The Elizabeth Neave Fellowship
Established December 2014 by Professor Edwin (Ted) Neave in memory of his wife Elizabeth Lees Neave. Throughout her life, Elizabeth strongly believed in the potential of innovative research to foster social progress. This fund has been established in recognition of Elizabeth’s beliefs, and in the hope that it will assist graduate students in pursuing their own forms of innovative research. This fellowship is awarded on the basis of academic excellence to funding eligible MSc students. Selection will be made by the Smith PhD/MSc Awards Adjudication Committee.
Latest Recipients
Jiaying Wu
Where is your hometown?
I’m from Shantou, China, a coastal city with a long history and a rich tradition of seafood and local cuisine.
Why did you choose Smith School of Business/Queen’s?
Coming from an Economics background, I was eager to deepen my understanding of Finance research, and Smith stood out as one of the top business schools in Canada. My time here has only reinforced that decision—I’ve had the privilege of learning from outstanding faculty and immersing myself in a dynamic research community.
What has been your favourite experience at Queen’s so far?
One of the most meaningful experiences at Queen’s has been working with my supervisor, Professor Paul Calluzzo. He is always patient and supportive, offering thoughtful guidance that helps me improve my research. His advice has strengthened my analytical thinking and given me the confidence to take on more challenging ideas. Another highlight has been the Capital Markets and Corporate Finance Theory course with Professor Pierre Chaigneau this semester. As someone who enjoys theoretical research, I found the course both engaging and thought-provoking. It gave me a solid understanding of some key finance theories, which I found really engaging, and reinforced my passion for finance research.
What are your aspirations after graduation?
My ultimate goal is to become a finance professor, contributing to the field through impactful research and teaching. I am particularly fascinated by the intersection of corporate culture, behavioral finance, and asset pricing, and I hope to explore thought-provoking questions that deepen our understanding of financial markets and corporate decision-making.
What is one interesting fact about you?
I love playing basketball and I am also a huge NBA fan. The Golden State Warriors are my favourite team.
Research Overview
Individual and Coordinated Insider Trading
Jiaying’s research explores the distinction between individual and coordinated insider trading, emphasizing the latter’s potential to reduce risk and stabilize stock prices. By introducing “initiating trades” and examining follow-on transactions, the study classifies trades into individual, coordinated, and passive categories. Using data from the China A-share market, it investigates the short-term and long-term effects of insider trading on stock performance and investor sentiment. The research hypothesizes that coordinated trades provide more stable market signals and may serve as strategic tools to maintain investor confidence. Future work includes developing a theoretical model linking investor sentiment to insider trading patterns, with broader implications for market regulation and financial stability.
Shervin Zarifiansanatkar
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is Tehran, Iran. Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, a country with a rich history, diverse environment, and stunning natural landscapes.
Why did you choose Smith School of Business/Queen’s?
I wanted to continue my graduate studies at a highly ranked university with a strong research background, innovative approaches, and distinguished faculty. When I came across the management program at Smith School of Business, I was impressed by its reputation for cutting-edge research and the positive experiences of former students. The program offers a dynamic and collaborative learning environment, which I believe is essential for both academic and professional growth. Moreover, the diverse community and industry connections at Smith provide great opportunities for networking and career advancement. With its rich curriculum and extensive resources, I am confident that this program will help me achieve my goals.
What has been your favourite experience at Queen’s so far?
My favourite experience at Queen’s so far has been engaging with the vibrant academic and professional community at Smith School of Business. The interactive and research-driven environment has given me the opportunity to collaborate with talented peers and learn from highly accomplished faculty. I have particularly enjoyed exploring innovative concepts in management analytics and seeing how they apply to real-world problems.
What are your aspirations after graduation?
After graduation, my goal is to pursue a career in academia as a professor. My passion for research and teaching has been a key motivator in my decision to continue graduate studies. I am particularly interested in contributing to innovative research that drives meaningful advancements in management analytics. Beyond conducting research, I aspire to mentor and inspire future students, fostering a learning environment that encourages critical thinking and creativity.
What is one interesting fact about you?
One interesting fact about me is that I started my academic journey in industrial engineering and never imagined pursuing graduate studies in a business school. However, as I explored different topics, I discovered how closely engineering and management analytics are connected. This realization led me to shift my focus and ultimately choose Smith School of Business for my master's. Now, I am truly enjoying the program and often encourage engineering students to consider management if they are interested in graduate studies, as it offers a unique and valuable perspective on problem-solving and decision-making.
Research Overview
Enhancing Emergency Department Efficiency: Optimizing the Patient Pathway in Quebec
Shervin’s research focuses on enhancing the efficiency of Quebec’s Emergency Departments (EDs) by optimizing patient pathways to address significant financial and operational challenges. Using two years of data from multiple facilities, the study aims to identify inefficiencies and propose evidence-based solutions to improve ED productivity, with a key focus on minimizing 30-day readmission rates. The research follows a two-phase methodology: analyzing one year of data to determine optimal time allocations for each step of the patient pathway and comparing these findings with actual performance in the second year. Expected outcomes include identifying underperforming ED sections, understanding systemic inefficiencies, and providing practical solutions to reduce readmissions and enhance patient care. By integrating advanced optimization techniques with real-world data, this study offers a transformative approach to improving ED operations in Quebec while contributing valuable insights to healthcare optimization research.