Criscent Birungi

About Criscent Birungi

I am a PhD Candidate in Mathematics and Statistics at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. I am currently conducting research at the intersection of Mathematical Finance and Machine Learning. My doctoral research involves developing optimal financial strategies for retirees using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. I am a PhD Mitacs Research Fellow at Desjardins Global Asset Management (DGAM). In this role, I contribute to designing a global stock recommendation system using an AI model that integrates financial data and market trends to classify securities based on their expected one-month return.My research focuses on areas of mathematical finance, optimization, computational finance, statistical machine learning, statistical theory, econometrics, and time series analysis. More broadly, I develop machine learning tools to tackle challenges in finance, insurance, statistics, economics, and climate change.I am also working on using deep learning to develop pricing and hedging strategies for managing weather and climate change risks in commodity and energy markets, aiming to create a fair and effective climate plan in commodity-dependent economies.I enjoy teaching statistics, mathematical finance, reinforcement learning, probability theory, actuarial and insurance mathematics, statistical theory, econometrics, quantitative economics, time series analysis, and related courses.Alongside my research, I am the CEO and Founder of Floriscent Group (FiG). FiG is a private investment firm that offers a broader range of investment opportunities compared to traditional funds. FiG provides various services, including consultancy, real estate, stocks, financial services, derivatives, logistics, and currency trading. FiG\'s consultancy teams are composed of industry experts who specialize in tackling the financial, economic, and technological challenges faced by investment companies, corporations, and financial institutions.In my free time, I enjoy reading, running, and playing soccer.

Experience

1. Portfolio Analyst Intern, Mitacs Accelerate Program

   Desjardins

   May 2025 — Present · Montreal, QC, CA

   Developing and implementing AI-driven recommender systems for multi-asset portfolio construction and investment strategies. Integrating machine learning outputs with portfolio construction frameworks to improve risk-adjusted returns. Collaborating with academia and industry partners to bridge cutting-edge AI research with real-world asset management applications.

Education

• The University of Kansas

  GS, Double major in Applied Mathematics and Econometrics & Quantitative Economics

  2022 — 2023

• Makerere University

  B.Sc.Ed. Mathematics and Economics

  2015 — 2019

• Concordia University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Mathematics and Statistics

  2023 — 2027

• Strathmore University

  MSc. Mathematical Finance

  2019 — 2021