Dr. Nikolaev's research explores the links between entrepreneurship, socio-economic institutions, and well-
being. One stream of his research focuses on happiness and well-being—how do we define and
measure well-being, what are the determinants of well-being, and how well-being affects
different organizational outcomes. He is particularly interested in how different social and
organizational stressors affect people’s behavioral coping strategies, which, in turn, can influence
their eudaimonic well-being (i.e., sense of autonomy, purpose, mastery, and positive relations
with others). Another stream of his research focuses on the macro-economic environment and
explores the extent to which different policies, norms, or organizational practices can promote or
hinder entrepreneurial outcomes and societal well-being.
He has published over 40 journal articles and book chapters in variety of interdisciplinary
journals including premiere business journals such as the Journal of Applied Psychology,
Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of International
Business Studies, and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. His articles have also been featured in
variety of media outlets such as Forbes, the Brookings Institution, and Baylor’s Keller Center
Research Report.
He has won numerous research and teaching awards including the Habicht Early Career
Research Award and the CEI Research Excellence Award at Baylor University, the William H.
Fox Award for Emerging Excellence at Emory University, and the Provost Award for
Outstanding Teaching at the University of South Florida. He was recognized as the most cited
Assistant Professor at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. He is currently serving on the
editorial review board of the Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship Theory and
Practice.
Outside of academia, Dr. Nikolaev spends most of his time with his family, travelling, taking a lot
of pictures, playing computer games with his kids, and building stuff in his garage. He enjoys
every opportunity to be outdoors and is also a big soccer and football fan.