The Summer Analyst Program at the Institute for Security Analysis (ISA) is a research initiative that focuses on the intersection of geopolitics, security, and governance in the South Caucasus and the broader region. The program provides university students with the opportunity to collaborate with resident experts on original research and contribute to a sovereign and well-governed Armenia.

The 2025 Summer Analyst cohort brought together domestic and diasporic university students in Yerevan, Armenia, where they spent two months attending workshops and seminars and working on real-world research projects. Applications for the next cohort will be announced shortly.

Nellie Abrahamyan

Nellie is a cybersecurity student at Florida International University, specialising in cryptography, cyber forensics, and threat analysis. Alongside her studies, she’s actively involved in Miami’s election scene, volunteering for both municipal and national election campaigns. Her research interests lie at the intersection of cybersecurity, hybrid warfare, and regional security. Through her work with ISA, Nellie is eager to engage with Armenia’s cybersecurity landscape, connect with the Armenian community, and research disinformation and mechanisms of surveillance as tactics of hybrid warfare.

Bella Ishanyan

Bella is a rising sophomore at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, studying Political Science and Economics. She also works as an investigative and political journalist/editor and a research assistant in public policy. Her research interests lie in international political economy and law enforcement. At ISA, Bella is focusing on studying Armenian political education as well as technological innovation and investment trends to better understand the future of national security.

Ani Tonoyan

Ani is a recent graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), where she earned degrees in Psychology and Legal Studies. At UCSC, she served as President of the Armenian Students’ Association (ASA), sat on the board of All-ASA Compass, and taught a course on genocides in the SWANA region. Her research interests include postcolonial approaches to genocide studies and cultural heritage preservation. At ISA, Ani is eager to apply her psychology background to national security theory, with a focus on the psychology of identity formation and preservation.