Overview
Background
Dr Shekari completed her PhD with Queensland University of Technology in 2016, and her postdoctoral fellowship with Alertness CRC at Monash University and Austin Health in January 2019. Shamsi is currently a Research Fellow with the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) at UQ. Her research interests are key socio-psychological issues such as drowsy / fatigued driving and risky driving behaviours. Shamsi is one of the investigators of the NHMRC project “Reducing crash risk for young drivers: A randomized control trial to improve sleep”.
Availability
- Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
-
Usability of countermeasures for sleepiness on improving performance, wellbeing and alertness or for detecting sleepiness/fatigue in the community
There are limited evidence for effectiveness and accuracy of countermeasures for sleepiness to improve performance, wellbeing and alertness in various sectors of society. A broad research program into “usability of countermeasures for sleepiness on improving performance, wellbeing and alertness or for detecting sleepiness/fatigue in the community” needs to be framed as some PhD projects such as 1) effects of naturalistic or artificial light on school children performance and alertness of non-standard workers (e.g. health care personnel, fire fighters, police, drivers, and pilots), 2) usability of infrared light devices for detection of fatigue in non-standard workers, 3) effects of combination of naps or extended wake times with light on improving safety related tasks (flight, driving, medical practices, emergency services) in naturalistic and or simulated conditions), and 4) effects of increased bed time for late schooling on family wellbeing.
-
Sleep and circadian health in non-standard workers and communities
From a societal perspective, the availability of staff outside the 9 am –5 pm working day is necessary in some sectors (e.g. health care, and the trucking, and airline). In addition, the work patterns of parents, school timings or digital technologies are causing the sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions in school children. The Sleep and circadian health in non-standard workers and community project could be tailored towards multiple PhD programs to 1) Characterise the role of sleep, activity rhythms in performance and behaviour in non-standard workers, 2) understand the detrimental effects of non-standard work on household wellbeing and 3) role of school timing, parents work or digital media on young children sleep, circadian health and learning outcomes.
-
Neuropsychology of behavioural and social risk in society
The psychological and neurological aspects of risk taking behaviours in social interactions or during work are yet to be fully understood. The general research topic of “neuropsychology of behavioural and social risk in society” could be studied as multiple PhD projects including but not limited to 1) sleep as a behavioural and social risk determinant in safety related tasks (e.g. flight, driving, medical practices, emergency services and firefighting) in naturalistic and or simulated conditions, 2) relationship between impaired sleep from alcohol/drug abuse and performance/risk taking behaviour (e.g. drivers, workers), and 3) relationship between chronic diseases or pain behavioural and social risk in society (e.g. Parkinson diseases and driving, chronic pain and work performance).
Research impacts
-Influence on policy development and public practice
In my postdoctoral fellowship with the Alertness CRC in Melbourne in Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project, I lead three phases of this national project that for the first time in the world examined the influence of schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers on their real-time drowsiness on the road. In this project, I validated the accuracy of infrared-light technologies (Optalert glasses) for detecting truck driver drowsiness (phase 1). Further, I examined the relationship between drowsiness (eye-blink parameters) and work-rest durations of 60 truck drivers (phase 2b retrospective and prospective studies). My research findings and government reports had an immediate and direct translation to the transport industry in early 2019 and have informed the current ongoing reform in the heavy vehicle national law fatigue management.
-Media comment
My PhD compared the efficacy of blue-green light with caffeine in reviving young sleepy adults while driving on the simulator. TV and radio and broadcast and digital media release of my PhD findings in 2016 attracted a considerable number of audiences in QLD, Southern Cross, Tasmania and Hobart, and Sydney as follows:
1-Drivers are being urged to be mindful of the fatal five as thousands of Queenslanders take to the roads this Easter. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Channel 7, Brisbane, Seven News, Qld, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 4:17 PM, Number of audiences: 80,000 views
2-New research from the Qld University of Technology has found a combination of caffeine and light therapy could help combat driver fatigue. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Southern Cross Tasmania, Hobart, Southern Cross Nightly News, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 6:33 PM, 47,000 views
3- Driver fatigue contributes to 20% of road accidents. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Channel 7, Brisbane, Seven News, Qld, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 6:39 PM, 305,000 views
New research from the Qld University of Technology has found a combination of caffeine and light therapy could help combat driver fatigue, which is blamed for 20% of road accidents. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Channel 7, Sydney, Seven News, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 6:51 PM, 358,000 views
4-The glasses helping keep drivers alert. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ7 News, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 7:48 PM, https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/31189970/the-glasses-helping-keep-drivers-alert/#page1
5-“According to the Queensland University of Technology’s study, caffeine and blue-green light have significant effects on improving the driving performance of chronically sleep-deprived young people”. 2MCE, Orange, 11:00 National Radio News, broadcast on 01 April 2016 at 11:02 AM
6-“Caffeine and blue-green light improve the performance of young motorist who is deprived of sleep, according to a study from the Qld University of Technology". 2MCE, Orange, 11:00 National Radio News, broadcast on 01 April 2016 at 6:01 PM
7-“Bright light combined with caffeine can improve driving performance and alertness of chronically sleep-deprived young drivers, according to a road safety stud”y. August 2016, Science Daily
Works
Search Professor Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Other Outputs
Resource to support the Towards a Queensland Equity Framework
Reddel, Tim, Curry, Matthew, Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi and Porter, Dave (2021). Resource to support the Towards a Queensland Equity Framework. Institute for Social Science Research: The University of Queensland .
2021
Journal Article
The impact of 7-hour and 11-hour rest breaks between shifts on heavy vehicle truck drivers' sleep, alertness and naturalistic driving performance
Cori, Jennifer M., Downey, Luke A., Sletten, Tracey L., Beatty, Caroline J., Shiferaw, Brook A., Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Turner, Sophie, Naqvi, Aqsa, Barnes, Maree, Kuo, Jonny, Lenné, Michael G., Anderson, Clare, Tucker, Andrew J., Wolkow, Alexander P., Clark, Anna, Rajaratnam, Shantha M. W., Howard, Mark E. and National Transport Commission Heavy Vehicle Driver Project Team (2021). The impact of 7-hour and 11-hour rest breaks between shifts on heavy vehicle truck drivers' sleep, alertness and naturalistic driving performance. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 159 106224, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106224
2020
Conference Publication
0136 Bright light could be an alternative to the caffeine for improving driving performance in chronically sleep-deprived young drivers
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Garcia-Hansen, V., White, M. and Smith, S. S. (2020). 0136 Bright light could be an alternative to the caffeine for improving driving performance in chronically sleep-deprived young drivers. 34th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Philadelphia, PA United States, 27-30 August 2020. Westchester, IL United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.134
2020
Conference Publication
0286 Schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers are associated with eye-blink indicators of real-time drowsiness on the road
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Sletten, T. L., Clark, A., Cori, J. M., Wolkow, A. P., Beatty, C., Shiferaw, B., Barnes, M., Tucker, A. J., Anderson, C., Rajaratnam, S. M. and Howard, M. E. (2020). 0286 Schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers are associated with eye-blink indicators of real-time drowsiness on the road. 34th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Philadelphia, PA United States, 27-30 August 2020. Westchester, IL United States: Associated Professional Sleep Societies. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.284
2019
Journal Article
Narrative review: do spontaneous eye blink parameters provide a useful assessment of state drowsiness?
Cori, Jennifer M., Anderson, Clare, Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi , Jackson, Melinda L. and Howard, Mark E. (2019). Narrative review: do spontaneous eye blink parameters provide a useful assessment of state drowsiness?. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 45 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.03.004, 95-104. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.03.004
2019
Journal Article
Eye-blink parameters detect on-road track-driving impairment following severe sleep deprivation
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Wilkinson, Vanessa. E., Cori, Jennifer M., Westlake, Justine, Stevens, Bronwyn, Downey, Luke A., Shiferaw, Brook. A., Rajaratnam, Shantha M. W. and Howard, Mark E. (2019). Eye-blink parameters detect on-road track-driving impairment following severe sleep deprivation. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 15 (9) PII jc-18-00743, 1271-1284. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.7918
2019
Other Outputs
Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project Final Report
Shekari, Shamsi, Cori, Jen, Beatty, Caroline, Shiferaw, Brook and Wolkow, Alexander (2019). Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project Final Report. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, Monash University.
2019
Conference Publication
Fatigue among heavy vehicle drivers: the impact of shift-start times and time of day
Shiferaw, Brook A., Cori, Jennifer, Downey, Luke A., Kuo, Jonny, Lenne, Mike, Soleimanloo, Shamsi S., Sletten, Tracey, Rajaratnam, Shantha M.W. and Howard, Mark E. (2019). Fatigue among heavy vehicle drivers: the impact of shift-start times and time of day. Australasian Transport Research Forum 2019, Canberra, ACT Australia, 30 September - 2 October 2019. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australasian Transport Research Forum.
2018
Conference Publication
P076 Eye-blink parameters detect drowsy driving impairment
Soleimanloo, S. S., Wilkinson, V. E., Cori, J. M., Westlake, J., Stevens, B., Downey, L. A., Shiferaw, B. A., Swann, P., Rajaratnam, S. M. Wilson and Howard, M. E. (2018). P076 Eye-blink parameters detect drowsy driving impairment. Sleep DownUnder 2014 ASM, Sleep Frontiers, 26th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 17-20 October 2018. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jsr.75_12766
2017
Journal Article
The effects of sleep loss on young drivers' performance: a systematic review.
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, White, Melanie J., Garcia-Hansen, Veronica and Smith, Simon S. (2017). The effects of sleep loss on young drivers' performance: a systematic review.. PLoS One, 12 (8) e0184002, e0184002. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184002
2016
Other Outputs
Effects of light and caffeine on human sleepiness and alertness: A simulated driving experiment
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi (2016). Effects of light and caffeine on human sleepiness and alertness: A simulated driving experiment. PhD Thesis, Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Qld (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology.
2016
Conference Publication
Comparison of the effects of the light and caffeine on subjective sleepiness and reaction times of partially sleep‐deprived young drivers
Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Smith, Simon, White, Melanie and Hansen, Veronica Garcia (2016). Comparison of the effects of the light and caffeine on subjective sleepiness and reaction times of partially sleep‐deprived young drivers. International Conference on Traffic and Transport Psychology, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2-5 August 2016. Online: Iceberg Events.
2015
Conference Publication
The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Simon Smith, Melanie White, Veronica Garcia-Hansen and Matthew Leong (2015). The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers. 27th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 22-24 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Springer.
2010
Journal Article
Estimation of "daylight autonomy" and "useful daylight illuminances" for industrial parks of Tehran
Shekari, S and Gholmohammadi, R (2010). Estimation of "daylight autonomy" and "useful daylight illuminances" for industrial parks of Tehran. Salamat-i Kar-i Iran, 6 (4), 29-37.
2010
Journal Article
Ergonomic and Economic Daylight for Workplaces in Iran
S., Shekari S. and Golmohamma, R. (2010). Ergonomic and Economic Daylight for Workplaces in Iran. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 4 (1), 42-49. doi: 10.3923/rjes.2010.42.49
2009
Journal Article
Estimation of horizontal illuminance for clear skies in Iran
Golmohammadi, R., Shekari, S. and Mahjub, H. (2009). Estimation of horizontal illuminance for clear skies in Iran. Journal of Applied Sciences, 9 (11), 2144-2149. doi: 10.3923/jas.2009.2144.2149
2009
Journal Article
Daylight availability and energy conservation in industrial parks of Tehran
Shekari S., S. and Golmohamma, R. (2009). Daylight availability and energy conservation in industrial parks of Tehran. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 4 (3), 167-174. doi: 10.3923/tasr.2009.167.174
2009
Journal Article
Evaluation of horizontal and vertical illuminance models against measured data in Iran
S, Shekari S. and Golmohammadi, R. (2009). Evaluation of horizontal and vertical illuminance models against measured data in Iran. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 4 (3), 158-166. doi: 10.3923/tasr.2009.158.166
2008
Journal Article
Estimation of illuminance on the south facing surfaces for clear skies in Iran
Shekari, Sh., Golmohammadi, R., Mahjub, H., Mohammadfam, I. and Motamedzadeh, M. (2008). Estimation of illuminance on the south facing surfaces for clear skies in Iran. Journal of Research in Health Sciences, 8 (1), 46-55.
2007
Conference Publication
Effects of radar on biological systems
Shekari, Shamsi and Samavat, Hamid (2007). Effects of radar on biological systems. The 13th International Congress on Radiation Research, San Francisco, CA USA, 8-12 July 2007. Online:
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Heart Rate Variability in Fatigue Assessment: A Multimodal Approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Professor Simon Smith
-
Doctor Philosophy
Return to safe driving after upper limb surgery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Simon Smith
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Improving sleep health in young adults
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Pattinson, Dr Kalina Rossa, Professor Simon Smith
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Sleep, Health, and Social Consequences of Precarious Employment.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Kalina Rossa, Professor Simon Smith
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo directly for media enquiries about:
- circadian rhythm
- drowsiness indicators
- Drowsy driving
- drugged driving
- eye-blink parameters of drowsiness
- Fatigued driving
- Risky driving
- Road safety
- Sleep deprivation
- young drivers
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: