He received his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University and his masters & doctorate in psychology from the University of Delaware. Dr. Nier is a social psychologist who specializes in the study of intergroup relations. He has authored or co-authored numerous articles and book chapters, which have appeared in journals such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and Group Processes and Intergroup Relations. Dr. Nier also co-authored a book chapter, along with Sam Gaertner, Jack Dovidio and their colleagues, which won the Gordon Allport Intergroup Relations Prize, awarded annually to the best paper in the field of intergroup relations.