Biography
Azharul Islam joined Penn State Harrisburg in Fall 2025. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from The University of Texas at Dallas, and holds M.A. degrees in Economics from Central Michigan University and Virginia Tech. He also completed his BSS and MSS in Economics from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
His research explores the influence of consumer sentiment on U.S. macroeconomic outcomes, including GDP growth, unemployment, inflation expectations, and price dynamics. More broadly, his work focuses on inflation expectations, business cycle fluctuations, and the role of beliefs in shaping macroeconomic activity. He is also engaged in interdisciplinary research examining physician recruitment policy in Bangladesh and its impact on healthcare access and outcomes.
While pursuing his Ph.D. at UT Dallas, he taught economics courses and co-led the inaugural EPPS Math and Coding Camp in 2024, designed to prepare incoming Ph.D. and master’s students with a strong quantitative foundation. Prior to his doctoral studies, he served as a Lecturer in Economics at Stamford University Bangladesh from 2014 to 2017.
Research Interests
- Macroeconomics
- Business cycles
- Consumer sentiment
- Macroeconometrics
- Inflation
Education
Ph.D., Economics, The University of Texas at Dallas
M.A., Economics, Virginia Tech
M.A., Economics, Central Michigan University
B.S.S.; M.S.S., Economics, University of Dhaka