Early Career Researchers

Dr Rhearne Ryan is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Chronic Diseases of Ageing (CCDA) at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research. Dr Ryan’s research focuses on the intersection of sleep and health, focusing on the neuroprotective potential of dual orexin receptor antagonists for individuals with insomnia and a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

She is the co-chair of the Sleep Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee and a member of the Woolcock NextGen Committee which aims to spearhead initiatives supporting the development and visibility of early-career researchers.

Previously, Dr Ryan held various roles in sports science and human performance, including leading the Sport Science Research Group, mentoring elite athletes, lecturing and working as a sport scientist in elite Australian football.

Beyond research, she is dedicated to science communication, running an Instagram account to make health science accessible to the general public.