Talking with… Lin Tong

Interviews | Jan 31, 2020 | Cynthia Ramsaran

Each “Talking With…” feature helps you learn about a different Gabelli School faculty member, administrator, or staff member. This week, we’re speaking with Lin Tong, assistant professor of finance and business economics at the Gabelli School of Business.

You focus your research on institutional investors, high-frequency trading, mutual funds, and behavioral finance. Why these areas?

I was looking for ideas for my first paper in the second year of my Ph.D. when my advisor introduced me to some classic papers on mutual funds. We tried many ideas, and one of those eventually worked out, and it got published in a top tier journal several years later. 

When I began to work on my job market paper in 2012, high-frequency trading (HFT) was the center of a huge debate at that time. However, at that time, there was not a single academic study that directly examined the impact of HFT on institutional investors. The paper received a lot of attention and got cited by many media outlets, including “The Economist.” It made me realize that my research can have a real impact.

What is your favorite part about teaching at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business?

I love the students! They are so motivated, active, and eager to learn. I can see the sparkles in their eyes when we discuss fancy models and interesting cases in class. I get inspiration from the students all the time, and the sense of responsibility prompts me to keep pace with new developments in the financial market.

You studied in China before coming to the United States. What advice would you give to students from another country studying in New York?

Studying and keeping a good GPA is very important since you are here to learn skills that will eventually land you a job. Also, being serious about course work will help you build self-confidence, acquire communication skills, and make lifelong friends with your classmates.

Perhaps equally importantly, be open-minded. Being in New York City gives you the perfect opportunity to get to know different cultures, professions, and people from all over the world. Take the chance and let the adventure begin.