Optimising the circadian response to shift work using individualised light exposure

Shift workers often experience misalignment between the circadian pacemaker (i.e. body clock) and the timing of sleep and wake. This leads to sleep disruption and sleep loss, impaired alertness and performance, and adverse physical and health outcomes. This project is providing personalised sleep and light recommendations to improve sleep and wellbeing in shift workers. Recommendations are tailored to worker’s individual circadian clock. The research is also helping to understand the barriers to shift workers being able to follow evidence-based recommendations for improved sleep-related behaviours. We are recruiting doctoral candidates to work on a large NHMRC-funded trial examining individualised programs to facilitate adaptation to night shift. Successful candidate(s) will work alongside an interdisciplinary team of experts in circadian physiology, shift work, photobiology and biomathematical modelling. Throughout the candidature, the candidate(s) will receive specialist training in state-of-the-art techniques in sleep and chronobiology research.