Overview
Background
Dr Cassandra Pattinson research centres around exploring the effects of sleep and circadian rhythms on health, wellbeing, and recovery across the lifespan. Dr Pattinson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Child Health Research Centre (CHRC), an ARC Discovery Early Career Award (DECRA) Fellow, and a Senior Research Fellow as part of the the ARC centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. Her work has been supported by the ARC, NHMRC, NIH and the DSTG, as well as the Australian Federal Government and Queensland Government.
Her research has involved a range of populations from children and adolescents, through to military personnel and athletes. Dr Pattinson's research spans a range of study designs and methodologies, including longitudinal studies tracking large child cohorts (>2000 children), standard observation techniques, survey and individualised standard child assessment, as well as studies employing physiological (actigraphy, spectrometry) and biological (hormones, proteomic, genomic) designs. Dr Pattinson also has a strong track record in research translation, these have included manuscripts in top scientific journals, reports for government and non-government organisations, development of professional development programs, as well as designing and presenting vodcasts and resources (e.g. fact sheets, workshops) to parent groups, young adults, government departments and the early childhood sector.
At CHRC Dr Pattinson is a part of the Community Sleep Health Group. This group collaborates with many other groups around broader issues of sleep and technology, sleep and the environment (including disasters), mental health and wellbeing, pain, disability, and new technologies and approaches.
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Pattinson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Works
Search Professor Cassandra Pattinson’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
The sleeping elephant in the room: practices and policies regarding sleep/rest time in early childhood education and care
Staton, Sally, Irvine, Susan, Pattinson, Cassandra, Smith, Simon and Thorpe, Karen (2015). The sleeping elephant in the room: practices and policies regarding sleep/rest time in early childhood education and care. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 40 (4), 77-86. doi: 10.1177/183693911504000410
2015
Conference Publication
Physiological consequences of light exposure in preschool children
Pattinson, Cassandra, Allan, Alicia, Staton, Sally, Thorpe, Karen and Smith, Simon (2015). Physiological consequences of light exposure in preschool children. 27th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22 - 24 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Springer. doi: 10.1111/sbr.12132
2015
Conference Publication
Children’s sleep patterns on days attending and not attending childcare
Staton, Sally, Pattinson, Cassandra, Smith, Simon, Wihardjo, Kylie and Thorpe, Karen (2015). Children’s sleep patterns on days attending and not attending childcare. 27th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22–24 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Springer . doi: 10.1111/sbr.12132
2015
Conference Publication
Awaking the sleeping elephant in the room: Translating sleep science into sleep practice in Early Childhood Education and Care
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C., Irvine, S., Theobald, M., Nothard, M. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Awaking the sleeping elephant in the room: Translating sleep science into sleep practice in Early Childhood Education and Care. Improving Children's Lives: Translating Research for Practice, Policy and Community Conference, Wollongong, NSW, Australia, September 2015.
2015
Journal Article
“I Have to Rest All the Time Because You are Not Allowed to Play”: exploring children’s perceptions of autonomy during sleep-time in long day care services
Nothard, Michaela, Irvine, Susan, Theobald, Maryanne, Staton, Sally, Pattinson, Cassandra and Thorpe, Karen (2015). “I Have to Rest All the Time Because You are Not Allowed to Play”: exploring children’s perceptions of autonomy during sleep-time in long day care services. International Journal of Early Childhood, 47 (3), 423-442. doi: 10.1007/s13158-015-0143-z
2015
Journal Article
Mandatory naptimes in child care and children's nighttime sleep
Staton, Sally L., Smith, Simon S., Pattinson, Cassandra L. and Thorpe, Karen J. (2015). Mandatory naptimes in child care and children's nighttime sleep. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 36 (4), 235-242. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000157
2015
Conference Publication
Sleep deprivation and recovery in an expedition adventure race
St Pierre, L., Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Thorpe, K. and Smith, S. (2015). Sleep deprivation and recovery in an expedition adventure race. 29th Annual Meeting of the Professional Sleep Societies, Seattle, WA United States, 6-10 June 2015. Westchester, IL United States: Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
2015
Conference Publication
If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?
Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). If given the opportunity would you want your child to sleep in childcare?. Conference of the American Sleep Physicians Association, Seattle, WA, United States, June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger .
2015
Conference Publication
Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children
Pattinson, C., Allan, A., Thorpe, K., Staton, S. and Smith, S.S. (2015). Dim light duration predicts body mass index of young children. SLEEP 2015, Seattle, WA United States, 6-10 June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
2015
Conference Publication
Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep
Staton, S., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Mandatory naptimes for preschool aged children in early childhood education settings and duration of children's nighttime sleep. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States, April 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings
Staton, S., Hurst, C., Pattinson, C., Smith, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Group napping patterns in relation to duration of mandatory naptimes in childcare settings. 29th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Seattle, WA, United States, 6 - 10 June 2015. Cary, NC, United States: Oxford University Press.
2015
Journal Article
Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare
Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. Sleep, 38, A391-A391.
2015
Conference Publication
Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare
Smith, S., Neil, E., Thorpe, K., Pattinson, C. and Staton, S. (2015). Characteristics of children who do not nap in childcare. SLEEP, Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), Seattle, WA United States, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children
Thorpe, K., Sinclair, D., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Parent preferences regarding napping for their preschool children. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?
Pattinson, C., Smith, S., Staton, S. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Sleep and weight status of Australian children: what are the sleep parameters at play?. Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA, United States, April 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C., Hurst, C. and Thorpe, K. (2015). Mandatory naptimes in childcare: Associations with day and night sleep patterns. European Conference on Developmental Psychology (ECDP), Braga, Portugal, 2015.
2015
Conference Publication
Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Sawyer, E., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2015). Napping, development and health from 0-5 years: A systematic review. Conference of the American Sleep Physicians Association, Seattle, WA, United States, June 2015. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger .
2014
Conference Publication
Mandatory sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings: Implications for children's night-time sleep
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). Mandatory sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings: Implications for children's night-time sleep. AARE-NZARE conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, November 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
Sleep, Eat Play: Childcare as settings to establish lifetime foundations of physical and emotional health
Thorpe, K., Staton, S., Pattinson, C. and Smith, S. (2014). Sleep, Eat Play: Childcare as settings to establish lifetime foundations of physical and emotional health. Australia-China Centre for Public Health Research Forum, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 2 August 2014.
2014
Conference Publication
The relationship between history of childcare and age of cessation of napping in preschool aged children
Staton, S., Smith, S., Pattinson, C. and Thorpe, K. (2014). The relationship between history of childcare and age of cessation of napping in preschool aged children. Conference of the American Sleep Medicine Association, United States, 2014. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cassandra Pattinson is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Understanding Light, Technology, and Sleep across Childhood
These projects will examine light, digital technology, sleep and other important outcomes in children.
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Sleep Across the Lifespan
These projects will examine sleep, light across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, young adults, and beyond. Variables of interest include mental health, sleep, light, digital technology, road safety.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Heart Rate Variability in Fatigue Assessment: A Multimodal Approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dwayne Mann, Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo, Professor Simon Smith
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Improving sleep health in young adults
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kalina Rossa, Dr Shamsi Shekari Soleimanloo, Professor Simon Smith
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Sleep, plasticity, and non-invasive brain stimulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Bland, Associate Professor Martin Sale
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Cassandra Pattinson directly for media enquiries about:
- Circadian Rhythms
- Light Exposure
- Obesity
- Sleep
- Traumatic Brain Injury
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