Erik Nielsen holds degrees in psychology and sociology, and has research expertise in urban sociology, sustainable development, race and ethnicity, and environmental sociology. He currently  is engaged in two research projects: one on the natural gas industry and resource-dependent communities in Pennsylvania and one assessing the impact of online shopping on retail and commercial development. In addition to research, he has designed and taught courses for sociology, global and international studies, as well as courses on environmental studies and social work.

He currently serves as the Faculty Advisor to the Penn State Sociology Club and the Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) International Sociology Honors Society.