Current Doctoral Candidates

  • Zoe Walsh – DClinPsych – Supporting the sleep of mothers in Aotearoa. Main supervisor: Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre). Co-supervisors: Dee Muller (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Angelique Reweti (School of Health Sciences), Joanne Taylor (School of Psychology), Sarah-Jane Paine (Te Kupenga Hauora Māori, University of Auckland).
  • Louise Dore – DClinPsych – What helps to promote healthy sleep for autistic adolescents? A participatory autism research study. Main supervisor: Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre). Co-supervisors: Dee Muller (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Robyn Vertongen (School of Psychology).
  • Emily Minchin – DClinPsych - Supporting adolescent mental health through sleep: What do adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand have to say? Main supervisor: Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre). Co-supervisors: Dee Muller (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Ilana Seager van Dyk (School of Psychology).
  • Shalu Rana – PhD – Sleep Health, Emotion Regulation, and Emotional Wellbeing Among Women Recently Diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Main supervisor: Anne Haase (Victoria University of Wellington). Co-supervisors: Steve Bowe (Victoria University of Wellington), Karyn O’Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).
  • Crystal Kirkley - PhD - Advancing and applying sleep and circadian science to improve human performance, safety, and well-being in association with long-haul travel. Main supervisor: Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre). Co-supervisor: Margo van den Berg (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).

Current Master’s Candidates

  • Esraa Ahmed – Master of Health Science (Public Health) – Postpartum Mental Health Literacy Among Refugee Women in New Zealand. Supervisors: Linda Murray (School of Health Sciences), Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).
  • Tayla Wiehahn – Master of Arts (Psychology) – Sleep and related health decision-making in New Zealand women with endometriosis. Supervisors: Karyn O’Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Margo van den Berg (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Rosie Gibson (School of Psychology).
  • Megan Wright – Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) – Eating behaviours in night shift workers: a systematic review. Supervisors: Karyn O’Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Margo van den Berg (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).
  • Neil Mueller – Master of Arts (Psychology) – Relationships between alcohol consumption and sleep in older adults in Aotearoa. Supervisors: Rosie Gibson (School of Psychology), Karyn O’Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).
  • Amelie Jones - Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) - Effect of a juice product on self-reported sleep and wellbeing. Supervisors: Karyn O'Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Margo van den Berg (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).
  • Lucy Berry - Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) - Effect of a juice product on sleep health. Supervisors: Karyn O'Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Margo van den Berg (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).
  • Andreia Cro - Master of Science (Health Psychology) - The effects of work patterns on life outside work among acute care nurses. Supervisors: Karyn O'Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Rosie Gibson (School of Psychology).
  • Jaimee Flowerday - Master of Science (Psychology) - Who are the short sleepers? Supervisors: Karyn O'Keeffe (Sleep/Wake Research Centre), Shanika Yoshini Koreshi (School of Psychology), Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).

Current Honours Candidates

  • Sally Wright - Bachelor of Science (Psychology) - Representations of sleep and menopause in video media. Supervisors: Rosie Gibson (School of Psychology), Leigh Signal (Sleep/Wake Research Centre).

Completed Doctoral Theses

  • Dr Cameron Dyer – PhD (2026). Operational levels of fatigue and flight deck performance: a pilot study.
  • Dr Mikaela Carter – DClinPsych (2025). Child sleep health in Aotearoa and the impact of maternal mental health over time.
  • Jonathan Peters – DClinPsych (2025) (co-supervision at SWRC). Electronic media use, sleep, and fatigue: Investigating their interrelated influences.
  • Dr Travis Steenekamp – PhD (2023). The sleep/wake behaviours of elite adolescent athletes.
  • Dr Clare Ladyman – PhD (2020). Maternal sleep and depression from pregnancy to three years post birth
  • Dr Diane (Dee) Muller – PhD (2019). Social determinants of preschool children’s sleep in Aotearoa/New Zealand
  • Dr Margo van den Berg – PhD (2019). Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS) for cabin crew: Evaluation of the current status and future needs
  • Dr Jennifer Zaslona – PhD (2017). In-Flight Sleep as a Pilot Fatigue Mitigation on Long Range and Ultra-Long Range Flights.
  • Dr Rosemary Gibson – PhD (2016). Understanding and managing dementia-related sleep problems: community-based research with older New Zealanders.
  • Dr Bronwyn Sweeney – PhD (2015). Perinatal sleep and postnatal mood in New Zealand women: an investigation of the relationship and trial of a sleep education intervention.
  • Dr Alexander Garden – PhD (2006). Fatigue, sleep loss and anaesthetists' performance: subjective effects and simulation studies.
  • Dr Ridvan Tupai-Firestone – PhD (2006). Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome among taxi drivers: Consequences and barriers to accessing health services.
  • Dr Te Hereripine Sarah-Jane Paine – PhD (2006). Towards a balanced and ethically responsible approach to understanding differences in sleep timing.
  • Dr Nathaniel Marshall – PhD (2005). Positive airway pressure for obstructive sleep apnoea: systematic evaluation versus clinical and technological drift.
  • Dr Kara Mihaere – PhD (2004). Obstructive sleep apnoea in Aotearoa/New Zealand: an objective and questionnaire-based approach to population prevalence estimation and clinical screening.
  • Dr Leigh Signal – PhD (2002). Scheduled napping on the night shift: consequences for the performance and neurophysiological alertness of air traffic controllers.
  • Dr Michelle Millar – PhD (2001). Hours of work, sleep loss and performance of anaesthetists: implications for safety in medical practice.

Completed Master’s Theses

  • Alice Thompson – Master of Arts (Psychology) (2025). Exploring the influence of media messaging on sleep during pregnancy.
  • Kavita Kashyap – Master of Arts (Psychology) (2025). Teen sleep, emotional wellbeing and mental health.
  • Isabelle Ross – Master of Health Science (2024). Taking interest in and disregarding sleep information: a qualitative study exploring the adolescent perspective.
  • Sarah Suckling – Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) (2024). Temporal associations between caffeine consumption and sleep in young adults.
  • Kirsty Job – Master of Arts (Psychology) (2023). Exploring labour and birth experience and relationships with maternal sleep and symptoms of postnatal mental distress: A mixed methods study.
  • Sonya Russell – Master of Science (Psychology) (2023). Perinatal anxiety, worry and sleep.
  • Juliette Janvresse – Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) (2023). The effect of creatine monohydrate-loading on cognition, mood and sleepiness following sleep restriction.
  • Marjial Hermanoche – Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) (2023). Caffeine consumption and sleep quality in New Zealand young adults (aged 18-25 years).
  • Jaime Fearn – Master of Health Psychology (2022). "It made a huge difference when he had a dry bed in the morning": Experiences of sleep disturbances with incontinence
  • Margarethe Helles – Master of Arts (Psychology) (2022). Sleep, Mood and Loneliness during COVID-19 Lockdown; Does Mood and Loneliness Predict Poor Sleep in Working Woman in New Zealand?
  • Courtney Jones – Master of Health Science (Bioscience) (2022). Profiles of sleep status among older adults in New Zealand: The association between alcohol use and other health and lifestyle factors.
  • Harshi Shetty – Master of Psychology (2022). The association between social media experiences and sleep quality in young adults.
  • Ramil Adhikari – Master of Public Health (2021). ‘My Routine is wrecked’: Qualitative themes of changed sleep during COVID- 19 restrictions.
  • Lydia Henderson – Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) (2021). The effect of a two-week ketogenic diet, versus a carbohydrate-based diet, on cognitive performance, mood and subjective sleepiness during 36 hours of extended wakefulness in military personnel.
  • Diane Muller – Master of Public Health (2010). Children's sleep in the family environment: a pilot study using actigraphy with 6-8 year old New Zealand children.
  • Rosemary Gibson – Master of Psychology (2009). Factors affecting the sleep of one year olds: a pilot study using objective monitoring of New Zealand infants.
  • Ricci Harris – Master of Public Health (2003). Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: symptoms and risk factors among Maori and non-Maori adults in Aotearoa.
  • Brigid Borlase – Master of Public Health (distinction) (2001). Teenage sleep in New Zealand: the development and pilot use of a questionnaire to investigate the sleep patterns of adolescents in New Zealand.
  • Denise Ratieta – Master of Aviation (2005) Aircrew Fatigue Management Strategies in the New Zealand Aviation Industry
  • Dr Annette Nesdale – Master of Public Health (distinction) (1999). A review of locomotive engineer's rostered extended shifts.

Completed Honours Dissertations

  • Neil Mueller – Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Honours) (2024). The validity of subjective and objective sleep measures in older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • Bethaney Wilson – Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Honours) (2023). The relationship between indicators of work stress and self-related sleep among older employees in New Zealand
  • Cynthia Leewardus –Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Honours) (2023). Assessing the impact of work/life balance on changed mood and sleep during the COVID-19 lockdown.
  • Tayla Schaapveld – Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours), The University of Auckland (2020). Ethnic inequities in maternal sleep health in Aotearoa: evidence from a prospective cohort study of Māori and non-Māori women
  • Bronwyn Sweeney – Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) (2008). Baby on Board: Sleep changes in pregnancy and postpartum and their relationship to self-reported drowsy driving behaviour.

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