Ariel Williamson

Dr. Ariel Williamson is an Assistant Professor at the Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health and in the Department of Psychology (clinical area) at the University of Oregon, where she directs the Behavior, Emotions, Development and Sleep (BEDS) Lab. She is a clinical psychologist and Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine with expertise in pediatric sleep health inequities and behavioral interventions.

Dr. Williamson's research uses a socio-ecological approach to understand how multiple factors (child, family, school, healthcare system, neighborhood, and socio-cultural context) contribute to child sleep problems, inequities, and developmental outcomes. Her intervention research applies implementation science principles and community-engaged methods to promote pediatric sleep health and treat sleep problems in primary care and in partnership with community organizations. She conducts community-engaged research, which involves forming partnerships with families, primary care clinicians, and community organizations to adapt and implement behavioral sleep interventions in real-world settings, with a focus on ensuring evidence-based interventions are delivered flexibly, effectively, and with cultural humility.

Dr. Williamson's recent publications reveal a strong focus on sleep health disparities, particularly examining how socioeconomic factors, race, and neighborhood context contribute to inequities in pediatric sleep. Her work spans from basic research on sleep patterns across development to implementation of evidence-based interventions in community settings. She has made significant contributions to understanding the bidirectional relationships between sleep problems and mental health outcomes, as well as the impact of sleep on child development and well-being.

• Carole L. Marcus Outstanding Achievement Award from American Thoracic Society (2023)
• Arthur Spielman Early Career Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (2023)
• Clinician Investigator Rising Star Award from Sleep Research Society (2024)
• Diane J. Willis Award for Outstanding Article in Journal of Pediatric Psychology (2020)

Dr. Williamson is actively involved in mentoring and has expressed interest in accepting new doctoral students to the University of Oregon Clinical Psychology program. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD K23HD094905), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI R01HL163798), the Sleep Research Society Foundation, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Foundation. She serves on the board of the Philadelphia-area Beds for Kids program, which provides beds, bedding, and sleep health education to families living at or below the federal poverty line, and she is a steering committee member for the Pacific Northwest Sleep and Circadian Network.