Rebellion Research Names Kathryn Zhao of Cantor Fitzgerald as 2025 Quant of the Year

August 20, 2026

Rebellion Research Names Kathryn Zhao of Cantor Fitzgerald as 2025 Quant of the Year

Cornell Financial Engineering Manhattan 2026 Ai & Future of Finance Conference

Rebellion Research has named Kathryn Zhao, Global Head of Electronic Trading at Cantor Fitzgerald, as the 2025 Quant of the Year. The award will be presented at the Wall Street Quant Awards & Generative AI Summit on December 3rd at the London Stock Exchange’s U.S. Headquarters in New York City.

Zhao is a distinguished figure in quantitative finance and market microstructure innovation. She leads Cantor Fitzgerald’s global electronic trading division, overseeing cross-asset electronic trading systems that integrate quantitative modeling, data analytics, and machine learning. Her leadership has positioned Cantor at the forefront of next-generation execution and risk management technologies.

With more than two decades in quantitative research and trading, Zhao’s career spans senior roles at J.P. Morgan, Deutsche Bank, and Pfizer. As Global Head of Algorithmic Quantitative Research at J.P. Morgan, she developed proprietary trading models that advanced execution performance and liquidity management across asset classes. Earlier, at Deutsche Bank, she directed algorithmic trading for Asia ex-Japan and Australia, helping build one of the region’s most sophisticated electronic trading infrastructures.

Zhao is an influential voice in financial academia and research. She serves as an Adjunct Professor at Cornell University, teaching courses in blockchain, cryptocurrency trading, and digital asset regulation. She is also a Board Member of Cornell Financial Engineering Manhattan and the Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management. Her contributions bridge the gap between quantitative finance and digital innovation, reflecting her commitment to education and the next generation of quants.

She has published widely in GlobalTrading magazine, including “Five Pillars of Modern Electronic Trading,” “Building the Next Generation of Algos,” “Market Impact in Open & Close Auctions,” and “Closing Volume Discovery,” each exploring the intersection of data science, market dynamics, and algorithmic execution. Zhao is also an advisory board member for A-Team Group’s TradingInsight and Markets Media’s Women in Finance initiative, advocating for diversity and technical excellence in global finance.

Her professional accolades include the Excellence in Electronic Trading Award (2019) and her recent appointments as an Academic Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Digital Asset Analysts and a Board Member at Cornell Johnson.

A graduate of Cornell University’s S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management & Smith College, Zhao built a career defined by rigorous research, practical innovation, and strategic leadership. Her expertise spans algorithmic design, hedge fund execution, cryptocurrency markets, and portfolio optimization.

The Quant of the Year Award recognizes individuals who have advanced the field of quantitative finance through pioneering research, market impact, and thought leadership. Rebellion Research’s recognition of Kathryn Zhao underscores her influence in modern trading and her role as a bridge between quantitative research, institutional strategy, and digital finance transformation.