ISP Fellow Appointed as Assistant Professor in UT’s Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies

The Intelligence Studies Project congratulates ISP Fellow Dr. Kiril Avramov on his appointment as an Assistant Professor in UT’s Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies.

In addition to teaching, Dr. Avramov will lead an interdepartmental laboratory focused on “Global Internet, Media and (Dis)Information” (GIMI) that will collect and analyze non-Western “weaponized information” used in operations targeting central and southeastern European countries. The GIMI Lab will also examine the mechanics, modalities and history of “active measures” operations mounted by Soviet, Russian and former east Bloc intelligence and security services.

Dr. Avramov’s research focuses on the weaponization of information and its role in contemporary non-Western political warfare and covert action. His research centers on the identification and analysis of Russian disinformation patterns and circulation and their potential for harm. In addition, Dr. Avramov’s research also explores Russia’s use of non-linear warfare instrumentation, such as private military and security companies, and other non-kinetic influence operations in “gray zone” conflict areas including Ukraine and north Africa. This year, Dr. Avramov co-authored a book titled “The Russian Invisible Armies” (Ciela, 2020), which is currently published in Bulgarian and will be translated into English.

Dr. Avramov’s association with UT-Austin began in 2015 when he completed a Fulbright scholarship with UT’s Center for Russian and East European and Eurasian Studies. He returned to Austin as ISP’s first post-doctoral fellow in 2018. Dr. Avramov has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses related to security, economy, and foreign policy in Southeastern Europe, including “Political Warfare and Propaganda,” “Security and Policy in Eastern Europe and Russia” and “Protest and Revolution in Eastern Europe 1956-2014.” As a Fellow, Dr. Avramov will remain active in ISP academic, research and public-facing programs while linking ISP, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs to the GIMI faculty cluster and Lab.