Lois James, assistant dean of research and an associate professor in the Washington State University College of Nursing, has been appointed as the next director of WSU’s Sleep and Performance Research Center.
Internationally renowned for scientific breakthroughs in the areas of sleep, sleep loss, and human performance, the Sleep and Performance Research Center (SPRC) is a university-wide coalition of faculty from the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Veterinary Medicine, and College of Arts and Sciences. Overseen by the College of Medicine, the center is unique for its multidisciplinary approaches to investigating the impacts of sleep loss and stressors on health and performance, with methods ranging from the test tube to the field.
“The SPRC is a research powerhouse, bringing unparalleled return on investment to WSU and a reputation for research excellence that is recognized globally,” said Daryll DeWald, executive vice president for WSU Health Sciences and chancellor of WSU Spokane. “I am confident that as the new director, Dr. Lois James will care for this unique center with the same commitment and passion as her predecessor, and that the SPRC will continue to lead cutting-edge WSU research that solves real-world problems.”
A leading expert in shift worker fatigue, James studies the effects of sleep loss, stress, and bias on the performance and safety of shift workers including first responders, health care workers, and military personnel. She is the founding director of Counter Bias Training Simulation (CBTsim), an innovative simulation-based anti-bias training program featured in National Geographic and the documentary bias. James has an extensive career at WSU, having earned her doctorate in criminal justice from the university and served as a research assistant in the sleep lab and a post-doctoral research fellow at the SPRC before her faculty appointment in 2012.
A leading expert in shift worker fatigue, James studies the effects of sleep loss, stress, and bias on the performance and safety of shift workers including first responders, health care workers, and military personnel.
“Dr. James is a valued faculty member in the College of Nursing, and her commitment to interdisciplinary research around social determinants of health, disparities in health outcomes, and the occupational health of shift workers exemplifies our college’s mission,” said College of Nursing Dean Mary Koithan. “I am thrilled that Dr. James has been appointed as the incoming SPRC director and look forward to the continued cross-college collaboration that this world-class center promotes. I know she will bring her stellar management, mentorship, and advocacy skills to supporting SPRC faculty, recruiting new faculty, and continuing to accelerate the SPRC’s growth trajectory.”
James succeeded College of Medicine Professor Hans Van Dongen as director on Nov. 1. Van Dongen served as SPRC director for the past 10 years, overseeing a remarkable growth in research productivity and earning the center its reputation as a global leader in sleep and performance research. Since the center’s establishment in 2004, SPRC faculty have published more than 700 scientific peer-reviewed articles and brought more than $100 million in external funding to WSU.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Van Dongen, our sleep research team has been a preeminent hub for understanding the profound impact sleep has on our body’s ability to heal or function properly,” said College of Medicine Dean Jim Record. “He has guided the SPRC’s research enterprise with vision and integrity, promoting a culture of essential, community-driven research.”
The SPRC has trained more than 150 graduate and medical students and more than 400 undergraduate and postbaccalaureate research assistants, supporting the next generation of sleep and performance researchers. Van Dongen has served as a mentor for a number of these emerging scientists, including James.
“Having worked with Lois James on projects related to both sleep and performance in the lab and in the field, I am excited for her to lead the way in the SPRC’s next chapter of research successes and growth,” said Van Dongen.