Misak Avetisyan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics at Texas Tech University, has been appointed as an External Research Fellow with the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Threats and Emergencies (CREATE) at the University of Southern California, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security(DHS).

CREATE serves the nation through advanced modeling and analysis of risks, costs and consequences of both natural and man‑made threats. Avetisyan brings to the fellowship his extensive expertise in economic modeling, resilience and the economic consequences of disasters and security‑related events. 

“At its core, this appointment recognizes the vital intersection of economics, security and resilience,” Avetisyan said. “I look forward to collaborating with CREATE’s network to deepen research on how economies can alleviate negative consequences of shocks and efficiently recover from events whether natural, technological or intentional.”

His work covers topics such as the direct and indirect economic consequences of terrorism events, natural hazards, transportation economics, international trade and energy security. His methodological strengths include econometric and computable general‑equilibrium (CGE) models. Avetisyan is currently working withCREATE on a research project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) analyzing the economic impacts of supply chain disruptions of critical military supplies. He also works with CREATE on the development of a research grant proposal that will estimate the aggregate and distributional impacts of a major cyber-attack on the U.S. banking system.

In addition to his CREATE fellowship, Avetisyan continues his role as a faculty member in the Department of Economics, where he also advances research on energy, environmental economics and economic resilience. Because of the CREATE appointment, he will broaden the national security dimension of his work and expand partnerships across disciplines and agencies.

“Having this affiliation with CREATE and the DHS ecosystem opens up a new level of collaborative opportunity for our department and students here in Lubbock,” Avetisyan said.

Dr. Rashid Al-Hmoud , chair of the Department of Economics, said Avetisyan has been a central figure in the department since joining Texas Tech University in 2013. Al-Hmoud said Avetisyan is known for his dedication to teaching and mentorship, and he has built a reputation as both a committed scholar and a supportive colleague.

“In his role as Associate Chair, he is regarded as a dependable member of the department’s leadership team and a source of steady and informed guidance. Since the day he arrived, Dr. Avetisyan has been an exceptionally dedicated professor, a passionate educator and a generous colleague,” Al-Hmoud said. “He has become one of the most trusted members of our team and someone I consistently turn to for thoughtful advice, sound judgment and unwavering professionalism.”

Al-Hmoud said Avetisyan’s new appointment as a research fellow further reflects the national and international recognition his work has earned.

“His scholarship in environmental and energy economics, as well as in national security analysis, is widely respected among researchers around the world,” Al-Hmoud said. “Furthermore, as Texas Tech moves forward with the development of the Reese National Security Complex, Misak and his team of research assistants are well positioned to contribute in meaningful ways.”

Overall, Avetisyan’s achievements strengthen the academic profile of the department and reinforce its commitment to producing research that addresses critical, multidisciplinary challenges. His success represents the impactful scholarship Texas Tech aims to cultivate and support.