Welcome to the Homepage of Yingying Guo

Last updated: Nov 18, 2025 | Updates weekly

About Me

I am Yingying Guo, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Finance, with a minor in Economics, at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I am conducting my doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. R. Kelley Pace, a leading scholar in real estate finance and econometrics.

My academic journey began at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering with Highest Honors in 2015. I then continued my graduate studies at Louisiana State University, obtaining:

  • an MS in Petroleum Engineering (December 2020, advisor: Dr. Andrew Wojtanowicz), 
  • a Master of Applied Statistics (December 2020, advisor: Dr. Brian D. Marx), and
  • an MS in Finance (December 2021).

With a rare blend of training across petroleum engineering, applied statistics, and finance, my work is inherently interdisciplinary. My research focuses on bridging quantitative modeling and real-world applications. I have published 15 peer-reviewed publications (9 Q1 based on Scimago Journal & Country) in engineering and finance journals, and am the co-inventor of 2 patents related to high-pressure, high-temperature testing technologies. In addition to research, I have independently taught 2 finance courses (teaching evaluations: 4.0/4.0 in Fundamentals of Asset Management; 3.9/4.0 in Principles of Real Estate) and served as a teaching assistant for 10 courses across finance, statistics, and engineering, demonstrating both teaching effectiveness and interdisciplinary breadth.

My current projects integrate statistical, machine learning, and AI methods to address empirical problems in finance. This unique combination of domain expertise and data-driven methodology enables me to approach financial questions—especially in energy finance, corporate finance, derivatives modeling, and household finance—with both analytical depth and practical relevance.

I am currently exploring academic and industry opportunities and am excited to apply my interdisciplinary background to new challenges starting Fall 2026.

Fields of Study

Finance

Studied asset pricing, real estate, corporate finance, and financial modeling. My research focuses on appraisal bias and accuracy, energy finance, option pricing, and the application of AI and machine learning in finance.

Applied Statistics

Trained in statistical modeling using SAS, R, Python, and other tools. Applied quantitative methods to finance and engineering projects, bridging technical analysis with practical applications.

Petroleum Engineering

Worked on offshore drilling, drilling fluids, and naturally fractured reservoirs. Published over 10 papers and patents in drilling optimization, risk analysis, and offshore engineering.

Research Interest

Household Finance

Research on how households make financial decisions related to housing, borrowing, and investment. Focus on appraisal bias, mortgage markets, and the role of financial constraints in shaping behavior.

Energy Finance

Examines investment, valuation, and risk in energy markets. Includes work on energy infrastructure, commodity pricing, and the financial implications of energy transition.

Asset Pricing

Explores the determinants of risk and return in financial markets, with a focus on macro-finance linkages, return predictability, and the role of frictions and behavioral biases. I also integrate machine learning techniques to uncover complex patterns in asset returns.

Corporate Finance

Examines firm investment, innovation, and capital structure decisions, with a particular focus on how financial constraints and governance shape outcomes. I utilize patent data to analyze corporate innovation and the financial strategies that drive technological progress.

Teaching Interest

Principles of Real Estate

Covers the fundamentals of real estate markets, including property valuation, financing, investment decisions, and the role of institutions in real estate transactions.

Principles of Finance

Introduces core financial concepts such as time value of money, risk and return, capital budgeting, and financial markets. Emphasizes practical applications and decision-making.

Investment Analysis and Portfolio Theory

Focuses on security analysis, portfolio construction, asset allocation, and risk management. Includes both theoretical foundations and hands-on quantitative methods.

Financial Modeling and Analytics

Covers the development and application of financial models for valuation, risk assessment, and investment strategies. Emphasizes the use of R and quantitative methods to analyze financial data and support decision-making across corporate finance, investments, and real estate markets.

Service and Outreach

SPE Chevron Mentorship Program Team

Petroleum Engineering Department, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Mentor: Advising freshman and first-year graduate students in the Petroleum Engineering Department at Louisiana State University

Magdalena Ridge Observatory Volunteer Team

Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Socorro, NM, USA

Gave tours of the observatory to the public. Educated guests about instrumentation, the capabilities of the different telescopes and equipment, and the goals of the observatory as a whole

Awards and Fellowships

  • Startup LSU Competition, Second Place (Team Award)
  • Keith and Evie Katz Superior Graduate Student Scholarship
  • NMIMT Honor Roll
  • Jereh Scholarship
  • Drilling 821 Scholarship
  • First-class Scholarship in Petroleum Engineering

Professional Memberships

  • Member of Pi Epsilon Tau
  • Member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
  • Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers
  • Secretary of GSA (Graduate Students Association) in Petroleum Engineering Department

Skills and Certifications

  • Proficient in statistical/machine learning and data programming with SAS, R, Python, Stata, SAS and MATLAB
  • Skilled in photography; own and operate a Nikon Z8 with multiple lenses and professional equipment
  • Proficient in creating and editing scientific and presentation-quality figures and maps using various software tools
  • Experienced in video production and editing with diverse software platforms
  • Native Chinese speaker; fluent in English (spoken and written)

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Le Yan for giving me the opportunity to work in high-performance computing (HPC) and for providing financial support during my first two years at LSU.

I am grateful to my advisor in Petroleum Engineering, Dr. Andrew K. Wojtanowicz, for offering me a teaching assistant position and supporting my master’s studies in petroleum engineering, applied statistics, and finance. His breadth of knowledge, innovative thinking, and relentless pursuit of new ideas broadened my intellectual horizons. His extraordinary patience, integrity, rigor, and kindness taught me how to be a better person, a dedicated student, and a responsible teaching assistant. I thank him for always opening the door to me, encouraging me, and giving me the freedom to explore ideas that profoundly shaped my journey.

I am also thankful to Dr. Beibei Guo for her generous guidance and support, and for providing me with opportunities and funding throughout my master's program.

I would also like to thank Dr. Carlos Slawson, who never failed to remind me to study well and live well. I could always count on his messages of encouragement at 2 p.m. every day, and I learned to leave my worries and anxieties until Sunday at 10 p.m.—a discipline that brought me peace and perspective.

My heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lewis Kilbourne for sharing many meaningful stories with me and for always encouraging me.

I am grateful to Dr. Wei-Ling Song for her guidance in corporate finance research, and to Dr. Don Chance for encouraging me to publish my work on option pricing.

My deepest gratitude goes to Dr. R. Kelley Pace, whose support for my Ph.D. studies and mentorship led me into the fascinating world of finance. He changed the course of my career and sparked a lasting passion for research. Without a doubt, he is one of the most brilliant, inspiring, and kind-hearted individuals I have ever met.

While I still have much to learn before I can truly stand on my own, being their student has been the most meaningful gift in my academic journey. Their commitment to excellence in both research and teaching has set an inspiring example I continually strive to follow. More importantly, they have shown me how to live with integrity, warmth, and compassion—lessons for which I will always be grateful.