Meryem Yankol-Schalck | Insurance and Machine Learning | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Meryem Yankol-Schalck | Insurance and Machine Learning | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

She holds a Ph.D. in Econometrics and Machine Learning from the University of Orleans (2018–2022), where she investigated new machine learning approaches for financial fraud detection and survival analysis in the insurance industry under the supervision of S. Tokpavi. In addition, she earned a Data Science Certificate (Executive) from the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) in 2016–2017. Her academic background also includes a Master’s degree in Mathematical Engineering (Applied Statistics) from Paris-Sud University (2004–2007) and a Master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Marmara in Istanbul (1995–1999). Since September 2022, she has been an Assistant Professor of Data Science at IPAG Business School in Nice and Paris. With extensive experience in the insurance sector, she integrates her professional insights into the classroom, emphasizing practical AI applications. Her curriculum reflects the latest trends in data science, fostering a dynamic learning environment tailored to students’ needs. She adapts resources and pedagogical methods to specific course objectives, utilizing tools such as Tableau for data visualization and exploring real-world business applications, including Netflix, Uber, ChatGPT, Gemini, and facial recognition technologies.

 

Work experience

She has held various academic and professional roles, combining her expertise in data science, machine learning, and business analytics. From September 2022 to January 2023, she was an adjunct faculty member at the International University of Monaco, where she taught Mathematics for Business. Prior to that, from September 2021 to August 2022, she served as an adjunct faculty member at IPAG Business School (Nice), teaching courses such as “Data Analysis for Business Management” (BBA3), “Data Processing” (MSc, e-learning), “Digital and Sales” (GEP 5th year), and “Introduction to Statistics” (BBA1). Between September 2020 and October 2021, she was an adjunct faculty member at EMLV (Paris), where she taught “Quantitative Data Analytics – SPSS” (GEP 4th year, hybrid learning) and supervised master’s theses for GEP 5th-year students.

In addition to her academic roles, she has extensive experience in the consulting and insurance sectors. From March to November 2020, she worked as a Senior Consultant at Fraeris (Paris), supporting clients in project development and providing technical solutions. She collaborated with the “Caisse de Prévoyance Sociale” (CPS) of French Polynesia, modeling healthcare expenditures using machine learning techniques. She developed predictive models to analyze healthcare costs from both the insured’s and CPS’s perspectives, offering actionable insights and data-driven forecasts to aid long-term financial planning. Prior to that, in 2019–2020, she was a Senior Manager in Pricing & Data P&C at Addactis (Paris), where she supported clients in project development, innovation, and strategic planning. As an expert referent for ADDACTIS® Pricing software, she worked on database processing for BNP Paribas Cardif, facilitating APLe software operations for quarterly account closings.

Memberships and Projects:

• Membership of the American Risk and Insurance Association (ARIA)
• Membership of the academic association AFSE.
• Member of the RED Flag Project of the University of Orléans in cooperation with CRJPothier.
• Participation at 3 Erasmus+ Projects: Artificial Intelligence to support Education (EducAItion).
• Virtual Incubator Tailored to All Entrepreneurs (VITAE).
• Artificial Intelligence in high Education (PRAIME),

Research topics:

Studies focus on the application of data science techniques to business issues, particularly in the insurance
sector, and on climate change. Another topic of study is the relationship between AI and education.

Publication

  • Yankol-Schalck, M. (2023). Auto Insurance Fraud Detection: Leveraging Cost Sensitive and Insensitive
    Algorithms for comprehensive Analysis, Insurance: Mathematics and Economics.(
    (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167668725000216)
    Banulescu‐Radu, D., & Yankol‐Schalck, M. (2024). Practical guideline to efficiently detect insurance fraud
    in the era of machine learning: A household insurance case. Journal of Risk and Insurance, 91(4), 867-
    913.
    Yankol-Schalck, M. (2022). A Fraud Score for the Automobile Insurance Using Machine Learning and
    Cross-Data set Analysis, Research in International Business and Finance, Volume 63, 101769.
    Schalck, C., Yankol-Schalck, M. (2021). Failure Prediction for SME in France: New evidence from
    machine learning techniques, Applied Economics, 53(51), 5948-5963.
    On- going research:
    Yankol-Schalck (2025). Auto Insurance Fraud Detection: Machine Learning and Deep Learning
    Applications, submitted in Journal of Risk and Insurance.
    Schalck, C., Yankol-Schalck, M. (2024). Churn prediction in the French insurance sector using Grabit
    model, revision in Journal of Forecasting.
    Schalck, C., Seungho, L., Yankol-Schalck, M. (2024). Characteristics of firms and climate risk
    management: a machine learning approach. Work in progress for The Journal of Financial Economics.
    Yankol-Schalck M.and Chabert Delio C., (2024). The application of machine learning to analyse changes in
    consumer behaviour in a major crisis. Work in progress.
    Yankol-Schalck M. and Nasseri A. (2024).An investigation into the integration of artificial intelligence in
    education: Implications for teaching and learning methods. Work in progress.

Zihao Li | Digital Economy | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Zihao Li | Digital Economy | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

He obtained his PhD in Applied Economics from Hunan University, where he studied from September 2010 to June 2014. Prior to that, he completed his master’s degree in International Trade at Jiangnan University between September 2006 and July 2008. His academic journey began at Henan Normal University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from September 2002 to July 2006.

Work experience

Since September 2022, he has been serving as an Associate Professor, Professor, and Master Supervisor at the Business School of Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology. Prior to this, from June 2014 to August 2022, he worked at the International Business School of Henan University of Economics and Law as a Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Master Supervisor.

 

Achievement

He has authored several influential books, including Research on the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on China’s Carbon Emissions (Economic Science Press, 2016), Foreign Direct Investment, Economic and Social Transformation and Environmental Pollution (China Financial and Economic Publishing House, 2017), and Economic and Social Transformation and Improvement of Local Government’s Environmental Governance (China Economic Publishing House, 2020).

His academic contributions have been recognized with multiple awards. He received the Third Prize of the Henan Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award (Provincial and Ministerial Level) in 2020 for his research on Environmental Governance of Local Governments with Spatial Relevance and Threshold Effect from the perspective of integrity. In 2019, he was awarded another Third Prize for his study on Local Government Tax Competition, Industrial Restructuring, and China’s Regional Green Development. Additionally, in 2016, his work on China’s Opening Up, Economic Transformation, and Low Carbon Economic Development earned him the Third Prize of the Hunan Provincial Social Science Outstanding Achievement Award.

Scientific Research Project

He has led several research projects funded by national and provincial institutions. Currently, he is hosting a General Program of the National Philosophy and Social Science Foundation (21BJY114), focusing on the Mechanism, Effect, and Policy of Digital Economy Promoting China’s Collaborative Governance of Carbon Smog (2021/9–2024/9).

Previously, he successfully completed a Youth Program of the National Philosophy and Social Science Foundation (15CGL042), which examined Anti-Corruption and Environmental Governance Improvement of Local Governments (2015/6–2019/12). He also led two provincial-level Soft Science Projects funded by the Henan Provincial Department of Science and Technology: one on Industrial Transfer and Green Development of Henan’s Industry (162400410201, 2016/6–2017/9) and another on Enterprise Green Technology Innovation and Haze Pollution Control in Henan (202400410061, 2020/1–2021/6).

 

Publication

  • (1) Zihao Li, Yue Wang, Tingting Bai. International digital trade and synergetic control of pollution and carbon emissions: Theory and evidence based on a nonlinear framework[J]. Journal of Environmental Management,2025, 376(3):124450.（SCI, JCR Q1）

    (2) Zihao Li, Bingbing Yuan, Yue Wang, Jingwen Qian, Haitao Wu. The role of digital finance on the synergistic governance of pollution & carbon: Evidence from Chinese cities[J]. Sustainable Cities and Society,2024, 115(1):105812.（SCI, JCR Q1）

    (3)李子豪,王悦.数字贸易对城市减污降碳协同发展的影响——基于产业集聚与要素配置视角[J].经济经纬,2025,(1):67-79. (CSSCI检索)；

    Zihao Li, Yue Wang. The impact of digital trade on the coordinated development of urban pollution reduction and carbon reduction: based on the perspective of industrial agglomeration and factor allocation[J] Economic longitude and latitude, 2025, (1):67-79. (CSSCI)

    (4) Zihao Li, Bai Tingting, Wang Yue, Wu Haitao. The Impact of Digital Government on Corporate Green Innovation: Evidence from China[J]. Technological Forecasting and Social Change（SSCI, JCR Q1）

    (5) Tingting Bai, Yong Qi, Zihao Li, Dong Xu. Digital economy, industrial transformation and upgrading, and spatial transfer of carbon emissions: The paths for low-carbon transformation of Chinese cities[J]. Journal of Environmental Management, 2023, 344: 118528. (SCI, JCR Q1，ESI );

    (6) Bai Tingting, Qi Yong, Li Zihao*, Xu Dong. Will carbon emission trading policy improve the synergistic reduction efficiency of pollution and carbon? Evidence from216 Chinese cities[J]. Managerial and Decision Economics,2023,(8):1-24. (SSCI, JCR Q1, corresponding author)；

    (7) Zihao Li, Bingbing Yuan, Tingting Bai, Dong Xu, Haitao Wu. Shooting two hawks with one arrow: The role of digitization on the coordinated development of resources and environment [J].  Resources Policy, 2024, 90(3):104827. (SSCI, JCR Q1)

    (8) Zihao Li, Xihang Xie, Xinyue Yan, Tingting Bai, Dong Xu*. Impact of China’s Rural Land Marketization on Ecological Environment Quality Based on Remote Sensing[J]. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 12619

    (SSCI, JCR Q1)

    (9) Zihao Li, Bai Tingting*, Tang Chang. How does the low-carbon city pilot policy affect the synergistic governance efficiency of carbon and smog? Quasi-experimental evidence from China[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production,2022(8): 133809 (SCI, JCR Q1)

    (10)李子豪,赵元,夏子谦.环保督政与地方政府碳霾协同治理绩效提升——基于环保约谈的准自然实验估计[J].中国软科学, 2023,(12):192-201. (CSSCI检索);

    Zihao Li, Yuan Zhao, Ziqian Xia. Performance improvement of coordinated governance of environmental protection supervision and local government carbon haze: quasi natural experimental estimation based on environmental interviews[J]. China Soft Science, 2023, (12): 192-201. (CSSCI)

    (11)李子豪,王倩倩.数字经济发展能否改善地区银行业风险？-基于城市商业银行的考察[J].财经论丛,2023,(12):47-57.（CSSCI）；

    Zihao Li, Qianqian Wang. Can the development of digital economy improve regional banking risks- Based on the Investigation of Urban Commercial Banks [J]. Collected Essays on Finance and Economics, 2023,(12):47-57.（CSSCI）

    (12)李子豪,白婷婷.政府环保支出、绿色技术创新与雾霾污染[J].科研管理,2021,(2):52-63. (CSSCI检索, 国家自科基金委管理类A级重要期刊，《新华文摘》全文转载)；

    Zihao Li, Bai Tingting. Government environmental protection expenditure, green technology innovation and smog pollution[J]. Science Research Management, 2021, (2):52-63. (CSSCI)

    (13)李子豪,袁丙兵.地方政府的雾霾治理政策作用机制: 政策工具、空间关联和门槛效应[J].资源科学， 2021,(1):40-56. (CSSCI检索)；

    Zihao Li, Bingbing Yuan. Local government’s policy mechanism for haze control: policy tools, spatial correlation and threshold effect [J]. Resource science, 2021,(1):40-56. (CSSCI);

    (14)李子豪,袁丙兵.空间关联和门槛效应的地方政府环境治理研究-基于廉洁度视角的考察[J].中国软科学, 2019,(10):61-69. (CSSCI检索,国家自科基金委管理类A级重要期刊)；

    Zihao Li, Bingbing Yuan. A Study on Environmental Governance of Local Government Based on Spatial Correlation and Threshold Effect: An Investigation from the Perspective of Integrity. [J]. China Soft Science, 2019, (10):61-69. (CSSCI)

    (15) Zihao Li, Mao Jun. Local Governments’ Tax Competition, Industrial Structure Adjustment and Regional Green Development in China[J]. China Finance and Economic Review,2019(1): 93-111. (ESCI)；