About
Dr Alex Zarifis is a lecturer based in the Southampton Business School, at the University of Southampton. He teaches on undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education courses. His research and teaching are on the practical applications of technology in business.
His research interests include trust, electronic business, artificial intelligence, blockchain, Fintech and Insurtech. Dr Alex Zarifis has published extensively on trust in different technologies and business models.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Information Systems
- Financial Technology
- Fintech
- Cryptocurrency
- Trust
Current research
Dr Alex Zarifis current research involves understanding the role of financial technology, Fintech, in digital transformation. The impact of specific technologies such as Artificial Intelligence on business models is explored. Several research methods are used including extensive engagement with stakeholders, in the public and private sector, in order to create a shared understanding and shape policy together (Proskalovich et al. 2023).
Reference
Proskalovich R., Jack C., Zarifis A., Serralde D.M., Vershinina P., Naidoo S., Njoki D., Pernice I., Herrera D. & Sarmiento J. (2023) ‘Cryptoasset ecosystem in Latin America and the Caribbean’, University of Cambridge – Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF). Available from: https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/faculty-research/centres/alternative-finance/publications/crypotasset-ecosystem-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/
Publications
Teaching
Dr Alex Zarifis teaches on a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate modules relating to the application of technology in business, including supervising dissertations related to these issues.
Biography
Dr Alex Zarifis joined the University in 2024. Before joining, he has worked at several other universities including the University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and the University of Mannheim. He is currently a research affiliate of the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF). Dr Alex has worked on large EU and UK funded research projects at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Loughborough University.
He has explored cryptoassets such as cryptocurrencies from when they first started becoming popular. As part of this he participated in creating the first government recognised, university degree on blockchain technologies in the world. He also published the first peer reviewed research on trust in digital currencies in the world in 2014.
He obtained his BSc from the University of Leeds, and his and MSc and PhD from the University of Manchester.