John Lesku

Dr. John Lesku is an Associate Professor in Zoology at La Trobe University’s School of Life Sciences, specializing in the ecology, evolution, and physiology of sleep across diverse species. His work bridges comparative biology, neuroscience, and environmental impacts on sleep patterns.

• Education:
  • Dr rer nat (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology/University of Munich, 2011)
  • MSc (Indiana State University, 2006)
  • BSc(Hons) (University of Guelph, 2002)

Lesku’s research explores sleep regulation in non-traditional models (sharks, flatworms, marsupials), trade-offs between sleep and vigilance, and sleep-dependent cognition in birds. His recent publications investigate sleep fragmentation, energy conservation in sleep, and ecological impacts of pollutants on sleep behavior.

Scientific awards include an ARC DECRA Fellowship, reflecting his leadership in sleep ecophysiology. He collaborates globally, mentoring students on projects ranging from avian thermoregulation to pharmacological sleep regulation in flatworms.

Lesku’s lab, Sleep Ecophysiology Group, emphasizes comparative approaches to understanding sleep’s evolutionary origins, with alumni like Dr. Robin Johnsson and Dr. Shauni Omond contributing high-impact studies on sleep homeostasis and neurotransmitter roles.