Umair Akram

Umair Akram is a Lecturer in Sleep & Mental Health at the Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences, part of Sheffield Hallam University's College of Social Sciences and Arts. He holds a PhD in Psychology from Northumbria University (2010), a PDip in Sleep Medicine from the University of Oxford (2018), and a BSc Psychology from the University of Hull (2010). His research focuses on sleep medicine, particularly cognitive biases in insomnia, sleep-psychiatric disorder interactions, and the role of internet memes in mental health coping. He has published over 45 peer-reviewed articles and serves as an Associate Editor for BMC Psychiatry/Psychology and Handling Editor for Experimental Results. Akram teaches modules like 'Sleep & Circadian Rhythms' and has supervised numerous student projects leading to published papers. He has secured research funding totaling £250k+ via Innovate UK and institutional grants. His work integrates clinical practice (e.g., CBT-I delivery) with experimental methods (EEG, actigraphy) and theoretical models of sleep-cognition relationships.

Education: PhD (Northumbria, 2010), PDip Sleep Medicine (Oxford, 2018), BSc Psychology (Hull, 2007-2010). Continuing education includes advanced polysomnography and CBT-I training from institutions like the University of Pennsylvania and Edinburgh. His research bridges neuropsychological mechanisms with clinical outcomes, emphasizing sleep-related attentional biases and their moderating factors. He collaborates internationally with institutions like University Medical Center Freiburg and University of Bern.