Nik earned a BS (biology) and MS (entomology) from Montana State University where he worked on biological control of weeds in rangeland. From there, he transitioning into tree fruit entomology, working for nearly a decade on mating disruption, biological control, and pest population dynamics in Wenatchee Washington, ultimately earning his PhD (entomology) from WSU in 2011. He Came to OSU as a postdoc (entomology/horticulture) in 2012.