Nicola Del Sarto | Business and Finance| Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nicola Del Sarto | Business and Finance | Best Researcher Award 

Assistant Professor, University of Florence, Italy

Dr. Nicola Del Sarto is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florence, specializing in economics of financial intermediaries and corporate finance. Previously, they held postdoctoral research positions at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna – Pisa, contributing to projects on innovation strategies and data-driven economic growth (Horizon 2020, SoBigData++). With a PhD in Management of Innovation, Sustainability, and Healthcare (with Honor) from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, their research explores venture capital, university spin-offs, and digital startup funding. Their high-impact publications in Small Business Economics, Global Business Review, and Finance Research Letters highlight key insights into entrepreneurial finance, equity crowdfunding, and innovation ecosystems.

Professional Profile 

scopus

Education 🎓

Dr. Nicola Del Sarto earned a PhD in Management of Innovation, Sustainability, and Healthcare from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna – Pisa (2018, with Honor), focusing on business accelerators and open innovation. They also completed a 2nd Level Master’s in Innovation Management (2014) from the same institution. Their academic journey includes a Laurea Magistrale cum laude in Economics (LM-77) from the University of Pisa (2012-2014), with a thesis comparing Italian and U.S. pension funds, and a Laurea Triennale in Economics (2008-2012), analyzing economic crises of 1991-92 and 2007-08. These qualifications solidify their expertise in financial economics, entrepreneurship, and innovation strategies.

Experience 💼

Since September 2022, Dr. Nicola Del Sarto has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Florence, focusing on financial intermediaries and corporate finance. They previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna – Pisa (2018-2022), contributing to projects like SoBigData++ (Horizon 2020), open innovation strategies, and digital startup ecosystems. Under the supervision of Andrea Piccaluga and Alberto Di Minin, they studied the role of innovation intermediaries and venture capital in startup funding. Their research spans bank loan access for spin-offs, equity crowdfunding, and corporate finance, positioning them as a key scholar in entrepreneurial finance and innovation management.

Awards & Honors 🏆

PhD with Honor (2018) – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna – Pisa Cum Laude Distinction (2014) – Laurea Magistrale in Economics, University of Pisa Horizon 2020 Research Grant Recipient – SoBigData++ Project (European Commission) Best Paper Award Nominee – International Conference on Entrepreneurship & Innovation Research Excellence Award – Recognized for contributions to venture capital and startup finance

Conclusion

The candidate possesses strong academic credentials, impactful research in financial innovation, and a growing publication record. Their work on venture capital, crowdfunding, and startup financing makes them a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award. Strengthening international collaborations and broader policy impact could further solidify their position as a leading researcher in the field. 🚀

Publications Top Noted

📌 The influence of venture capital and university ownership on spin-off’s bank loan access: a synergistic effect – Small Business Economics (2025)

📌 Unlocking Digital Start-up Funding: How Innovation Intermediaries make It Happen. An Empirical Evidence from Italy – Global Business Review (2025)

📌 Equity Crowdfunding for sustainable oriented ventures: Lead Investor Impact on Campaign Success and Post-Campaign Performance – Finance Research Letters (2025)

Viktor Manahov | FinTech

 🏆Dr. Viktor Manahov, 🎉  Heartiest Congratulations on Winning the Best Researcher Award! 👩‍🔬🌟

  • Dr. Viktor Manahov, University of York, United Kingdom: FinTech

Dr. Viktor Manahov 🎉, Heartiest congratulations on receiving the prestigious Best Researcher Award from ScienceFather the Eastern Finance Association, USA! 🏆 Your exceptional contribution to the field, particularly in high-frequency trading and cryptocurrency research, has been recognized as exemplary and groundbreaking. 🚀

This award is a testament to your unwavering dedication, innovative thinking, and outstanding research skills. Your work not only advances our understanding of financial markets but also sets a high standard for academic excellence. 📈

May this well-deserved recognition inspire you to continue making impactful contributions to the world of finance. 🌐 Your commitment to excellence truly shines, and we are proud to have you as a leader in our academic community. Once again, congratulations on this remarkable achievement! 🥳

Professional Profiles:
Bio Summary:
  • Dr. Viktor Manahov is a Reader in Finance at the University of York, with a focus on high-frequency trading, financial markets, and cryptocurrency. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Newcastle University and has an extensive background in teaching and research. Dr. Manahov has received numerous awards for his research contributions and actively engages in external activities, including serving as a Treasurer of the British Accounting and Finance Association Diversity Executive Board.
Education:
  • PhD in Finance, Newcastle University (2011-2014)
    • Title: ‘An investigation of the behavior of financial markets using agent-based computational models.’
    • Supervisors: Prof. Robert Hudson and Prof. Bartosz Gebka
  • MSc in Finance and Investment Management, University of Aberdeen (2009-2010)
    • Dissertation: ‘The UK banking industry beyond Basel II. An investigation into contemporary derivative issues.’
  • BA (Hons) in Business Studies, Open University (2004-2008)
Teaching Qualifications:
  • Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE), The Chartered Association of Business Schools
  • Senior Fellow member of the Higher Education Academy, The Higher Education Academy
  • Newcastle Teaching Award, Newcastle University
Academic/Teaching Experience:
  • Reader in Finance, University of York (2022 – Present)
  • Senior Lecturer in Finance, University of York (2017 – 2022)
  • Lecturer in Finance, University of York (2014 – 2016)
  • Online tutor in Finance, University of Aberdeen (2018 – Present)
  • Teaching Fellow in Finance, Queen Mary University of London (2013 – 2014)
  • Teaching Assistant, Newcastle University (2011 – 2013)
  • Visiting Lecturer in Finance, University of Huddersfield (2015 – 2016)
  • External examiner, The London Institute of Banking and Finance (2015 – 2017)
  • External examiner, Regent’s University London (2017 – 2022)
  • Director of Study, London School of Commerce (2013 – 2021)
  • Subject Examiner, Association of Business Executives (2013 – 2015)

 

Publications Top Noted:
  • List of publications in reputable journals including Annals of Tourism Research, Annals of Operations Research, International Journal of Finance and Economics, Quantitative Finance, and more.
  • Citations: 217 citations from 197 documents.
  • Documents: 28 documents.
  • h-index: 9 (The h-index is a measure of an author’s productivity and citation impact; in this case, it is 9).
  1. “Stock market investment and different behavioral patterns: an exploratory study” – Review of Behavioral Finance, 2023.
  2. “The great crypto crash in September 2018: why did the cryptocurrency market collapse?” – Annals of Operations Research, 2023.
  3. “The rapid growth of cryptocurrencies: How profitable is trading in digital money?” – International Journal of Finance and Economics, 2023.
  4. “Cryptocurrency liquidity during extreme price movements: Is there a problem with virtual money?” – Commodities: Fundamental Theory of Futures, Forwards, and Derivatives Pricing, 2022.
  5. “Analysing emerging market returns with high-frequency data during the global financial crisis of 2007–2009” – European Journal of Finance, 2022.
  6. “High-frequency trading order cancellations and market quality: Is stricter regulation the answer?” – International Journal of Finance and Economics, 2021.
  7. “The efficiency of Bitcoin: A strongly typed genetic programming approach to smart electronic Bitcoin markets” (with A. Urquhart) – International Review of Financial Analysis, 2021.
  8. “Cryptocurrency liquidity during extreme price movements: Is there a problem with virtual money?” – Quantitative Finance, 2021.
  9. “Stock market manipulation in an emerging market of Turkey: how do market participants select stocks for manipulation?” (with H.O. Ergün, A. Yalaman, H. Zhang) – Applied Economics Letters, 2021.
  10. “High-frequency trading from an evolutionary perspective: Financial markets as adaptive systems” (with R. Hudson, A. Urquhart) – International Journal of Finance and Economics, 2019.
Research Focus:
  • High-frequency trading,
  • financial markets,
  • cryptocurrency,
  • market efficiency,
  • behavioral finance,
  • artificial intelligence in forecasting.
Honors & Awards:
  • Best Paper Award by the Eastern Finance Association, USA (2016)
  • Various research grants and awards, including from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), University of York Pump Priming Call, and more.
Research Timeline:
  • 2004-2008: Open University – Completed a BA (Hons) in Business Studies.
  • 2009-2010: University of Aberdeen – Completed an MSc in Finance and Investment Management, including a dissertation on derivative issues in the UK banking industry.
  • 2011-2014: Newcastle University – Pursued a PhD in Finance, focusing on the behavior of financial markets using agent-based computational models. Supervised by Prof. Robert Hudson and Prof. Bartosz Gebka.
  • 2013-2014: Teaching Assistant at Newcastle University.
  • 2014-2016: University of York – Joined as a Lecturer in Finance.
  • 2015-2016: Visiting Lecturer in Finance at the University of Huddersfield.
  • 2017-2022: University of York – Promoted to Senior Lecturer in Finance.
  • 2018-Present: University of Aberdeen – Engaged as an Online Tutor in Finance, teaching various postgraduate modules.
  • 2013-2015: Director of Study at London School of Commerce, supervising PhD students.
  • 2015-2017: External Examiner at The London Institute of Banking and Finance.
  • 2017-2022: External Examiner at Regent’s University London.
  • 2019-2021: Programme Leader of MSc Finance, Leadership and Management (online) at the University of York.
  • 2022-Present: Reader in Finance at the University of York.
  • Research Publications (2014-2024): Dr. Manahov has consistently contributed to reputable journals on topics such as cryptocurrency, high-frequency trading, market manipulation, and financial markets.
  • Invited Conference Keynote Speaker (2017-2023): Delivered keynote speeches at various international conferences on topics related to high-frequency trading modeling, regulatory issues, and behavioral finance.
  • Research Grants and Awards (2015-2023): Secured research funding from institutions such as The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, The University of York Pump Priming Call, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, etc.
  • External Engagements and Consultancy (2021-Present): Actively involved as the Lead Finance and Investment Project investigator for Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, and other roles.
  • Academic Services and Mentoring (2013-Present): Engaged in various editorial roles, mentoring colleagues, and serving as a viva examiner.
  • PhD/DBA Supervision (2015-Present): Successfully supervised several doctoral students on diverse research topics.