Ariel Neufeld

Ariel Neufeld
Associate Professor


Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Division of Mathematical Sciences
Office SPMS-MAS 05-02
21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371
Phone (65) 6592 1799
Email ariel.neufeld@ntu.edu.sg



I am a tenured Associate Professor in mathematics at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
I received my PhD from ETH Zurich in 2015 under the supervision of Prof. Marcel Nutz and Prof. Martin Schweizer.

My research focuses on:

• Numerical methods for high-dimensional nonlinear PDEs
• Artificial intelligence theory
• Financial and insurance mathematics under model uncertainty
• Stochastic analysis and stochastic optimal control
• Stochastic optimization and applied probability theory

Current support by the following grants is gratefully acknowledged:

• MOE AcRF Tier 2 Grant   MOE-T2EP20222-0013
• MOE AcRF Tier 1 Grant   RG74/21

A detailed CV can be found here.

Open Positions

I am looking for Postdocs, PhD students, as well as Bachelor/Master students who would like to join my research group; see for example

AI-for-X Postdoc position

Postdoc position

PhD position

Research Internship position for PhD and master students

If you would like to join my research group (even if you do not see a suitable job announcement), please feel free to contact me anytime by email.

Members of the Research Group

Jonas Gebele   (PhD Student with a Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship, since 08.2025)

Kyunghyun Park   (Gopalakrishnan - Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, since 12.2022)

Thanh Phong Pham   (Undergraduate Research Student, since 07.2025; jointly supervised also by Qikun Xiang)

Philipp Schmocker   (PhD Student, since 08.2021; has submitted his PhD thesis with expected PhD defense end of 2025, now PostDoc at ETH Zurich)

Xuanye Song   (Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow, since 07.2025)

Viet Khoa Tran   (Undergraduate Research Student, since 08.2024; jointly supervised also by Philipp Schmocker)

Qikun Xiang   (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, started 08.2019 as PhD student and 01.2024 as PostDoc)


Former Members of the Research Group

Géraldine Bouveret   (Gopalakrishnan - Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow, 11.2019-01.2022; now Chief Research Officer at RIMM Sustainability)

Zeyi Chen   (Undergraduate Research Student, 08.2022-07.2024, jointly supervised also by Qikun Xiang; now PhD student at INSEAD)

Pushpendu Ghosh   (Research Internship, 08.2019-12.2019; now Applied Scientist at Amazon)

Johannes Langner   (Visiting PhD Student, 10.2023-05.2024, jointly supervised also by Kyunghyun Park; now PhD student at Leibniz University of Hannover)

Yongming Li   (Project Officer, 05.2020-12.2020; now PhD student in mathematics at Texas A&M University)

Matthew Ng Cheng En   (Project Officer, 08.2021-07.2023; now Quant at BNP Paribas)

Thi Van Hang Nguyen   (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, SASEA Fellowship, 10.2022-09.2024; now Senior Scientist at VIASM)

Tuan Anh Nguyen   (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 01.2023-03.2024; now Senior Scientist at University of Bielefeld)

Julian Sester   (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 04.2020-06.2022; now Assistant Professor in mathematics at NUS)

Alessandro Sgarabottolo   (Visiting PhD Student, 02.2024-09.2024; jointly supervised also by Kyunghyun Park; now PhD student at University of Bielefeld)

Shunan Sheng   (Undergraduate Research Student, 06.2020-07.2022; now PhD student in statistics at Columbia University)

Sizhou Wu   (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 08.2021-08.2024; now Assistant Professor in mathematics at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

Daiying Yin   (Undergraduate Research Student, 06.2020-08.2021; now PhD student in mathematics at NTU with J.-P. Ortega)

Ying Zhang   (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, 11.2020-06.2023; now Assistant Professor in mathematics at HKUST-GZ)


Teaching

Stochastic Processes MH 3512

Introduction
Indicator Function
Conditional Expectation
Monotone Convergence & Dominated Convergence Theorem
Lecture notes (many thanks to N. Privault)
Lecture notes (same, but marked)

Publications and Preprints

A. Kratsios, A. Neufeld, P. Schmocker:
Generative neural operators of log-complexity can simultaneously solve infinitely many convex programs
Preprint (submitted), 2025 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

Z. Chen, A. Neufeld, Q. Xiang:
Provably convergent stochastic fixed-point algorithm for free-support Wasserstein barycenter of continuous non-parametric measures
Preprint (submitted), 2025 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, T. A. Nguyen, P. Schmocker:
Multilevel Picard approximations for McKean-Vlasov stochastic differential equations with nonconstant diffusion
Preprint (submitted), 2025 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, P. Schmocker:
Solving stochastic partial differential equations using neural networks in the Wiener chaos expansion
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

J. Langner, A. Neufeld, K. Park:
Markov-Nash equilibria in mean-field games under model uncertainty
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, T. A. Nguyen:
Multilevel Picard approximations and deep neural networks with ReLU, leaky ReLU, and softplus activation overcome the curse of dimensionality when approximating semilinear parabolic partial differential equations in Lp-sense
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv]

L. Liang, A. Neufeld, Y. Zhang:
Non-asymptotic convergence analysis of the stochastic gradient Hamiltonian Monte Carlo algorithm with discontinuous stochastic gradient with applications to training of ReLU neural networks
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, Y. Zhang:
Non-asymptotic estimates for accelerated high order Langevin Monte Carlo algorithms
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

D. Bartl, A. Neufeld, K. Park:
Numerical method for nonlinear Kolmogorov PDEs via sensitivity analysis
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, M. Ng, Y. Zhang:
Robust SGLD algorithm for solving non-convex distributionally robust optimisation problems
Preprint (submitted), 2024 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, P. Schmocker:
Universal approximation property of Banach space-valued random feature models including random neural networks
Preprint (submitted), 2023 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, Q. Xiang:
Feasible approximation of matching equilibria for large-scale matching for teams problems
Preprint (submitted), 2023 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

J. Chen, Y. Li, A. Neufeld:
Quantum Monte Carlo algorithm for solving Black-Scholes PDEs for high-dimensional option pricing in finance and its complexity analysis
Preprint (submitted), 2023 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, P. Schmocker:
Chaotic Hedging with Iterated Integrals and Neural Networks
Preprint (submitted), 2022 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, Q. Xiang:
Numerical method for approximately optimal solutions of two-stage distributionally robust optimization with marginal constraints
Preprint (submitted), 2022 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, Q. Xiang:
Numerical method for feasible and approximately optimal solutions of multi-marginal optimal transport beyond discrete measures
Preprint (submitted), 2022 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

C. Beck, S. Becker, P. Cheridito, A. Jentzen, A. Neufeld:
Deep learning based numerical approximation algorithms for stochastic partial differential equations and high-dimensional nonlinear filtering problems
Preprint (submitted), 2020 [PDF, arXiv, Code]



D. Bartl, A. Neufeld, K. Park:
Sensitivity of robust optimization problems under drift and volatility uncertainty
Finance and Stochastics, accepted for publication, 2025 [PDF, arXiv]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
Non-concave stochastic optimal control in finite discrete time under model uncertainty
Mathematical Finance, accepted for publication, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, Code]

A. Neufeld, P. Schmocker:
Universal approximation results for neural networks with non-polynomial activation function over non-compact domains
Analysis and Applications, accepted for publication, 2025 [PDF, arXiv]



H. H. S. Chittoor, P. R. Griffin, A. Neufeld, J. Thompson, M. Gu:
QuLTSF: Long-Term Time Series Forecasting with Quantum Machine Learning
Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART 2025), Vol. 1, pp. 824-829, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, P. Schmocker, S. Wu:
Full error analysis of the random deep splitting method for nonlinear parabolic PDEs and PIDEs
Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, Vol. 143, 108556, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, T. A. Nguyen:
Rectified deep neural networks overcome the curse of dimensionality in the numerical approximation of gradient-dependent semilinear heat equations
Communications in Mathematical Sciences, Vol. 23, No. 4, pp. 883-912, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, T. A. Nguyen:
Rectified deep neural networks overcome the curse of dimensionality when approximating solutions of McKean-Vlasov stochastic differential equations
Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Vol. 541, No. 1, 128661, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, T. A. Nguyen, S. Wu:
Multilevel Picard approximations overcome the curse of dimensionality in the numerical approximation of general semilinear PDEs with gradient-dependent nonlinearities
Journal of Complexity, Vol. 90, 101946, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, T. A. Nguyen, S. Wu:
Deep ReLU neural networks overcome the curse of dimensionality when approximating semilinear partial integro-differential equations
Analysis and Applications, Vol. 23, No. 07, pp. 1227-1278, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, S. Wu:
Multilevel Picard algorithm for general semilinear parabolic PDEs with gradient-dependent nonlinearities
Journal of Numerical Mathematics, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
Bounding the Difference between the Values of Robust and Non-Robust Markov Decision Problems
Journal of Applied Probability, Vol. 62, No. 2, pp. 558-571, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

D.-Y. Lim, A. Neufeld, S. Sabanis, Y. Zhang:
Langevin dynamics based algorithm e-THεO POULA for stochastic optimization problems with discontinuous stochastic gradient
Mathematics of Operations Research, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 2333-2374, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, M. Ng, Y. Zhang:
Non-asymptotic convergence bounds for modified tamed unadjusted Langevin algorithm in non-convex setting
Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Vol. 543, No. 1, 128892, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, S. Wu:
Multilevel Picard approximation algorithm for semilinear partial integro-differential equations and its complexity analysis
Stochastics and Partial Differential Equations: Analysis and Computations, Vol. 13, pp. 1220–1278, 2025 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
Neural networks can detect model-free static arbitrage strategies
Applied Mathematics and Optimization, Vol. 90, 41, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
Robust Q-learning Algorithm for Markov Decision Processes under Wasserstein Uncertainty
Automatica, Vol. 168, 111825, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

S. Sheng, Q. Xiang, I. Nevat, A. Neufeld:
Binary Spatial Random Field Reconstruction from Non-Gaussian Inhomogeneous Time-series Observations
Journal of the Franklin Institute, Vol. 361, No. 2, pp. 612-636, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

J. Ansari, E. Lütkebohmert, A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
Improved Robust Price Bounds for Multi-Asset Derivatives under Market-Implied Dependence Information
Finance and Stochastics, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 911-964, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester, D. Yin:
Detecting data-driven robust statistical arbitrage strategies with deep neural networks
SIAM Journal on Financial Mathematics (SIFIN), Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 436-472, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

D.-Y. Lim, A. Neufeld, S. Sabanis, Y. Zhang:
Non-asymptotic estimates for TUSLA algorithm for non-convex learning with applications to neural networks with ReLU activation function
IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 1464-1559, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

Q. Xiang, A. Neufeld, G. W. Peters, I. Nevat, A. Datta:
A Bonus-Malus Framework for Cyber Risk Insurance and Optimal Cybersecurity Provisioning
European Actuarial Journal, Vol. 14, pp. 581-621, 2024 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

C. Beck, S. Becker, P. Cheridito, A. Jentzen, A. Neufeld:
An efficient Monte Carlo scheme for Zakai equations
Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, Vol. 126, 107438, 2023 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester, M. Sikic:
Markov Decision Processes under Model Uncertainty
Mathematical Finance, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 618-665, 2023 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
A deep learning approach to data-driven model-free pricing and to martingale optimal transport
IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, Vol. 69, No. 5, pp. 3172-3189, 2023 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, A. Papapantoleon, Q. Xiang:
Model-free bounds for multi-asset options using option-implied information and their exact computation
Management Science, Vol. 69, No. 4, pp. 2051-2068, 2023 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

M. Baes, C. Herrera, A. Neufeld, P. Ruyssen:
Low-Rank plus Sparse Decomposition of Covariance Matrices using Neural Network Parametrization
IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 171-185, 2023 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

P. Ghosh, A. Neufeld, J. K. Sahoo:
Forecasting directional movements of stock prices for intraday trading using LSTM and random forests
Finance Research Letters, Vol. 46, Part A, 102280, 2022 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
On the stability of the martingale optimal transport problem: A set-valued map approach
Statistics & Probability Letters, Vol. 176, pp. 109131-1-7, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, J. Sester:
Model-free price bounds under dynamic option trading
SIAM Journal on Financial Mathematics (SIFIN), Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 1307-1339, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

D. Bartl, M. Kupper, A. Neufeld:
Duality Theory for Robust Utility Maximisation
Finance and Stochastics, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 469-503, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

P. J. Graber, V. Ignazio, A. Neufeld:
Nonlocal Bertrand and Cournot Mean Field Games with General Nonlinear Demand Schedule
Journal de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées (JMPA), Vol. 148, pp. 150-198, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

P. Harms, C. Liu, A. Neufeld:
Supermartingale Deflators in the Absence of a Numéraire
Mathematics and Financial Economics, Vol. 15, pp. 885-915, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

C. Beck, S. Becker, P. Cheridito, A. Jentzen, A. Neufeld:
Deep splitting method for parabolic PDEs
SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing (SISC), Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. A3135-A3154, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI, Code]

A. Jentzen, B. Kuckuck, A. Neufeld, P. von Wurstemberger:
Strong error analysis for stochastic gradient descent optimization algorithms
IMA Journal of Numerical Analysis, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 455-492, 2021 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

D. Bartl, M. Kupper, A. Neufeld:
Pathwise superhedging on prediction sets
Finance and Stochastics, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 215-248, 2020 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

T. Fadina, A. Neufeld, T. Schmidt:
Affine processes under parameter uncertainty
Probability, Uncertainty and Quantitative Risk, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 1-35, 2019 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

D. Bartl, M. Kupper, A. Neufeld:
Stochastic integration and differential equations for typical paths
Electronic Journal of Probability, Vol. 24, No. 97, pp. 1-21, 2019 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, M. Sikic:
Nonconcave Robust Optimization with Discrete Strategies under Knightian Uncertainty
Mathematical Methods of Operations Research, Vol. 90, No. 2, pp. 229-253, 2019 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

C. Liu, A. Neufeld:
Compactness Criterion for Semimartingale Laws and Semimartingale Optimal Transport
Transactions of the American Mathematical Society, Vol. 372, No. 1, pp. 187-231, 2019 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld:
Buy-and-Hold Property for Fully Incomplete Markets when Super-replicating Markovian Claims
International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance, Vol. 21, No. 8, 1850051, 2018 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, M. Sikic:
Robust Utility Maximization in Discrete-Time Markets with Friction
SIAM Journal on Control and Optimization (SICON), Vol. 56, No. 3, pp. 1912-1937, 2018 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

Y. Dolinsky, A. Neufeld:
Super-replication in Fully Incomplete Markets
Mathematical Finance, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 483-515, 2018 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, M. Nutz:
Robust Utility Maximization with Lévy Processes
Mathematical Finance, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 82-105, 2018 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, M. Nutz:
Nonlinear Lévy Processes and their Characteristics
Transactions of the American Mathematical Society, Vol. 369, No. 1, pp. 69-95, 2017 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, M. Nutz:
Measurability of Semimartingale Characteristics with Respect to the Probability Law
Stochastic Processes and their Applications, Vol. 124, No. 11, pp. 3819-3845, 2014 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

A. Neufeld, M. Nutz:
Superreplication under Volatility Uncertainty for Measurable Claims
Electronic Journal of Probability, Vol. 18, No. 48, pp. 1-14, 2013 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]

K. Du, A. Neufeld:
A note on asymptotic exponential arbitrage with exponentially decaying failure probability
Journal of Applied Probability, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 801-809, 2013 [PDF, arXiv, DOI]


Theses

A. Neufeld:
Knightian Uncertainty in Mathematical Finance
PhD Thesis ETH Zurich, Diss. ETH No. 22605, 2015 [PDF, ETH e-collection]


Miscellaneous

The Oracle of DLPhi [PDF]

This manuscript has mostly humouristic value. However, while the main theorem is based on a dubious application of the axiom of choice, it is a correct mathematical statement.
Therefore, this manuscript at least highlights the dangers of applying mathematical theory to real-world applications blindly.


Last update: September 16, 2025