Pinar Topal, Deutsche Bank

"I benefited a lot from the lively debates"

In June 2015, Pinar Topal took up a position as a Risk Analyst at Deutsche Bank. From September 2010 to July 2014, she worked at the IMFS as a research and teaching assistant with a special emphasis on fiscal policy and labour market issues. She completed the Ph.D. program in Economics at Goethe University in June 2015. Before getting her Ph.D., the Turkish economist obtained a M.A. degree in Internet Economics from University of Freiburg and a M.Sc. degree in Quantitative Economics from Goethe University.

How would you describe your job to other people?

As a risk analyst, my job covers monitoring the constantly changing regulatory environment, early identification of risks and developing a consistent risk taxonomy for the Deutsche Bank Group. My role requires active interaction with all risk functions of the bank, internal and external regulators, which enables to me to engage with risk specialists in other departments and institutions.

What are your main tasks at Deutsche Bank?

My main tasks at the Bank include working on projects and policies to develop solutions to the key issues on internal capital adequacy assessment process (ICAAP). I am responsible for defining and implementing of ICAAP-related processes and working on the Risk Inventory & Risk Management Principles of the Bank.

What was the main focus of your research?

The main focus of my Ph.D. dissertation was on fiscal policy and labour market issues. In my research, I examined the non-linearities in economic structure from different aspects linked with the consequences of the current financial crisis, such as concerns on the fiscal sustainability. Contributing to the current discussions on this debate in the policy and academic circles, I focused on two crucial issues in my dissertation; the non-linear nexus between public debt and growth and the impacts of fiscal stimulus for different labour market institutions.

How is your job at Deutsche Bank related to your work at the IMFS?

While working at the institute, I took part in the proposal application for Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission's Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Program. I was the principle contact person during this proposal application process. This task helped me to gain project management skills which is very crucial in my current role at the Deutsche Bank.

How did you benefit from the interdisciplinary work at the IMFS?

As the institute is providing an interdisciplinary working environment, I had the chance to get engaged with researchers from different backgrounds, which enabled me to widen my perspective and network and also improve the quality my research. The institute organizes events, conferences, working lunches and distinguished lectures in different disciplines and during my four year stay at the IMFS, I benefited a lot from the lively debates taking part in each of these events.

Looking back, what do you appreciate most regarding your doctorate at the IMFS?

I appreciated most getting project management experience, which is very crucial and helpful to me in my current day-to-day work, as well as having opportunity to attend highly appreciated conferences, such as “ECB and Its Watchers”, as a young researcher.