Mustafa Nourallah

Tell us about Mustafa Nourallah.

Originally, I come from an area on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean in Syria. There, I worked as a teacher and research assistant at two universities, Tishreen University and the Arab Academy of Science Technology and Maritime Transport. I also worked on a development program funded by the UN, which aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises.

Today, I live in Sundsvall with my wife and daughter, and I am employed as a lecturer at CER.

Why did you become a researcher?

Research is incredibly exciting. I enjoy the personal development and want to learn more about how businesses and individuals interact with new technology in the financial sector.

What sparked your interest in this field?

When I started as an intern at CER, my family and I lived in Stöde outside of Sundsvall. Every morning, I took the bus to Mittuniversitetet and noticed that almost all young people on the bus were completely engrossed in their mobile phones, not engaging in conversation with each other. It was a phenomenon that I didn't recognize from Syria. This piqued my curiosity, and I wanted to understand more about the impact of new technology on our daily lives and our way of interacting with each other and society.

What is your research about?

Thanks to the emergence of mobile financial services, financial robo-advisors, and other technological solutions, individuals and companies can receive financial advice and carry out financial transactions anywhere and anytime. By adopting interdisciplinary perspectives and utilizing theories related to business administration, I investigate how financial technology can contribute to a society that facilitates the daily financial lives of individuals and businesses. I also examine how cognitive attributes, such as barriers and emotions, influence individuals' use of mobile financial services.

Dream scenario in terms of the job?

When we talk about jobs, it often revolves around career advancement. And of course, I also dream of pursuing an academic career. However, for me, the job is more important than that. My dream scenario in terms of the job is to have the opportunity to collaborate with ideal associations and organizations to support youth in developing countries located in refugee camps or conflict zones so that they can create good prospects and a fulfilling life, not just in economic terms.