranteed for four years.

• Minimum annual stipend of CAD$30,000.

• Direct collaboration opportunities with major banks, fintech companies, government agencies, and regulatory bodies.

• Access to unique datasets and computing resources, plus annual funds for travelling and expenses.

The successful candidate will:

• Develop and evaluate methodologies that combine tabular foundation models with other types of data, such as text, time series, and networks, to assess credit risk.

• Work at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and banking using real, challenging datasets to solve problems at the forefront of modern banking.

• Contribute to both academic research and practical applications.

• Engage with industry partners and regulatory bodies.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in statistics, operations research, computer science, economics, applied mathematics, or related fields.

• Strong quantitative and programming skills. Python programming and knowledge of modern methods (pytorch, polars, spark, arrow, duckdb) is a strong plus.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

• Demonstrated interest in banking and financial applications.

Preference will be given to Spanish-speaking candidates for this position.

Application Process:

1. Apply to the Ph. D. in Statistics (Financial Modelling track) on Western's graduate portal by January 31st, 2027: https://grad.uwo.ca/admissions/apply-for-admission/index.cfm. Submit your CV, academic transcripts and reference letters, and mention on the form that you are applying to my position. Please mention your GRE scores, if available. More information is available here: https://www.uwo.ca/stats/graduate/phd-program.html
2. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in February 2027.
3. Final acceptance will be determined by the Graduate Affairs Committee.

For more information on the position, please contact me at cbravoro@uwo.ca.

The Banking Analytics Lab values diversity and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. This position is available to anyone, worldwide.