Prof. Robert C. Merton is currently the School of Management Distinguished Professor of Finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, University Professor Emeritus at Harvard University and Resident Scientist at Dimensional Holdings, Inc. Professor Merton received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1997 for a new method to determine the value of derivatives. His research focuses on finance theory including lifecycle finance, optimal intertemporal portfolio selection, capital asset pricing, pricing of options, risky corporate debt, loan guarantees, and other complex derivative securities. Recognized for translating finance science into practice, Professor Merton received a number of awards, including the inaugural Financial Engineer of the Year Award from the International Association of Financial Engineers, and the 2011 CME Group Melamed-Arditti Innovation Award. The University conferred upon Professor Merton the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, in recognition of his significant contributions in the field of economic sciences and finance.