Students awarded Cochrane Scholarships

Monash University has announced the recipients of this year's Donald Cochrane Postgraduate Research Scholarships - created to honour the Faculty of Business and Economics foundation dean, the late Professor Donald Cochrane.

Mikhail Tupitsyn from the Department of Accounting and Finance, Ou Yang from the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics and Marc Mariano from the Department of Economics received the scholarship, which is awarded to the most outstanding full-time PhD candidates in any of the business disciplines

The scholarships were made possible thanks to the philanthropy of Donald Cochrane’s children Dr Andrew Cochrane and Dr Fiona Cochrane, along with other donors.

Mikhail’s research focuses on examining the determinants of risks and returns in the hedge fund industry.

“The Donald Cochrane Scholarship opens a door to the exciting and challenging world of scientific research, which otherwise would remain my unattainable dream,” he said.

Ou’s research seeks to structure a multi-stage demand system for detailed alcoholic types. His research is largely inspired by the work of two researchers in 2008 who estimated the annual tangible cost of alcohol-related problems in Australia in 2004-05 was $10.8 billion.

“Not only does this scholarship recognise my academic achievement to date, but it also helps me concentrate on my research with a great release from concern about financial problems,” he said.

Marc’s PhD thesis explores the economic effects and welfare implications of rice policy interventions in the Philippines.

“This is driven by my passion to somehow contribute to the long struggle of the Filipino farmers for economic development. This prestigious award means a lot to me and to my parents who have always strived to provide the best education for their children despite our financial limitations,” he said.

The late Professor Donald Cochrane, a distinguished economist, was founding dean of the Faculty of Economics and Politics (now Business and Economics) at Monash University and held office from 1961 to 1981.

This three-year scholarship is tenable by a full-time PhD candidate conducting research in any of the business disciplines. Applicants need to be graduates with first-class honours in a relevant area of business or commerce.

Pictured: Professor Stephen King, Ou Yang, Dr Fiona Cochrane, Mikhail Tupitsyn, Dr Andrew Cochrane and Marc Mariano.