DIANE WILCOX
Career category: Applied Mathematics - Financial Engineering,
Mathematics of Finance, Stochastic Analysis
Scientific Finance
Current Employment: Lecturer, Dept. of Math. & Applied Math.,
UCT (MSc programme in Mathematics of Finance)
Email address: diane@maths.uct.ac.za

Career History:
My research interests are in financial engineering, mathematics of finance and stochastic analysis, i.e. “scientific finance”. I am a mathematician by training and obtained my PhD in abstract (‘pure’) mathematics by tackling a problem concerning stability of transformations of spaces with geometric and topological structure. I have always been interested in political economics and the allocation of capital in society. Growing up in apartheid era SA, I learnt that the discriminatory system was not simply about racism. To extract the gold, diamonds and other resources at great profit, cheap labour was secured by stripping workers of their civil, political and economic rights. Most South Africans still do not have access to economic empowerment. Financial markets which, allocate capital to create wealth, play a dominant role in global economics and our individual lives. Pricing of securities and optimal asset allocation problems are complex, interdisciplinary and use advanced mathematical techniques. I find it a highly stimulating and challenging area to pursue research in. Mathematics is a central part of human culture and is beautiful! History has shown that just about every are of mathematical investigation is rewarding both practically and aesthetically. More info can be found on http://www.mth.uct.ac.za/~diane/currresearch.htm