Research Topic
Climate Finance, Sustainable Finance, Energy Transition, Corporate Finance
Research Summary
My research focuses on climate finance and how financial markets support the transition to a low-carbon economy. I am particularly interested in the role of institutional investors, banks, and other financial actors in shaping corporate decisions through ownership structures and financing relationships. My current research examines the fossil fuel industry from a financial network perspective, with a focus on ownership, lending, and supply chain connections. More broadly, I explore how financial institutions influence industrial transitions and how climate-related financial risks spread across interconnected firms and markets. My work brings together ideas from climate finance, corporate finance, and network analysis.
Supervisor(s)
- Dr Matthew Brander – Lead Supervisor. Expertise in Carbon Accounting, Climate Change Policy
- Dr Theodor Cojoianu – Co-supervisor. Expertise in Climate Finance, Sustainable Finance
Research Area
Background
Jiwon Kim is a PhD researcher in Finance at the University of Edinburgh. Her academic background is in finance, business, and management, and her research focuses on climate finance, sustainable finance, corporate finance, and the energy transition. Before starting her PhD, she gained practical experience in business management and financial administration while running her own business in South Korea. These experiences led to her interest in understanding how financial institutions, investors, and capital markets influence corporate behaviour and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Her research draws on large-scale financial datasets alongside ownership, lending, and supply chain information to examine how capital is allocated across carbon-intensive industries and how climate-related financial risks spread through interconnected firms and markets.
Education and Qualifications
| Institute | Degree/Qualification | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | PhD in Finance | 2023–Current |
| University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | MSc Climate Change Finance & Investment | 2021–2022 |
| University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK | MSc Finance and Management | 2019–2020 |
| Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangwon, South Korea | Master in Business Administration | 2017–2019 |
| Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangwon, South Korea | BSc Management | 2015–2017 |
Professional and Voluntary Experience
Alongside her doctoral research, Jiwon Kim works as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at the University of Edinburgh, supporting courses in corporate finance, financial markets, and business while contributing to research in climate finance and sustainability. Before beginning her PhD, she founded and managed an independent retail business in South Korea, where she gained practical experience in financial management, budgeting, procurement, and business operations. Her academic and professional experiences continue to shape her research interests in corporate finance, climate finance, and the energy transition.