Nicholas Ainsworth (Nick) is a PhD candidate in Education at the University of California, Irvine specializing in Education Policy and Social Context.

He studies the factors that shape children’s opportunities and how policy can be used to improve their outcomes at scale. Most of his work focuses on PK-12 education policy and special education, though he is broadly interested in how education, health, and social policy interact to influence children's trajectories. To this end, Nick has published work on the impacts of poverty reduction efforts on children's short-term health outcomes as well as their long-term economic well-being. 

Nick's ongoing work explores socioeconomic disparities in the receipt of educational supports such as special education and how different policy interventions shape who is identified for services and their subsequent educational outcomes. His research is supported by the 2026 National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship.

Prior to pursuing his PhD, Nick taught K-2 special education in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nick is on the job market for the 2026-2027 academic year.