I am Professor in Psychology, with a PhD in sleep and chronobiology research, and a Master of Biostatistics. From the beginning of my PhD, I have conducted laboratory and field studies with a consistent focus on collaboration and translation. My PhD and early post-doctoral work was supported by the Australian Shiftwork and Workload Consortium, a 10-year collaboration with Australian Rail Industry operators and safety regulators. This work informed fatigue risk management (the over-arching term to describe risks relating to sleep loss and performance impairment in industry) in rail.
Following a fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, I have continued to conduct in-workplace studies for rail, emergency services, and health. More recently, I have also worked with mining, construction, ports, and forestry, providing research and education to promote fatigue management.
As a champion for the importance of sleep for healthy development, I also work closely with colleagues in nursing and midwifery, investigating the relationship between sleep during pregnancy and maternal and fetal health. I also have a close collaboration with Resilient Youth Australia, a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting health and learning for school students in Australasia.
I am heavily involved with research student supervision, and training in publishing and other forms of research communication. I was recognised by the Australian Graduate Research Council for excellence in graduate research supervision.
Much of my current work is focused on behavioural coping strategies for remaining healthy despite exposure to sleep loss. In particular, along with colleagues in psychology, nutrition, and activity, we study chronobehaviour – investigating the health impacts, not only of what we do, but when we do it.