About

I am a Senior Lecturer in Financial Economics at the University of Derby, with extensive experience in teaching, research, and academic development. I have taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I am deeply committed to creating impactful learning experiences. My academic journey includes roles as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Quantitative Analysis and Lecturer in Finance. I have also played a key role in developing and enhancing UG/PG programmes and curricula. Before transitioning to academia, I gained valuable industry experience working in multinational banks in Pakistan as a Senior Auditor and Financial Analyst.

My research explores the intersection of Asset Pricing, Sustainability, and Information Economics. I specialise in examining how Big Data and Artificial Intelligence reshape financial markets, particularly in Fintech and Climate Finance. By leveraging advanced machine learning analysis, my work seeks to uncover innovative solutions for sustainable development and decision-making in financial markets. I integrate my research into teaching to ensure a dynamic, research-informed learning experience for students. My approach bridges cutting-edge academic insights and practical applications, preparing students to address real-world business challenges.

With extensive experience in postgraduate supervision and co-supervision of doctoral candidates, I have guided students to conduct impactful research. I am currently co-supervising a DBA student. I welcome research proposals from prospective PhD candidates that align with my expertise and interests, particularly in Fintech, Climate Finance, and Information Economics.

Teaching responsibilities

Program Leadership responsibilities:

• BSc International Business and Artificial Intelligence (IB & AI)
• BSc FinTech 

Module Teaching and Leadership responsibilities:

• Introduction to FinTech 
• Programming for Finance 
• Introduction to Business Analytics and AI 
• Portfolio Management 

Research interests

• FinTech 
• Climate Finance 
• Information Economics 

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• The British Accounting and Finance Association
• International Finance and Banking Society (IFABS)
• The Royal Economics Society, United Kingdom 

Qualifications

• PhD in Finance - University of Sheffield 
• MSc Finance - University of Exeter 
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education - University of London

Recent conferences

• American Accounting Association Annual Meeting 2024
• Royal Economics Society Annual Conference 2024
• Financial Management Association European Conference 2024
• The 19th Chinese Finance Annual Meeting 2022
• European Financial Management Annual Conference 2021
• 37th International French Finance Association Annual Conference 2021
• QMUL Behavioural Finance Working Group Workshop 2021
• Young Finance Scholar Conference 2019, Best Paper Award in FinTech stream

Additional interests and activities

Funded Research Projects:

• Research Fellow Quantitative Analysis, Economic and Social Research Council. (2022). Understanding how servitization can impact UK economic productivity and environmental performance - Funding Amount: £1,512,864
• Co-Principal Investigator, Sheffield University Management School Research Stimulation Fund 2020 – Funding Amount: £5,000
• Co-Principal Investigator, Sheffield University Management School Research Stimulation Fund 2018 – Funding Amount: £8,270

Recent publications

• Awais, M., Laber, M. F., Rasheed, N., & Khursheed, A. (2016). Impact of financial literacy and investment experience on risk tolerance and investment decisions: Empirical evidence from Pakistan. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 6(1), 73-79.
• Awais, M., Malik, M. S., & Qaisar, A. (2015). A review: The job satisfaction act as mediator between spiritual intelligence and organizational commitment. International Review of Management and Marketing, 5(4), 203-210.
• Malik, M. S., Awais, M., Timsal, A., & Qureshi, U. H. (2016). Impact of ethical leadership on employees’ performance: Moderating role of organizational values. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(3), 590-595.
• Menon, R., Bigdeli, A., Adem, A., Schroeder, A., Awais, M., Baines, T., . . . Roeder, M. (2024). Unpacking the triple Nexus: Environmental performance, economic performance and servitization – A systematic review and theoretical reflections. Journal of Cleaner Production, 457, 142459. 
• Timsal, A., & Mustabsar, A. (2016). Flexibility or ethical dilemma: an overview of the work from home policies in modern organizations around the world. Human Resource Management International Digest, 24(7), 12-15.