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Sep. 30, 2025

SHoF Researcher Jan Starmans has been appointed Associate Professor at the Department of Finance at the ������. His research covers corporate finance, sustainable finance, contract theory, and search theory. Jan also teaches finance both for the master’s and PhD programs.

What does this recognition mean to you?

This recognition marks a significant milestone in a journey that began 13 years ago when I started my PhD. While it's certainly not the end of my academic journey—which I hope will continue for the rest of my life—it does mark the completion of that crucial first phase: becoming a researcher and establishing myself in the field. I've always enjoyed research from day one, but the work becomes even more rewarding when you develop a clear understanding of your strengths, know exactly what questions to pursue, and can navigate the literature with confidence. Learning how to be a good researcher takes a surprisingly long time—probably longer than I expected when I began. Now that I'm here, I can't imagine doing anything else with my life.

Looking back on your academic journey, what key experiences or choices do you think were most influential?

Becoming a good researcher is mostly about the people you meet, learn from, and work with. I've been very lucky to encounter many exceptional individuals along my journey—professors during my undergraduate years, mentors during my PhD and early career, and the co-authors I collaborate with now.

While papers and textbooks provide essential knowledge, the most important parts of research can't be learned from them alone. Understanding what makes a research paper interesting, knowing the right questions to ask, and developing intuition for promising research paths—these skills come through a long process of trial and error, shaped by many interactions and feedback from others. In this way, academia is highly collaborative; we are always learning from one another.

Every day, I gain new insights from my co-authors when working on our papers, colleagues during lunch conversations, and chance encounters at conferences. Much of this is impossible to predict or plan, which is why staying open to new relationships is so important. A perfect example is my collaboration with Deeksha Gupta. We met by chance at a PhD conference in London, and that random encounter has led to five papers together, with many more in the pipeline. It's these unexpected connections and the continuous exchange of ideas that have shaped my academic journey.

Is professorship something you always aspired to, or did your path evolve over time?

Apparently, when I was about 12 years old and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered: "a professor." I'm not sure if this was a particularly well-informed response at that age, and I honestly don't know where it came from, but it turned out to be remarkably accurate.

My aspiration became tangible when I served as a Research Assistant and a Teacher Assistant during my undergraduate years. That was when I truly understood what academia is—a fantastic world where you can spend your days deeply contemplating how the world works. Through those experiences, I gradually realized that I never wanted to leave this environment.

That feeling has stayed the same over the years. Despite the challenges of academic life—the long journey to tenure, the pressure to publish, and the competitive field—I have found the perfect job for me. There's nothing I would trade it for, and I feel incredibly thankful to be able to do this work.

Will the new role change anything in your day-to-day work?

I've spent most of my last 13 years doing research, and that will stay my main focus in the near future.

As I become more senior, I'll naturally take on additional responsibilities in running the department and the school, while also contributing more to the field through conference organization, editorial work, and similar service roles. This will be a gradual process, and I look forward to the new challenges that come my way.

One area that will become more important is advising and mentoring students. I see this as a great privilege—having received so much support and guidance during my own journey, it feels right to give back in a more meaningful way. The mentorship I received was key to getting me here, and being able to offer that same support to the next generation of researchers is both a responsibility and a joy.