Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Alexander Wolkow is an early career researcher based at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Dr Wolkow’s research focuses on understanding the interactions between sleep, stress, health and performance in shift workers and other high-risk populations. Dr Wolkow received his PhD from Deakin University in 2016. After completing his PhD, he was recruited as a Project Officer with the CRC for Alertness, Safety and Productivity. In August 2016, he was awarded an NHMRC CRE NeuroSleep Fellowship and began his postdoctoral training at Monash University. Since arriving at Monash University, he has been awarded nationally competitive fellowships, including an NHMRC Peter Doherty Early Career Fellowship in 2018, and an ARC DECRA in 2022.
Dr Wolkow’s program of research focuses on two main areas: (1) the impact of sleep disturbances on mental health and wellbeing in shift workers, and (2) the impact of shift work and related sleep problems on stress, emergency performance, fatigue and decision-making in emergency personnel. Dr Wolkow’s research is underpinned by his strong and ongoing engagement with industry, and he currently works with a range of industry groups including paramedics, police, firefighters, and truck drivers. Ultimately, Dr Wolkow’s research aims to optimise health, safety and performance in these and other high-risk populations.
Research interests
- Impact of sleep on mental and physical health in shift workers and other high-risk populations
- Interactions between sleep, shift work and occupational burnout
- Influence of shift work on truck drivers’ sleep, health and indicators of alertness and driving impairment
- Impact of shift work and related sleep problems on emergency performance, decision making and stress responses
- Longitudinal research tracking sleep and mental health health in emergency personnel
- Interventions to improve sleep and mental health in shift workers
Supervision interests
Dr Wolkow supervises Honours and PhD students. He is currently recruiting PhD candidates who are interested in researching the impact of sleep and shift work on stress, performance and health in emergency personnel and other high-risk populations.
Community service
2022-present Engagement Committee Member, Sleep Health Foundation
2020-present Board Member, Sleep Health Foundation
2017-present Marketing and Communication Committee Member, Sleep Health Foundation
2021-present Network of Early Career Sleep Researchers in Training Council, Presentations Team Member, Australasian Sleep Association
2020-present Conference Committee Member, Australasian Sleep Association
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Nutrition and Exercise Science, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Deakin University
Award Date: 14 Apr 2016
Exercise and Sport Science, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science Honours, Deakin University
Award Date: 30 Oct 2009
Exercise and Sport Science, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (BExSpSci)
Award Date: 31 Dec 2008
Research area keywords
- Sleep
- Shift work
- Mental Health
- Stress
- Emergency services
- Occupational Health
- Sleep research
- Burnout
- PTSD
- Fatigue
- Occupational Performance
- Sleep disorders
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Police Sleep, Shift Work and Wellbeing Project
Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Wolkow, A., Drummond, S., Sletten, T., Roberts, K. & Dormer, A.
16/05/22 → 31/10/25
Project: Research
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The role of poor sleep in increasing the risk of mental health symptoms in paramedics
18/11/19 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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Analysis of existing and prospective alertness data collected from Seeing Machines products
Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Howard, M. E., Sletten, T., Wolkow, A. & Anderson, C.
1/01/17 → 10/02/19
Project: Research
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HVDF: Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatique Research Project
Wilson Rajaratnam, S., Sletten, T., Howard, M., Anderson, C., Tucker, A., Wolkow, A., Barnes, M. & Williams, J.
1/01/17 → 31/12/18
Project: Research
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Association between burnout and adherence with mask usage and additional COVID-19 prevention behaviours: findings from a large-scale, demographically representative survey of US adults
Czeisler, M., Wolkow, A. P., Czeisler, C. A., Howard, M. E., Rajaratnam, S. M. W. & Lane, R. I., 1 Mar 2023, In: BMJ Open. 13, 3, 10 p., e066226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Mental health risk factors for shift work disorder in paramedics: A longitudinal study
Harris, R., Drummond, S. P. A., Meadley, B., Rajaratnam, S. M. W., Williams, B., Smith, K., Bowles, K. A., Nguyen, E., Dobbie, M. L. & Wolkow, A. P., Feb 2023, In: Sleep Health. 9, 1, p. 49-55 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
The impact of break duration, time of break onset, and prior shift duration on the amount of sleep between shifts in heavy vehicle drivers
Harris, R., Beatty, C. J., Cori, J. M., Spitz, G., Soleimanloo, S. S., Peterson, S. A., Naqvi, A., Barnes, M., Downey, L. A., Shiferaw, B. A., Anderson, C., Tucker, A. J., Clark, A., Rajaratnam, S. M. W., Howard, M. E., Sletten, T. L., Wolkow, A. P. & on behalf of the National Transport Commission Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project Team, Apr 2023, In: Journal of Sleep Research. 32, 2, 10 p., e13730.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Cardiometabolic, Dietary and Physical Health in Graduate Paramedics during the First 12-Months of Practice–A Longitudinal Study
Meadley, B., Wolkow, A. P., Smith, K., Perraton, L., Bowles, K. A. & Bonham, M. P., 2022, In: Prehospital Emergency Care. 26, 4, p. 524-536 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus) -
The association of schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers with continuous eye-blink parameters of drowsiness
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Sletten, T. L., Clark, A., Cori, J. M., Wolkow, A. P., Beatty, C., Shiferaw, B., Barnes, M., Tucker, A. J., Huda, M. M., Anderson, C., Rajaratnam, S. M. W. & Howard, M. E., Oct 2022, In: Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 90, p. 485-499 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus)
Prizes
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ESRS Travel Grant for Early Career Researchers
Wolkow, Alexander (Recipient), 23 Feb 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Mentor Award
Wolkow, Alexander (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Theme 2019 Memorandum of Understanding Travel Award
Wolkow, Alexander (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Theme 2019 Publication Award
Wolkow, Alexander (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Sleep and Circadian Rhythms Theme PhD Mentoring Award
Wolkow, Alexander (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
- 2 Thesis Examination
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Thesis Examiner for Master of Medical Science
Alexander Wolkow (Examiner)
7 Aug 2019Activity: Examination types › Thesis Examination
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Thesis Examiner for Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Alexander Wolkow (Examiner)
Aug 2018Activity: Examination types › Thesis Examination
Press/Media
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A midnight snack, another coffee: what is the best way to stay awake?
14/08/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Why sleep is important and how to get more of it
1/08/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Sleep and Mental Health Problems are Associated with an Increased Risk of Burnout in Firefighters
5/07/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Burnout in firefighters linked to sleep issues, mental health concerns
28/06/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview