prof. Piotr Wójcik

Head of the Department of Data Science, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw

I work on data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analysis and their applications in economics and finance. I teach practical machine learning, data science and quantitative finance courses in Python.

About Teaching Selected publications

About

I am an associate professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Warsaw and the head of the Department of Data Science. I am also head and lecturer of the postgraduate studies Data Science in business applications – practical workshops.

My research interests are focused on two areas: regional science, spatial analyses and quantitative finance (algorithmic trading). In both areas I use machine learning and deep learning algorithms together with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) and non-standard data sources (e.g. satellite imagery, OpenStreetMap data, text data).

I am a contractor and principal investigator of research and R&D projects financed by the Polish National Science Center, Polish Ministry of Regional Development, European Commission, Polish National Center for Research and Development, and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. I am a thematic editor for two journals: Miscellanea Geographica – Regional Studies on Development and Digital Finance. I am an expert in data processing and advanced statistical and econometric modelling, with many years of professional experience as a quantitative analyst in the financial, telecommunications and marketing research industries.

Education

  • 2019 – Habilitation in economic sciences, University of Warsaw
  • 2003–2008 – PhD studies, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw. Doctoral thesis: “Patterns of regional convergence in Poland”
  • 1999–2000 – Advanced Studies Master of Science in Economics, K.U. Leuven (Belgium), specialization: quantitative and monetary economics, diploma with distinction
  • 1995–2000 – Master of Science in Economics, specialization: quantitative methods, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw, diploma with distinction, 1st degree award for the best master thesis

Teaching

My current courses at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw:

  • Machine Learning 1 on the master program Data Science and Business Analytics – materials available on Google Drive for registered students
  • Quantitative strategies on high frequency data on the master program Quantitative Finance – materials available on Google Drive for registered students
  • Introduction to Machine Learning for PhD students – materials available on Google Drive for registered students
  • Master seminar: “Data science in finance and other applications” – materials available on Google Drive for registered students

Topics of previous master theses prepared under my supervision and successfully defended can be found here.

In addition, I am the head of the postgraduate programme Data Science in business applications – practical workshops. All materials for this program are available on Google Drive for registered students.

Courses taught earlier at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw:

  • Statistical data analysis with SAS (in Polish)
  • Advanced R programming (in Polish and in English)
  • Statistics in market research with SAS (in Polish)
  • Statistical Data Analysis with R (in English)
  • Modeling in spatial economy (with R, in Polish)
  • Time series analysis (in Polish in SAS, since 2010 in English in R)
  • Forecasting and simulation – sections (in Polish, SAS)
  • Macroeconometrics – sections (in English, Eviews)
  • Growth Theory and Convergence (in English)

Professional experience (non-academic)

Alongside academic work, many years combining research with applied data-analysis practice in business:

  • 2025–2027 – Placeme sp. z o.o., Research and Development Manager, supervising the development and application of mobile data analysis methods (within the project financed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development)
  • 2020–2022 – Cube Group (digital marketing agency), Research and Development Manager, head of the Data Science team (within the project financed by the Polish National Research and Development Center)
  • 2011–2015 – Montec LLC (Polish branch of TradeLink LLC, hedge fund), quantitative researcher – designing and backtesting algorithmic trading strategies
  • 2008–2009 – GE Money Bank, Operations Strategy Department, Chief Specialist
  • 2005–2008 – Synovate (marketing research), Decision Systems Executive
  • 2002–2003 – Polkomtel S.A., statistical analyst and projects specialist
  • 2000-2002 – ACNielsen Poland, Executive Statistician

Selected research (and development) projects

  • 2025–2027 – “Trafficore – an advanced prediction model for real-world traffic based on mobile location data”, R&D project financed by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (European Funds for Modern Economy), R&D Manager
  • 2020–2022 – “Development of marketing process automation technology based on developed methods and algorithms, implemented in an intelligent marketing automation system”, research and development project financed by the Polish National Research and Development Center, Operational Program Smart Growth, Sub-measure 1.1.1 “Industrial research and development works carried out by enterprises”, Cube Group, R&D manager and Chief data analysis specialist.
  • 2020-2023 – “System Excise Risk Analyzer”, research and development project financed by the Polish National Research and Development Center GOSPOSTRATEG on request of the Ministry of Finance, GOSPOSTRATEG-II/0001/2020, economist for econometric modeling, reference role: experienced IT specialist.
  • 2021-2024 – COST Action 1930 “Fintech and Artificial Intelligence in Finance - Towards a transparent financial industry (FinAI)”“, Horizon 2020 project (financed by European Commission) in cooperation with >30 partner universities from UE and other countries, Management Committee member.
  • 2019-2020 – “A FINancial supervision and TECHnology compliance training programme” (FinTech)”, Horizon 2020 project in cooperation of 25 partners from EU countries, head of the Polish team.
  • 2018–2020 – “The role of European Union funds in the regional and local development of Poland against the background of international experience”, Polish National Science Centre (NCN) grant 2017/27/B/HS5/01906, head of the project: prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Gorzelak.
  • 2017-2019 – “Parallel convergence of income and educational achievements in Poland at the regional and local level – analysis of distribution dynamics”, Polish National Science Centre (NCN) grant 2016/21/B/HS4/00670, head of the project.
  • 2016-2018 – “Investing in human capital and local socio-economic development. Empirical analysis of the effects of public intervention on the example of the use of EU structural funds in Poland”, Polish National Science Centre (NCN) grant 2015/17/B/HS5/00462, head of the project: dr hab. Mikołaj Herbst.

Selected publications

Będowska-Sójka, Barbara, Piotr Wójcik, and Sabrina Giordano. 2024. “Has Bitcoin Been Dethroned Too Quickly? The Cryptocurrency Return Networks.” Network Science 13: e1. https://doi.org/10.1017/nws.2024.17.
Będowska-Sójka, Barbara, Piotr Wójcik, and Daniel Traian Pele. 2026. “Early Warning Systems for Cryptocurrency Markets: Predicting ‘Zombie’ Assets Using Machine Learning.” North American Journal of Economics and Finance 81: 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.najef.2025.102543.
Biedka, Wanda, Mikołaj Herbst, Jakub Rok, and Piotr Wójcik. 2022. “The Local-Level Impact of Human Capital Investment Within the EU Cohesion Policy in Poland.” Papers in Regional Science 101 (2): 303–25. https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12648.
Bogusz, Honorata, Szymon Winnicki, and Piotr Wójcik. 2024. “What Factors Contribute to Uneven Suburbanisation? Predicting the Number of Migrants from Warsaw to Its Suburbs with Machine Learning.” The Annals of Regional Science 72: 1353–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-023-01245-y.
Fałkowski, Jan, Grażyna Bukowska, and Piotr Wójcik. 2019. “The Political Power of Large-Scale Farmers and Land Inequality: Some Evidence from Poland.” Sociologia Ruralis 59 (2): 178–202.
Fałkowski, Jan, and Piotr Wójcik. 2024. “New Dataset on Income Support in Poland’s Rural Areas.” Miscellanea Geographica 28 (2): 54–65. https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2023-0031.
Grądzki, Przemysław, and Piotr Wójcik. 2024. “Is Attention All You Need for Intraday Forex Trading?” Expert Systems 41 (2). https://doi.org/10.1111/exsy.13317.
Grądzki, Przemysław, Piotr Wójcik, and Stefan Lessmann. 2025. “Algorithmic Crypto Trading Using Information-Driven Bars, Triple Barrier Labeling and Deep Learning.” Financial Innovation 11: 136. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-025-00866-w.
Herbst, Mikołaj, Aneta Sobotka, and Piotr Wójcik. 2022. “The Effect of Peer Group Stability on Achievements: Evidence from Poland.” European Journal of Education. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejed.12545.
Herbst, Mikołaj, and Piotr Wójcik. 2013. “Delimitacja Dyfuzji Rozwoju z Miast Metropolitalnych z Wykorzystaniem Korelacji Przestrzennej.” Studia Regionalne i Lokalne, no. 4 (54): 5–21.
Jabłecki, Juliusz, Ryszard Kokoszczyński, Paweł Sakowski, Robert Ślepaczuk, and Piotr Wójcik. 2014. “Does Historical VIX Term Structure Contain Valuable Information for Predicting VIX Futures?” Dynamic Econometric Models 14: 5–28.
———. 2015. “Instrumenty Pochodne Na Zmienność-Nowa Klasa Aktywów Finansowych.” Ekonomista 2015 (6): 830–56.
Jakubowski, Andrzej, and Piotr Wójcik. 2024. “Towards Cohesion at the Interface Between the European Union States? Cross-Border Asymmetry and Convergence.” Regional Studies 58 (1). https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2023.2187767.
Karimov, Bedil, and Piotr Wójcik. 2021. “Identification of Scams in Initial Coin Offerings with Machine Learning.” Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2021.718450.
Kopczewska, Katarzyna. 2020. “Applied Spatial Statistics and Econometrics: Data Analysis in r.”
———. 2023. “Przestrzenne Metody Ilościowe w r: Statystyka, Ekonometria, Uczenie Maszynowe, Analiza Danych.”
Kopczewska, Katarzyna, Tomasz Kopczewski, and Piotr Wójcik. 2009. “Metody Ilościowe w r: Aplikacje Ekonomiczne i Finansowe.” CeDeWu. PL Wydawnictwa Fachowe.
Kudła, Janusz, Konrad Walczyk, Tomasz Tratkiewicz, Beata Rogowska-Rajda, Paweł Baranowski, and Piotr Wójcik. 2026. “Czynniki Kształtujące Postawy Podatników Wobec Obowiązków Podatkowych.” Optimum. Economic Studies, no. 2 (124): 178–92.
Kula, Grzegorz, and Piotr Tadeusz Wójcik. 2017a. “Local Determinants of Population Ageing in Poland.” Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Oeconomica 3 (329): 93–110.
———. 2017b. “Lokalne Determinanty Starzenia Się Populacji w Polsce.” Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Oeconomica 3 (329).
Mikołaj, Herbst, Paweł Kaczmarczyk, and Piotr Wójcik. 2017. “Migration of Graduates Within a Sequential Decision Framework: Evidence from Poland.” Central European Economic Journal 1 (48): 1–18.
Osowska, Ewelina, and Piotr Wójcik. 2023. “Predicting the Reaction of Financial Markets to Federal Open Market Committee Post-Meeting Statements.” Digital Finance. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42521-023-00096-8.
Pérez-Sindín, Xaquín S., Piotr Wójcik, Karen Tzu-Hsin Chen, and Alexander V. Prishchepov. 2025. “Can Nighttime Lights Serve as a Proxy for Economic Inequality at the Local Administrative Unit Scale? Evidence from Spain.” PLOS ONE 20 (12): e0319890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319890.
Radosevic, Slavo, Krzysztof Szczygielski, and Piotr Wójcik. 2026. “Exploring Structural Convergence: Dynamics of Technology Diversification Among World Regions.” Journal of the Knowledge Economy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-026-03314-x.
Siwińska-Gorzelak, Joanna, Grażyna Bukowska, and Piotr Wójcik. 2020. “The Impact of Revenue Autonomy on the Composition of Local Public Spending: Evidence from Poland.” Local Government Studies 46 (4): 641–65.
Smętkowski, Maciej, and Piotr Wójcik. 2012. “Regional Convergence in Central and Eastern European Countries: A Multidimensional Approach.” European Planning Studies 20 (6): 923–39.
Starakiewicz, Tomasz, and Piotr Wójcik. 2025. “Predicting Restaurant Survival Using Nationwide Google Maps Data.” Knowledge-Based Systems 314: 113198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.knosys.2025.113198.
Tyrowicz, Joanna, and Wójcik Piotr. 2007. “Konwergencja Bezrobocia w Polsce w Latach 1999-2006.” Gospodarka Narodowa (National Economy) 8 (1): 1–20.
Tyrowicz, Joanna, and Piotr Wójcik. 2007. “The Convergence of Unemployment Rates in Poland in 1999-2006.” Gospodarka Narodowa 219 (10): 1–20.
———. 2009. “Some Remarks on the Effects of Active Labour Market Policies in Post-Transition.” Journal of Applied Economic Analysis 4: 282–99.
———. 2010a. “Regional Dynamics of Unemployment in Poland a Convergence Approach.” In The Labour Market Impact of the EU Enlargement: A New Regional Geography of Europe?, 149–73. Physica-Verlag HD Heidelberg.
———. 2010b. “Some Stylized Facts on Unemployment Dynamics in Transition.” Eastern European Economics 48 (1): 5–22.
———. 2010c. “Unemployment Convergence in Transition.” In Economic Growth and Structural Features of Transition, 236–59. Palgrave Macmillan UK London.
Tyrowicz, J, and P Wójcik. 2009. “Regional Unemployment Dynamics in Poland-a Convergence Approach.” A New Regional Geography of Europe.
Wójcik, Piotr. 2004a. “Convergence of Poland’s Regions in the Years 1990-2000.” Gospodarka Narodowa 196 (11-12): 69–86.
———. 2004b. “Konwergencja Regionów Polski w Latach 1990-2001.” Gospodarka Narodowa-The Polish Journal of Economics 2004 (11-12).
Wójcik, Piotr et al. 2008. “Dywergencja Czy Konwergencja: Dynamika Rozwoju Polskich Regionów.” Studia Regionalne i Lokalne 9 (32): 41–60.
Wójcik, Piotr. 2016. “Dojazdy Do Pracy a Konwergencja Regionalna w Polsce.” Metody Ilościowe w Badaniach Ekonomicznych, 160–71.
———. 2017. “Was Poland the Next Spain? Parallel Analysis of Regional Convergence Patterns After Accession to the European Union.” Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, 12 (4): 593–611. https://doi.org/10.24136/eq.v12i4.31.
———. 2018. “Metody Pomiaru Realnej Konwergencji Gospodarczej w Ujęciu Regionalnym i Lokalnym. Konwergencja równoległa.” Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.
———. 2021a. “Parallel Regional Convergence in Poland Before and After EU Accession.” Miscellanea Geographica 25 (2). https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0050.
———. 2021b. “Spatial Big Data.” In Applied Spatial Statistics and Econometrics. Data Analysis in r. Routledge Advanced Texts in Economics and Finance. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
———. 2022. “The Parallel Convergence of Income and Educational Achievements: Joint Distribution Dynamics.” The Annals of Regional Science 68: 527–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00168-021-01086-7.
Wójcik, Piotr, and Krystian Andruszek. 2022. “Predicting Intra-Urban Well-Being from Space with Nonlinear Machine Learning.” Regional Science Policy & Practice 14 (4): 891–913. https://doi.org/10.1111/rsp3.12478.
Zaidi, Syed Anees Haider, Ulviyya Abasova, Piotr Wojcik, and Rana Umair Ashraf. 2026. “Renewable Energy Readiness and Investment Gaps in the USA.: ML and Spatial Analysis.” In Academy of Management Proceedings, 2026:12802. 1. Academy of Management Valhalla, NY 10595.

Full list of publications: Google Scholar

Office Hours & Contact

Office hours: to be announced after the start of the academic year.