Dr. Zainab Srour holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and Finance from the University of Rennes 1 (France) and the Lebanese University in 2019. Her doctoral dissertation examined the measurement and analysis of systemic risk in the banking sector, with a particular focus on the underlying factors driving such risks. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Financial Studies at Rafik Hariri University in Lebanon. Dr. Srour has extensive teaching experience in the University of Rennes-France from 2015-2019 and Lebanon 2019 till present, where she has taught a range of courses in Finance and Applied Mathematics and Statistics.

Her research interests lie at the intersection of financial risk management, systemic risk analysis, and network modeling, with a growing emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence techniques into financial applications. Through her work, Dr. Srour seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of risk propagation in financial systems and to the development of innovative, data-driven models that enhance decision-making in finance.

EDUCATION

• D. in Management (Finance) & Applied Mathematics
  University of Rennes 1, France & Lebanese University — 2019
  Thesis: Modeling and analyzing systemic risk in European banking sector
• Master’s in Applied Mathematics & Financial Modeling, Faculty of Science, Beirut, Lebanese University — 2015
• Bachelor’s in Finance and Banking, Faculty of Business, Beirut, Lebanese University — 2017
• Bachelor’s in Fundamental Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Beirut, Lebanese University — 2013

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

• Systemic Risk Analysis
• Financial and statistical Modeling
• Liquidity & Ownership Structures

ALL PUBLICATIONS

• Srour, Z., Hammoud J., Tarabay M.  (2025).  Forecasting Systemic Risk in the European Banking Industry: A Machine Learning Approach. J. Risk Financial Manag. 2025, 18(6), 35.
• The effect of liquidity creation on systemic risk: evidence from European banking sector. Annals of Operations Research, 2022.
• Systemic risk in European banks: does ownership structure matters? The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, volume 92, 2023, 88-111.
• “Systemic risk and liquidity creation in European banking sector: the impact of excess liquidity creation”, 36th International Conference of the French Finance Association (AFFI), June 17-19, Laval University, Quebec City – Canada, 2019
• “Systemic risk in European banks: does ownership structure matters?”
  • 35th International Symposium on Money, Banking and Finance, European Research Group (GdRE) on Money Banking and Finance, Aix-en-Provence - France, June 7 & 8, 2018.
  • 17^th International Conference of Governance, AAIG, Nice - France, June 4 & 5, 2018.
• 23^th International Scientific Conference, LAAS, EDST, Lebanon, April 6 & 7, 2017.
• 22^th International Scientific Conference, LAAS, USEK, Lebanon, April 14 & 15, 2016.