Circadian Interventions in Shift Workers

This talk will be given online (If you want to join, please send me an email to jaekkim@ibs.re.kr)

Abstract

Coupling Math with User-Centric Design Shift workers experience profound circadian disruption due to the nature of their work, which often has them on-the-clock at times when their internal clock is sending a strong, sleep-promoting signal. Mathematical models can be used to generate recommendations for shift workers that move their internal clock state to better align with their work schedules, promote overall sleep, promote alertness at key times, or achieve other desired outcomes. Yet for these schedules to have a positive effect in the real world, they need to be acceptable to the shift workers themselves. In this talk, I will survey the types of schedules a shift worker may be recommended by an algorithm, and how they can collide with the preferences of the real people being asked to follow them, and how math can be used to arrive at new schedules that take these human factors into account.