His areas of research include finance, investments, financial markets, assets management, investor behavior, and psychology. His research has been published in leading academic journals, like the Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Journal of Finance.

Professor Kaustia is a regular speaker and teacher for finance professionals and conferences. He has investigated micro-foundations of investment epidemics, dynamics of investors' risk aversion, and behavioral biases of finance professionals. 

He has been at Aalto University, School of Business, Department of Finance, since 2008. As a Visiting Professor, he has taught in the USA at the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business (2011-2012), and at the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business (2012-2013).

In 2014, Aalto University established the position of Hannes Gebhard Professor in Finance & Insurance to acknowledge the support of the OP-Pohjola Group in promoting scientific research in finance. Hannes Gebhard was a Finnish businessman, professor of economic history & economics, member of Parliament & father of the Finnish Cooperative Business.

Markku Kaustia has a Ph.D. in Finance from Aalto University, School of Business.