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Lin William Cong is an assistant professor of Finance and PhD advisor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and faculty member at the Center for East Asian Studies. He recently reached out to Overleaf to offer his compliments on our service, and we took the opportunity to ask him a few questions about collaboration – what it means to him and how it's part of the challenges and successes of his work.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, what you do, and how you first heard about Overleaf?

I am a professor of finance at the University of Chicago. I research on dynamic corporate finance and information economics. I also teach an MBA elective "Quantimental Investment". I heard about Overleaf from a student of mine.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?

Effective collaboration is definitely one of the challenges.

What does the word 'collaboration' mean to you?

It means synergy and efficient matching, all built on trust and friendship.

If you've been involved in collaborations (either at work or through other interests), is there one that comes to mind that was particularly successful or unsuccessful?

I have been involved in many collaborations. One that is particularly successful is with my colleague Jacopo Ponticelli. I collaborate with Jacopo on multiple projects, one of them is "Credit Allocation under Economic Stimulus: Evidence from China", talking about the impact of credit expansion in China as part of the stimulus package against the background of global recession.

Looking back, what made that one stand out?

Jacopo is an amazing person and friend to start with. We were both understanding and considerate, and our skill sets are complementary as well.

What's next for you and your work?

Wrapping up existing projects for publications.

Any tips for new students and researchers who are just starting out?

For new students: try get involved in research collaborations early; for faculty members who are just starting: be careful in choosing your collaborators!

If you're interested in encouraging collaboration on campus, take a look at our Advisor programme, where we can help you run workshops and promote LaTeX at your university or institution.