“Big Data in FinTech” is coming to Seton Hall

Seton Hall will host this year’s New Jersey Big Data Alliance (NJBDA) Symposium in the newly renovated University Center on May 9 at 08.30 to 15.30

On Tuesday, May 9, Seton Hall University will host 10th Annual New Jersey Big Data Alliance (NJBDA) Symposiumthe state’s “first big data and advanced computing conference.”

NJBDA is an alliance of 18 higher education institutions, as well as industry and government members, that catalyzes collaboration in advanced computing and data analytics research, education and technology. The event theme this year, “Big Data in FinTech,” focuses on the opportunities in new developments in the financial industry created by big data and financial technology. Funding for the symposium is provided by the US Economic Development Administration.

The venue rotates among the partners in NJBDA; previous hosts include the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Kean University, New Jersey City University, The College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, Rowan University, and Rutgers University. This year’s symposium will be held in person from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm in Seton Hall in the University Center.

Registration for the symposium is now open and can be accessed via the NJBDA website.

Manfred Minimair, professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Seton Hall, is chairing the 2023 NJBDA Symposium. “The annual symposium typically attracts a large number of attendees. We expect more than 150 people to attend, including business people, representatives from New Jersey government focused on economic development, and professors, students and staff from NJ colleges and universities,” said he.

The symposium will feature high-profile keynote speakers: George Calhoun, professor, founding director of the Quantitative Finance Program and executive director of the Hanlon Financial Systems Center at the Stevens Institute of Technology; Kjersten Moody, data officer at Prudential Financial; and Stephen Ward, Cybersecurity expert and CEO of Insight Partners.

Additional sessions will cover a variety of interesting topics ranging from artificial intelligence and machine learning applications, workforce skills, regulatory issues to Cybersecurity.

“The symposium provides an excellent forum for professionals and students to network and learn about the latest developments in Big Data and FinTech. We invite academic researchers and students to contribute submit proposals for research presentations and posters by March 25,” Minimair said.

Participants will be able to:

• Explore the education and training of a Big Data Workforce focused on Big Data in FinTech.
• Gain insight into cutting-edge research at New Jersey’s premier academic institutions.
• Attend relevant and valuable workshops.
• Network with industry, government, academic leaders and New Jersey Big Data Alliance members.

Associate Professor Matthew Hale, Ph.D., who teaches in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Seton Hall, serves as president of the New Jersey Big Data Alliance. He gave this background on the origins of the symposium:

NJBDA started 10 years ago with a group of faculty members in New Jersey who were interested in and researching “Big Data”. Being good academics, we decided to have a symposium to talk about what we were doing. Today, the NJBDA encompasses every four-year university in New Jersey and extends to community colleges. We have a growing number of corporate and government partners who have come to rely on NJBDA for research support, new ideas and help with workforce development and training. We have been recognized and financially supported by the State of New Jersey for our efforts and leadership in the “big data” area.

Through it all, we remain a committed group of academics who believe that with the right training programs and financial infrastructure, New Jersey can become a nationwide and global leader in a wide range of advanced computing fields, including; Artificial intelligence, cyber security, machine learning, data science, data-driven financial services and even electronic gaming.

He added, “It’s exciting to have a 10-year anniversary, but even more exciting is thinking about where NJBDA, New Jersey and our various fields will be in the next 10 years. It’s going to be a fun ride.”

Visit the NJBDA website for a detailed agenda and to register.