Nicholas Waters

Nicholas Waters is a developmental scientist whose research examines how children’s early environments shape the development of cognitive and academic skills. Before joining NDSU, he completed postdoctoral fellowships at Michigan State University and Indiana University. He earned his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan. Dr. Waters joined the Department of Psychology at NDSU in 2026.

Dr. Waters’s research focuses on understanding how socioeconomic circumstances and children’s experiences at home, at school, and in their communities contribute to individual differences in executive functioning and academic achievement. He also investigates factors that may promote resilience among children experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. Using longitudinal datasets, advanced quantitative methods, and intervention studies, he aims to identify processes that can inform programs and policies designed to promote children’s learning and development.

• PSYC 111 (Introduction to Psychology)