Heather Gunn

Dr. Heather Gunn is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama's College of Arts & Sciences. She directs research on social determinants of sleep health, with particular focus on dyadic sleep patterns, adolescent development, and cardiovascular outcomes. Her NIH-funded work includes studies on school start times and family sleep dynamics.

Education includes:

• PhD in Clinical Health Psychology, University of Utah
• Clinical Internship, Rush University Medical Center
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh

Research examines how interpersonal relationships and socioeconomic factors influence sleep architecture across developmental stages. Current projects investigate school start time impacts on adolescents and family systems, sleep-cardiovascular pathways, and rural health disparities.

Research Publications: Her extensive publication record demonstrates consistent focus on dyadic sleep concordance, family influences on sleep architecture, and socioeconomic determinants of sleep health. Recent work develops novel measurement tools for couple sleep dynamics.

Leads the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Training Program and teaches courses in Behavioral Medicine, Sleep Science, and graduate practicum supervision. Collaborates across campus on sleep research in athletic and geriatric populations.