- Chuka University student Mary Odhiambo has qualified for the 2026 International Quant Championship Global Finals in Singapore, set for October 6 and 7.
- Chuka University has reached the global finals for the second consecutive year, following John Tingoi’s joint third-place finish in 2025.
A Chuka University student has been selected among 13 finalists for the 2026 International Quant Championship (IQC) Global Finals, set to take place in Singapore next week.
Mary Odhiambo, an Applied Computer Science student at Chuka University, will represent Kenya as the finalists compete on October 6 and 7, with the winners expected to be announced on October 7.
This marks the second consecutive year that Kenya and Chuka University have reached the global finals. Last year, Chuka University’s John Tingoi finished joint third in the competition.
Odhiambo is competing as an individual at a time when solo participation in the competition has increased significantly. More than 150,600 students registered individually in 2026, compared with about 75,400 in 2025. WorldQuant attributes part of the growth to the increasing use of artificial intelligence in quantitative research.
Odhiambo said she uses large language models (LLMs) as research assistants to interpret data, develop investment hypotheses and explore different research ideas simultaneously. “I use Large Language Models (LLMs) as research assistants to transform information into well-defined investment hypotheses that serve as the conceptual foundation for alpha development,” she said.
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She added that the technology allows her to explore multiple research directions from a single investment thesis while maintaining consistency in the research process. “By combining continuous learning with a disciplined, explainable, and LLM-assisted research methodology, I build a more scalable, consistent, and adaptable framework for discovering meaningful signals in preparation for the Global Finals,” Odhiambo said.
She described the depth and creativity involved in quantitative research as the biggest surprise of the competition. “The biggest surprise to me during the competition was discovering how much depth and creativity is involved in quantitative research,” she said.
Participation from Africa has also recorded significant growth, with registrations from the continent increasing from about 16,500 in 2025 to more than 40,000 this year.
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The 13 finalists come from universities across four continents and represent Kenya, Nigeria, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.
The IQC is an annual global competition organised by WorldQuant for university students. Participants use the WorldQuant BRAIN platform to develop models designed to predict market movements. More than 156,000 students from 167 countries and regions registered for this year’s competition.
By Lizzy Aluga
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