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Cynnamon Dobbs-BrownView profile

Assistant Professor

• Urban Forestry
• Urban Ecology
• Ecosystem Services Assessment
• +3 more

Cynnamon Dobbs-Brown serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut since 2022. Her academic career spans multiple continents with positions at Universidad Mayor and Universidad de Chile in Chile, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, following postdoctoral research and urban forestry practice in Australia. Education: PhD 2014 - University of Melbourne, Australia (Urban Ecology) MSc 2009 - University of Florida (Urban Forestry) Ing. For. 2005 - Universidad de Chile, Chile (Forest Engineering) BS 2003 - Universidad de Chile (Forestry) Research Focus: Her research centers on urban forestry and urban ecology, specifically examining the dynamics of urban socio-ecological systems. She employs ecosystem services assessment and spatial analysis as primary methodologies to understand how nature-based solutions provide ecosystem services and how these relate to social drivers including planning policies, community participation, and human well-being. Teaching Contributions: At UConn, she teaches undergraduate courses in Sustainable Urban Ecosystems and Urban/Community Forestry, along with graduate courses in Landscape Ecology. Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on urban vegetation patterns across Latin American cities, nature-based solutions governance, climate change impacts on Mediterranean forests, and environmental justice in urban green space access. The work increasingly emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches combining ecological monitoring with social dimensions of urban environmental management. Collaborative Networks: Her extensive publication record with international co-authors indicates active collaboration across Europe, Latin America, and Australia, with particular strength in comparative urban ecology studies between continents.

David LehenyView profile

Professor

• Japanese Politics
• East Asian Security
• Culture and International Relations
• +5 more

David Leheny is Professor in the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University in Tokyo. Previously he held faculty positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Assistant & Associate Professor of Political Science) and Princeton University (Henry Wendt III ’55 Professor of East Asian Studies). He is also listed as an affiliated member of Cornell’s Society for the Humanities and the College of Arts and Sciences. Education Ph.D. in Government, Cornell University (1998) M.A. in Government, Cornell University (1994) B.A. in Government, Wesleyan University (1989) Research Focus Leheny’s work integrates political science, cultural studies, and area studies to examine how culture, affect, and narrative shape politics in East Asia—especially Japan. His current project, “Scaling Affects: Digital Garden Cities and Imagining Lives in Contemporary Japan,” investigates the affective politics of Japan’s new rural-repopulation schemes, analyzing how policy discourse reimagines rural towns as scaled-down versions of metropolitan life. He also explores cases such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 state funeral of Abe Shinzō to interrogate the intersection of emotion, narrative, and political legitimacy. Publications & Impact Leheny is the author of three monographs with Cornell University Press— Empire of Hope: The Sentimental Politics of Japanese Decline (2018), Think Global, Fear Local: Sex, Violence, and Anxiety in Contemporary Japan (2006), and The Rules of Play: National Identity and the Making of Japanese Leisure (2003)—and co-editor of Japanese Aid and the Construction of Global Development (Routledge, 2010). His dozens of journal articles and book chapters have advanced debates on Japanese politics, East-Asian security, and the cultural dimensions of international relations. Honors & Fellowships Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowships Harvard U.S.–Japan Advanced Research Fellowship Smith Richardson National Security Fellowship Abe Fellowship Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award (UW-Madison) Toshiba International Prize Cotsen Faculty Fellowship (Princeton) Toyota Visiting Professorship (University of Michigan) Service & Professional Roles Leheny serves as co-editor (with Amitav Acharya) of the Studies in Asian Security series at Stanford University Press and sits on the editorial board of the American Political Science Review . He has held advisory roles for the Japan Foundation and the Institute of Social Science at the University of Tokyo, and previously worked as a Regional Affairs Officer for Counterterrorism at the U.S. Department of State.

• Socio-economic metropolitan studies
• Geographies of human-animal relations
• Cultural geographies in migration and transculturality
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Robert Pütz is a Professor of Human Geography at the Institute of Human Geography, Department of Geosciences/Geography, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main. He has held this position since 2004, after previously serving as a Professor of Social Geography at the University of Osnabrück. His academic journey began with a doctorate and habilitation at the University of Mainz, where he worked as a research assistant from 1998-2003. His primary institutional affiliation is with Goethe University Frankfurt, where he leads research in human geography with a focus on socio-economic metropolitan studies and geographies of human-animal relations. His extensive collaborations include significant partnerships with G. Glasze, C. Steiner, and E. Kornherr on projects related to urban governance, human-animal relations, and spatial transformations across Germany and internationally. Prof. Pütz's research interests span multiple interconnected domains: Cultural geographies in the context of international migration and transculturality Geographies of human-animal relationships and more-than-human perspectives Transformation processes in urban areas under neoliberal conditions Geographical trade research and geographies of consumption His recent scholarly output demonstrates a strong shift toward human-animal relations, with numerous publications examining interspecies interactions in urban settings, animal commodification processes, and the spatial dimensions of these relationships. His work bridges theoretical human geography with empirical studies across various global contexts from Frankfurt to Namibia and New Zealand. Prof. Pütz has secured significant research funding through: Research Training Group 'Habitual Change – Societal Transformation and Spatial Materialization of Housing' (DFG, ongoing) Compatibility discourses in inner-city shopping centers (DFG, 2017-2019) Autonomous immigration of foreign nursing professionals (Hans-Boeckler Foundation, 2015-2017) Counter-hegemonic spatial discourses in disadvantaged urban districts (DFG, 2011-2014) Business Improvement Districts research (DFG, 2009-2011) His research group includes several scientific staff members who contribute to ongoing projects and publications. The team's work frequently appears in high-impact geography journals, reflecting the innovative nature of their approach to understanding spatial relations in contemporary society.

Arnd JenneView profile

Professor

• Retail Management
• Urban Development
• Real Estate Development
• +6 more

Professor Arnd Jenne serves as Professor of General Business Administration with a focus on Retail Management at the Faculty of Commerce and Social Work, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Suderburg Campus since February 2011. Previously, he held a half-time substitute professorship at the Technical University of Dortmund (2008-2009). His academic background includes a doctorate from the University of Münster (2004) with research on strategic controlling in city marketing for inner-city retail, following studies in economic geography, economics, and urban planning at the University of Bayreuth (1993-1996) and preliminary studies at the University of Stuttgart (1990-1993). Professor Jenne's research focuses on retail in transit spaces (airports, train stations), spatial orientation of customers in retail environments, digitalization of stationary retail, and the future of retail in rural areas. His work bridges academic research with practical industry applications, particularly examining how digital transformation impacts traditional retail spaces and rural communities. His recent publications and research projects demonstrate a strong emphasis on practical retail challenges, with significant work on digital retail spaces (DigVerEH project), retail in German airports, and the competitive advantages small and medium enterprises can gain through community engagement like volunteer fire departments. Completed EFRE-funded project 'Digitalisierung von Verkaufsräumen im Einzelhandel' (2017-2019) Research commissioned by Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Inneres und Sport on volunteer fire departments as business advantages (2017) Analysis of retail in German airports (2015) Multiple projects on urban retail development in eastern German cities (2010-2014) Professor Jenne actively supervises bachelor's theses with a preference for topics related to digital retail, multichannel strategies, retail in transit spaces, and experimental market research methods. His industry experience since 2005 as a consultant specializing in retail, urban development, and city marketing informs his practical teaching approach and research direction. His teaching includes required modules in Retail Management, Location and Facility Management, Economic and Transport Policy, Market Research, and Multichannel Management, along with specialized electives and international excursions examining retail and logistics across European metropolitan areas, border regions, and rural communities.

• Global Mental Health
• Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health
• Child Psychology in Crisis Situations
• +5 more

Ragnhild Dybdahl serves as an Associate Professor (20% position) specializing in Global Mental Health at the Center for Crisis Psychology, University of Bergen . She maintains dual institutional affiliations with OsloMet - the metropolitan university's Department of Social Sciences. Her work bridges academic research with practical humanitarian applications across multiple continents. Dr. Dybdahl's research focuses on psychosocial support for vulnerable populations in crisis situations , particularly refugee children, asylum seekers, and communities affected by natural disasters. Her expertise spans trauma interventions, child mental health in humanitarian emergencies, and mental health integration into sustainable development frameworks. She emphasizes culturally appropriate, community-based approaches that build local capacity rather than relying on external experts. Analysis of her publication record (2011-2025) reveals consistent focus on global mental health challenges, with increasing emphasis on refugee populations and sustainable development connections. Her work demonstrates methodological diversity, combining qualitative insights from field research with systematic reviews and policy analysis. Recent publications show growing attention to practical implementation challenges in real-world humanitarian settings. Her professional engagement includes significant contributions to training non-specialists in mental health interventions, developing guidelines for psychosocial support in reception centers, and advocating for mental health integration into broader development agendas. She actively participates in international knowledge exchange through webinars, conference presentations, and collaborative research projects across multiple countries. Dr. Dybdahl's research team and collaborations span multiple institutions and countries, reflecting the international nature of her work. She frequently partners with practitioners in humanitarian settings to ensure research addresses real-world challenges while maintaining academic rigor. Her approach emphasizes practical applicability of research findings to improve mental health support for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Rachel DoddsView profile

Professor

• Sustainable Tourism
• Overtourism
• Tourism Development and Planning
• +4 more

Dr. Rachel Dodds is a full Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, where she has built a 25+ year career spanning academia and industry. Her dual expertise connects scholarly research with practical tourism consultancy for governments, tour operators, and destination management organizations globally. Her research centers on sustainable tourism development , with groundbreaking work on overtourism mitigation and tourism governance. Dr. Dodds examines consumer motivations for sustainable travel, environmental management in tourism contexts, and strategies for shifting destinations from volume-based to value-driven success metrics. Her globally applicable research combines policy analysis with practical industry solutions. Dr. Dodds' publication record demonstrates consistent high-impact output, particularly in overtourism solutions (2022) and festival sustainability (2020-2022). Her work appears in top journals like Journal of Cleaner Production and Tourism Review , with her co-edited volume Overtourism: Issues, realities and solutions (2019) establishing her as a field leader. Her scientific recognition includes: TTRA Distinguished Research Award (2025) University Inaugural Research Award (2025) Emerald Literati Award (2020) Multiple Dean's Scholarly Awards (2018, 2014) Early tenure and promotion (2009/10) Dr. Dodds actively advises students through undergraduate and graduate courses while maintaining industry connections via her sustainabletourism.net platform and federal council appointment. Her research integrates government collaboration, documentary production ( The Last Tourist , 2022), and international fieldwork across 80+ countries. Her research group operates through sustainabletourism.net, providing resources for destinations seeking regenerative tourism models. Current projects focus on transforming tourism measurement frameworks from visitor volume to experiential value, with applications across Canadian and international destinations.

• Public Administration
• Public Policy
• Government Privatization
• +5 more

Thomas Greitens serves as Assistant Professor and Chairperson of the School of Politics, Society, Justice & Public Service at Central Michigan University since 2007, previously directing the NASPAA-accredited MPA program for six years. Educational background: Ph.D. in Political Science (Public Administration & Public Policy), Northern Illinois University, 2007 Master of Public Administration, Arkansas State University, 2001 Bachelor of Science, Arkansas State University, 1996 His research examines privatization and citizen participation impacts on government, with emphasis on administrative capacity, collaborative governance, and Michigan-focused state/local dynamics. Recent work increasingly addresses technology policy implications and regional economic development strategies through empirical analysis of polarization mediators and institutional resilience. Publication trends (2017-2022) reveal deepening engagement with governance challenges, moving from localized Michigan studies to broader theoretical frameworks on administrative capacity erosion. His scholarship maintains practical relevance through connections to performance measurement tools and policy implementation challenges. As educator and administrator, Dr. Greitens teaches core MPA courses in budgeting, personnel management, and research methods while facilitating Washington Center internships. His pre-academic experience with EPA, USDA, and American Farmland Trust informs applied research on government effectiveness.

Nathalie AudasView profile

Associate Professor

• urban policy
• territorial diagnosis
• project methodology
• +12 more

Nathalie Audas is an Associate Professor in spatial planning and urban planning at the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA), where she has taught since 2014. She serves as a Maître de Conférences (MC UGA) and was Director of Studies in the social careers department of IUT2 from 2016 to 2019. Her primary research affiliation is with the CRESSON research team, part of the Joint Research Unit (UMR) between CNRS, UGA, ENSA Nantes, ENSA Grenoble, and Centrale Nantes, under the AAU Laboratory (Ambiances Architectures Urbanités). She has held significant research positions including a CNRS delegation to CRESSON for 2021-2022 and a Leave for Thematic Research and Conversion in 2022-2023. Dr. Audas's research centers on the operability of affects in contemporary urban planning, with particular focus on urban atmospheres and sensitive approaches to urban design. Her work examines how sensory experiences shape urban atmospheres and influence planning practices, with special attention to children's daily mobility patterns and autonomy development in urban environments. She investigates spatial experiences of mobility as central elements of living, exploring mobility inequalities through approaches based on individual capabilities and attention regimes. Her research also addresses the place of art and culture in public spaces, ways of living in peri-urban areas, and health inequalities. Dr. Audas is pioneering alternative forms of academic writing that incorporate narrative fiction to convey fieldwork experiences more effectively. She argues that qualitative methodologies in Humanities and Social Sciences have the capacity to 'reveal' the sensitive aspects of urban experiences, and she experiments with using fictional narratives to immerse readers in sensory and emotional registers while revealing the researcher's subjectivity. This approach is evident in her publications on 'sensitizing academic writing' and her use of narrative techniques in representing children's urban experiences. She currently leads or participates in several significant research projects including PROSECO (2021-2025) examining sensory dimensions of public space production, SENSIBILIA (2021-2025) exploring sensitive approaches to environmental transformations in the Anthropocene, and the OSER research-action project developing eco-sensitive planning tools for rural territories. Previously, she contributed to the ANR MOBI'KIDS project studying children's mobility patterns and is co-authoring a collective work titled 'Dans les pas des enfants : quand l'autonomie en ville fait son chemin.' Dr. Audas's methodological contributions include developing sensitive mapping techniques for analyzing children's mobility experiences and proposing narrative approaches to academic writing that bridge literary and poetic registers with scientific analysis. Her work demonstrates how sensory experiences during daily mobility shape urban atmospheres and how this understanding can inform more responsive and human-centered urban planning practices.

Sylvain GrisotView profile

Researcher

• Urban Studies
• Geography
• Territorial Planning
• +3 more

Sylvain Grisot is a Researcher at the CRENAU team within Joint Research Unit UMR 6590, a collaborative entity involving CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, ENSA Nantes, ENSA Grenoble, and Centrale Nantes. His work bridges academic research and practical urban challenges, particularly in French metropolitan contexts like Nantes. His research spans urban studies, geography, and territorial planning with deep focus on climate change adaptation, land use sustainability, and metropolitan dynamics. He investigates how territories confront environmental threats through narrative methods and pilot projects, emphasizing land sobriety and resilient spatial planning. Recent work analyzes metropolitan overflow phenomena and develops frameworks for managing 'invisible land' through storytelling and case studies. Grisot's 2021-2024 publications reveal a trajectory toward interdisciplinary solutions combining urban climatology, social geography, and policy innovation. His outputs address urgent themes like threatened territories and sustainable land management, reflecting growing academic and policy relevance in climate-vulnerable regions. The CRENAU team maintains active doctoral supervision and research training programs, utilizing specialized platforms including CORAULIS VR for immersive urban analysis and UClim for climate impact assessment. Projects like the Social Atlas of Nantes metropolis demonstrate applied research with local governance stakeholders, though specific grant mechanisms aren't detailed in available sources. Embedded within the AAU Laboratory's ecosystem, Grisot's work connects to broader networks like LumENSA and the International Ambiances network, facilitating cross-institutional collaboration. The team's documentary resources and digital platforms support both theoretical development and practical urban interventions in evolving territorial contexts.

Étienne WalkerView profile

Lecturer

• Social Geography
• Urban Geography
• Nighttime Urban Spaces
• +7 more

Étienne Walker is a Lecturer in Social Geography at the University of Caen Normandy, affiliated with the ESO (Espaces et Sociétés) research unit, specifically the Caen site. Since 2024, he has served as Department Head of the Carrières Sociales (Social Careers) department at IUT Grand Ouest Normandie in Alençon. His research focuses on social geography, with particular emphasis on nighttime urban spaces, social movements (especially the Yellow Vests movement), spatial appropriation, and metropolitan dynamics. He has been actively involved in multiple research axes within ESO, particularly Axis 2: Practices, experiences and representations of space (2022-2027). Walker's research interests center on social divisions of space (morphological, administrative, demographic, productive, socio-residential and electoral), modes of spatial appropriation through collective action and social movements, and the Yellow Vest Movement. His work employs sociohistorical, morphogenetic, and structural-constructivist perspectives, utilizing dimensional approaches to space. He investigates inequalities, power relations, and domination through mixed methods including questionnaires, comprehensive and biographical interviews, cartography, geomatics, press reviews, and analysis of programmatic and institutional documents. His geographical focus spans France, particularly Lower Normandy, with case studies in Caen, Rennes, Orne, regional metropolises, and small towns. Walker's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the Yellow Vests movement, spatial dimensions of social conflict, and university working conditions. His work shows a consistent pattern of examining how spatial dynamics intersect with social movements, political mobilization, and governance. He has developed particular expertise in analyzing the spatial configurations of protest movements and the relationship between peripheral France and political mobilization. His methodological approach integrates both quantitative and qualitative techniques to provide nuanced understandings of spatial politics. As an active researcher, Walker leads the ANR Yellow Vests research project (2020-2025), specifically heading the 'Configurations and spatialities of the Yellow Vest movement' axis. He also co-founded the Observatory of Working Conditions at the University of Caen Normandy, demonstrating his commitment to both academic research and practical engagement with workplace issues. His collaborative work extends across multiple institutions and research networks focused on social geography and political mobilization. Walker teaches courses in social geography, urban studies, and research methodology for students in social careers programs. His teaching emphasizes territorial analysis, urban history and architecture, and field research methods. He has supervised student research, including co-encadrement of master's theses, and has been involved in developing educational programs that connect theoretical knowledge with practical territorial analysis.

Solène GaudinView profile

Lecturer

• Urban renewal
• Socio-spatial dynamics
• Urban inequalities
• +13 more

Solène Gaudin is a Lecturer (Maître de Conférences) in Geography at the University of Rennes 2, where she is affiliated with the ESO-Rennes laboratory (UMR CNRS 6590). She serves as Co-director of the ESO-Rennes laboratory since 2022, Director of preparation for the Agrégation de Géographie since 2017, and Co-head of the MEEF Master's degree in History and Geography since 2018. Her academic career demonstrates deep commitment to both research and teaching in geography, with significant administrative responsibilities at multiple levels. Dr. Gaudin's research focuses on socio-spatial dynamics of urban spaces and inequalities, particularly examining urban renewal, social housing policies, discrimination, poverty, exclusion, and heritage in urban planning contexts. Her work emphasizes intermediate towns and small cities in Brittany, France, and Europe, with special attention to coastal areas and island territories. Her methodological approach combines historical and epistemological perspectives on geography with contemporary urban challenges. Her publication record shows consistent scholarly output with increasing focus on housing inequalities, coastal urban dynamics, and the impacts of tourism on residential patterns. Recent work (2023-2025) particularly addresses gentrification in island contexts, housing crises in Brittany and the Basque region, and innovative approaches to substandard housing in small cities. Her collaborative work with colleagues like Brieuc Bisson, Julien Torchin, and Colin Kerouanton demonstrates strong interdisciplinary engagement. Dr. Gaudin actively supervises doctoral students including Laura Couedel, Violette Mével, and Maximilien Steindersson, and serves on thesis committees for numerous other students. She participates in significant research programs including ANR PreCare (2025-2028) on precarity in small and medium cities, GIP EPAU's 'La caravane des ruralités' (2024-2026), and multiple POPSU programs addressing housing challenges in rural territories and coastal areas. As part of the ESO-Rennes laboratory, she coordinates and animates Axis 3 'The (re)localization of politics' and contributes to research on urban dynamics, housing, and territorial development. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, as evidenced by her media appearances and expert consultations for regional and national bodies.

• Urban Geography
• Regional Planning
• Territorial Development
• +4 more

François Taulelle is Professor of Geography and Urban Planning at the Jean-François Champollion National University Institute (Federal University of Toulouse) and permanent researcher at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Solidarity, Societies, Territories (LISST-CIEU, CNRS). His affiliations include the Multidisciplinary Institute for Studies on the Americas in Toulouse (IPEAT), reflecting his transatlantic research scope. His research examines: Regional planning and territorial development dynamics Public service provision in rural/low-density areas Small and medium-sized town sustainability European cohesion policy implementation Urban-rural interfaces in South America Publications (2015-2024) demonstrate consistent focus on territorial governance, spatial justice, and comparative urban systems. Notable themes include: Critical analysis of EU cohesion policy foundations Mobilizations for public service retention Intermediate cities as agricultural development anchors Tourism-daily life integration challenges Labs and teams include leadership roles in LISST-CIEU's urban studies division, coordinating international projects on territorial development with Argentine institutions. Current fieldwork examines service accessibility in Occitanie and comparative intermediate city systems.

• Rural studies
• Territorial development
• Urban-rural relationships
• +6 more

Aurélio Labat is an Associate Member of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Solidarity, Societies, Territories (LISST) at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, where he contributes to the Rural Dynamics research team. His work bridges multiple institutions including the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Institut National Universitaire Champollion (INUC), reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of his research in rural studies and territorial development. Dr. Labat's research focuses on the complex relationships between tourism development and quality of life in small rural towns, with particular attention to Martel in the Lot department. He critically examines contemporary paradigms of inter-territorial cooperation through the lens of the center-periphery model, challenging dominant network-based approaches to territorial planning. His work investigates how small towns navigate the tensions between maintaining resident quality of life while capitalizing on tourism opportunities, and how rural territories organize essential services through small towns and mutualized structures. His recent publications (2021-2024) demonstrate consistent engagement with themes of rural territorial dynamics, service provision in declining areas, and the spatial inequalities inherent in contemporary territorial governance. Notably, his work shows how local mobilizations for public services can paradoxically reinforce socio-spatial inequalities despite intentions to strengthen territorial solidarity. Dr. Labat completed his PhD in 2021 at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès with a thesis examining inter-territorial relations through the center-periphery model, focusing on inter-municipalities in the Occitanie region. As a 'young doctor' researcher, he represents the new generation of scholars critically engaging with territorial development paradigms in rural France.

• Sleep Science
• Circadian Rhythm
• Rural Nursing
• +4 more

Melissa Deacon-Crouch serves as Associate Professor of Rural Nursing at La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, where she also holds multiple leadership positions including Nursing Discipline Lead, Course Advisor for Bachelor of Nursing, and Coordinator for several rural nursing programs including the Graduate Certificate and Diploma of Rural Nursing Practice, plus the Re-entry to Practice program. With extensive experience bridging clinical practice and academic research, she has made significant contributions to rural healthcare education and research. Her educational background includes a PhD from La Trobe University, Bachelor of Nursing from La Trobe University (Abbottsford), Bachelor of Biological Sciences (Hons) from La Trobe University (Bundoora), Post Graduate Diploma in Midwifery from Ballarat University, and Post Graduate Diploma of Education from University of Melbourne. Her academic journey began with clinical research at The Royal Melbourne Hospital followed by progressive academic appointments at La Trobe University from Graduate Research Assistant through to her current Associate Professor role. Deacon-Crouch's research focuses on sleep science, circadian biology, and their applications in rural healthcare settings. She leads the Rural Health Sleep Team which has secured nearly $500,000 in research funding. Her work spans three interconnected domains: 1) the impact of shift work on healthcare professionals, particularly rural nurses, midwives and paramedics; 2) chrononutrition and breast milk composition, especially regarding melatonin levels; and 3) sleep as a modifiable risk factor for chronic disease among Indigenous Australians. Her recent publications (2022-2024) demonstrate a clear progression from foundational sleep research to practical applications addressing occupational health and infant nutrition. Her scientific recognition includes substantial grant funding from WorkSafe Victoria and the Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation for projects investigating shift work impacts and breast milk composition. These awards highlight the translational potential of her research for improving healthcare worker safety and infant nutrition practices. As an educator, Deacon-Crouch has significantly shaped rural nursing curriculum development, with expertise in preparing programs for professional accreditation. She has served as Course Coordinator for multiple graduate programs focused on rural nursing practice. Her teaching experience includes NSG2 Health Priorities A, demonstrating her commitment to foundational nursing education. Through the Re-entry to Practice program, she addresses workforce development challenges in rural healthcare settings. She actively contributes to community health through committee membership with Weenthunga Health Network Inc and collaborates with the Rural Health Sleep Team at La Trobe. Her research bridges academic inquiry with practical healthcare solutions, particularly for underserved rural and Indigenous populations across Victoria.

• Infant sleep
• Circadian rhythm misalignment sleep disorders
• Rural sleep health
• +3 more

Dr. Lauren Booker is a Research Fellow at the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. With over 15 years of experience in sleep research, she leads significant projects examining sleep disorders, circadian rhythms, and their impact on occupational health and rural communities. Her educational background includes: Doctorate in Philosophy from Monash University (2015-2019) Masters in Public Health from Monash University (2014-2015) Postgraduate diploma in behavioral science from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (2013) Dr. Booker's research focuses on circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, particularly shift work disorder and infant sleep development. Her work examines how sleep patterns affect health outcomes in rural communities, healthcare workers, and new mothers. She investigates the relationship between maternal circadian disruption from shift work and melatonin levels in breast milk, as well as the impact of mistimed expressed breast milk on infant sleep outcomes. Her research has significant implications for occupational health and safety policies, particularly for healthcare workers and truck drivers in rural settings. Her publication record demonstrates a strong focus on the intersection of sleep disorders and pandemic health outcomes, particularly regarding long COVID. Her work frequently explores how pre-existing sleep conditions influence susceptibility to and recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection. She also investigates rural health disparities, comparing metropolitan and regional healthcare shift workers to identify occupational risks related to sleep and fatigue. Dr. Booker has secured significant research funding including: Sleep better- Think Better- Work Safe from WorkSafe grants program (2022-2025) Shift work and changes to breast milk composition from Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation (2022-2023) She maintains active collaborations with major organizations including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and WorkSafe Victoria, focusing on post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection and occupational fatigue risks in rural settings.