Dr Leigh Signal is a Professor of Fatigue Management and Sleep Health at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington. Leigh trained as a Commercial Pilot and then completed a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology before completing her PhD in Public Health at the Sleep/Wake Research Centre.

Leigh is involved in both basic and applied sleep and circadian research, postgraduate supervision and teaching. She is internationally recognised for her expertise in, and application of fatigue management science for safety-critical industries. She provides advice to high-risk industries and government agencies, expert evidence to the Coroner, Police, Transport Accident Investigation Commission and WorkSafe and has worked on task forces for the United Nations agency for air safety.

Her research spans two main areas. The first focuses on identifying, managing, and mitigating fatigue in applied and high-performance settings. She has led studies in the lab, on aircraft and in hypobaric chambers in collaboration with international research teams and funded by aircraft manufacturers, airlines, regulators and military agencies. She has also conducted research with elite athletes and high-performance coaches.

Leigh’s second research stream focuses on the sleep health of women, children and adolescents. She is interested in the relationship between sleep and mental health for these populations, and ways we can support people to maintain good sleep health and mental health. She also has an interest in understanding inequities in sleep and the sociodemographic factors that drive these differences.