Sean Drummond

Sean Drummond is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University and a key figure at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health. He previously served on the faculty at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Department of Psychiatry (2002–2014) and as a Staff Psychologist at the VA San Diego Healthcare System (2005–2014). At Monash, he currently holds the role of Director of Research Programs and Infrastructure.

Education:

• Undergraduate research assistant, Sleep Research Laboratory, University of Arizona
• Research work with Sarah Mosko, PhD, UC Irvine Medical Center
• PhD, SDSU-UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (advisor: J. Christian Gillin, MD)
• Pre-doctoral Internship, Tucson VA Hospital
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California San Diego (UCSD), working with Gregory G. Brown, PhD

Dr. Drummond’s research spans three interconnected domains: (1) the cognitive neuroscience of sleep and sleep deprivation, using fMRI, EEG, and behavioral testing; (2) clinical treatment of insomnia, particularly in psychiatric comorbidities; and (3) translational research on sleep’s role in PTSD and mood disorders. His work involves diverse populations, including healthy adults, older adults, and clinical groups with insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.

His recent publications reflect a strong focus on sleep interventions, the cognitive consequences of sleep loss, and the development of screening tools for sleep disorders. Themes include insomnia in pregnancy, digital treatment efficacy, and the impact of shift work on mental health. His research is supported by major national and international funding bodies.

Scientific Awards and Service:

• Past President, Sleep Research Society
• Associate Editor, SLEEP

Dr. Drummond has secured research funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), US Department of Defense, and industry partners. He supervises non-HDR students and is involved in interdisciplinary outreach, including public exhibitions on sleep culture. He leads and participates in multiple active research projects, such as those on insomnia in pregnancy, police shift work, and youth mental health across continents.

He is actively involved in building research infrastructure and fostering collaboration, with a strong presence in both clinical and cognitive neuroscience domains of sleep research.