Shona Halson

Professor Shona Halson is a leading academic in sports science and physiology at Australian Catholic University (ACU), serving as Deputy Director of the SPRINT Research Centre. She holds a Professorship in the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences. Previously, she was Head Recovery Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport (2002–2018), advising on recovery strategies for elite athletes during three Olympic campaigns. Her research focuses on sleep, recovery, overtraining, and travel-related fatigue in elite athletes, with over 160 peer-reviewed publications. She consults for organizations like Nike and the Australian Open Tennis Tournament.

Professor Halson’s work emphasizes maximizing athlete recovery through evidence-based practices. Her accolades include ESSA’s 2019 Female Scientist of the Year award and the ECSS Young Investigator Award (2005). Key research areas include sleep efficiency in team sports, overtraining syndrome diagnostics, and managing jet lag for athletes. She has led projects funded by the Australian Institute of Sport, PepsiCo, and the Australian Sports Commission, totaling over $1M in grants.

• Research Themes: Sleep science, elite athlete recovery, metabolic health, and travel management.
• Grants: Includes studies on mental fatigue in athletes, sleep across menstrual cycles, and nutrition-sleep interactions.

Her publications highlight practical applications of sleep monitoring technology and recovery strategies, influencing global high-performance sport networks. She actively advises on athlete wellness and contributes to editorial roles in journals like International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.