Nicholas J.G. Winter

Nicholas J.G. Winter is an Associate Professor and Associate Department Chair in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia, within the College of Arts and Sciences. He specializes in American politics, political psychology, and methodology, with a focus on how race, gender, and identity influence public opinion through framing and cognitive mechanisms.

Education:

• B.A. in Political Science, University of Chicago
• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Michigan

Research Interests:
Nicholas Winter's research centers on public opinion, political psychology, and the intersection of gender, race, and politics. He investigates how political rhetoric subtly activates cognitive schemas related to race and gender, shaping attitudes on seemingly unrelated policies such as Social Security, health care, and welfare. His methodological work focuses on statistical analysis, experimental design, survey data collection, and semi-automated content analysis, particularly in digital and audiovisual political communication. He is also a developer of analytical tools for the Stata statistical software.

Research Trends:
His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on identity-based polarization, gendered political behavior, and data quality in survey research. Articles like 'Hostile Sexism, Benevolent Sexism, and American Elections' and 'Gendered (and Racialized) Partisan Polarization' highlight how identity shapes electoral evaluations. Simultaneously, methodological contributions such as 'The Shape of and Solutions to the MTurk Quality Crisis' demonstrate his commitment to rigorous, replicable research practices. His work bridges theory and empirical innovation in political science.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Paper Award, Women & Politics Research Section, American Political Science Association Annual Meeting (2018)

Advising and Grants:
While specific advisees are not listed, Winter has mentored research through collaborative publications and methodological training. His work on survey integrity and content analysis tools suggests involvement in funded research projects, particularly those involving digital data collection and experimental methods. He has contributed to improving research infrastructure through open protocols and software development.

Labs and Teams:
Nicholas Winter collaborates with scholars such as Ryan Kennedy, Scott Clifford, and Tyler Burleigh on survey methodology and data quality. His programming work in Stata and engagement with online coding platforms indicate participation in research teams focused on computational political science and reproducible methods.