Dr Shekari completed her PhD with Queensland University of Technology in 2016, and her postdoctoral fellowship with Alertness CRC at Monash University and Austin Health in January 2019. Shamsi is currently a Research Fellow with the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) at UQ. Her research interests are key socio-psychological issues such as drowsy / fatigued driving and risky driving behaviours. Shamsi is one of the investigators of the NHMRC project “Reducing crash risk for young drivers: A randomized control trial to improve sleep”.
-Influence on policy development and public practice
In my postdoctoral fellowship with the Alertness CRC in Melbourne in Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project, I lead three phases of this national project that for the first time in the world examined the influence of schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers on their real-time drowsiness on the road. In this project, I validated the accuracy of infrared-light technologies (Optalert glasses) for detecting truck driver drowsiness (phase 1). Further, I examined the relationship between drowsiness (eye-blink parameters) and work-rest durations of 60 truck drivers (phase 2b retrospective and prospective studies). My research findings and government reports had an immediate and direct translation to the transport industry in early 2019 and have informed the current ongoing reform in the heavy vehicle national law fatigue management.
-Media comment
My PhD compared the efficacy of blue-green light with caffeine in reviving young sleepy adults while driving on the simulator. TV and radio and broadcast and digital media release of my PhD findings in 2016 attracted a considerable number of audiences in QLD, Southern Cross, Tasmania and Hobart, and Sydney as follows:
1-Drivers are being urged to be mindful of the fatal five as thousands of Queenslanders take to the roads this Easter. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Channel 7, Brisbane, Seven News, Qld, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 4:17 PM, Number of audiences: 80,000 views
2-New research from the Qld University of Technology has found a combination of caffeine and light therapy could help combat driver fatigue. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Southern Cross Tasmania, Hobart, Southern Cross Nightly News, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 6:33 PM, 47,000 views
3- Driver fatigue contributes to 20% of road accidents. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Channel 7, Brisbane, Seven News, Qld, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 6:39 PM, 305,000 views
New research from the Qld University of Technology has found a combination of caffeine and light therapy could help combat driver fatigue, which is blamed for 20% of road accidents. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ, Channel 7, Sydney, Seven News, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 6:51 PM, 358,000 views
4-The glasses helping keep drivers alert. Interviewees: Shamsi Shekari, Researcher| Steve Spalding, RACQ7 News, aired on 25 Mar 2016 at 7:48 PM, https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/31189970/the-glasses-helping-keep-drivers-alert/#page1
5-“According to the Queensland University of Technology’s study, caffeine and blue-green light have significant effects on improving the driving performance of chronically sleep-deprived young people”. 2MCE, Orange, 11:00 National Radio News, broadcast on 01 April 2016 at 11:02 AM
6-“Caffeine and blue-green light improve the performance of young motorist who is deprived of sleep, according to a study from the Qld University of Technology". 2MCE, Orange, 11:00 National Radio News, broadcast on 01 April 2016 at 6:01 PM
7-“Bright light combined with caffeine can improve driving performance and alertness of chronically sleep-deprived young drivers, according to a road safety stud”y. August 2016, Science Daily
Journal Article: O045 Sleep Duration is Associated with Young Adult's Heart Rate Variability Response to Stress
Gadam, S, Rossa, K, Pattinson, C, Shekari Soleimanloo, S, Mann, D, Salmon, P, Sullivan, K and Smith, S (2023). O045 Sleep Duration is Associated with Young Adult's Heart Rate Variability Response to Stress. Sleep Advances, 4 (Supplement_1), A17-A17. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad035.045
Journal Article: Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review
Gadam, Sylistah, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Rossa, Kalina R., Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Moore, Jane, Begum, Tahmina, Gnani Srinivasan, Arvind and Smith, Simon S. (2023). Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 70 101807, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101807
Book Chapter: Light as a Countermeasure to Sleepiness and Its Potential for Use in the Transport Industry
Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari and Smith, Simon (2023). Light as a Countermeasure to Sleepiness and Its Potential for Use in the Transport Industry. The Handbook of Fatigue Management in Transportation. (pp. 351-361) New York: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003213154-30
Prediction of crash risk of school children at school zones via a machine learning approach
(2021–2023) Road Safety Innovation Fund
(2020–2022) UQ Early Career Researcher
Health and social impacts of precarious work: the role of sleep and fatigue.
Doctor Philosophy
A sleep extension intervention for precarious shift workers to mitigate the effects of shift work
Doctor Philosophy
Return to safe driving after upper limb surgery
Doctor Philosophy
Light as a Countermeasure to Sleepiness and Its Potential for Use in the Transport Industry
Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari and Smith, Simon (2023). Light as a Countermeasure to Sleepiness and Its Potential for Use in the Transport Industry. The Handbook of Fatigue Management in Transportation. (pp. 351-361) New York: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003213154-30
O045 Sleep Duration is Associated with Young Adult's Heart Rate Variability Response to Stress
Gadam, S, Rossa, K, Pattinson, C, Shekari Soleimanloo, S, Mann, D, Salmon, P, Sullivan, K and Smith, S (2023). O045 Sleep Duration is Associated with Young Adult's Heart Rate Variability Response to Stress. Sleep Advances, 4 (Supplement_1), A17-A17. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad035.045
Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review
Gadam, Sylistah, Pattinson, Cassandra L., Rossa, Kalina R., Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Moore, Jane, Begum, Tahmina, Gnani Srinivasan, Arvind and Smith, Simon S. (2023). Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 70 101807, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2023.101807
Precarious employment and associated health and social consequences; a systematic review
Jaydarifard, Saeed, Smith, Simon S., Mann, Dwayne, Rossa, Kalina R., Nikooharf Salehi, Elahe, Gnani Srinivasan, Arvind and Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi (2023). Precarious employment and associated health and social consequences; a systematic review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 47 (4) 100074, 100074. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100074
Cori, Jennifer M., Wilkinson, Vanessa E., Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Westlake, Justine, Stevens, Bronwyn, Rajaratnam, Shantha M. W. and Howard, Mark E. (2023). A brief assessment of eye blink drowsiness immediately prior to or following driving detects drowsiness related driving impairment. Journal of Sleep Research, 32 (3) e13785, 1-12. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13785
Harris, Rachael, Beatty, Caroline J., Cori, Jennifer M., Spitz, Gershon, Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Peterson, Scott A., Naqvi, Aqsa, Barnes, Maree, Downey, Luke A., Shiferaw, Brook A., Anderson, Clare, Tucker, Andrew J., Clark, Anna, Rajaratnam, Shantha M.W., Howard, Mark E., Sletten, Tracey L., Wolkow, Alexander P. and on behalf of the National Transport Commission Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project Team (2022). The impact of break duration, time of break onset, and prior shift duration on the amount of sleep between shifts in heavy vehicle drivers. Journal of Sleep Research, 32 (2) e13730. doi: 10.1111/jsr.13730
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Sletten, Tracey L., Clark, Anna, Cori, Jennifer M., Wolkow, Alexander P., Beatty, Caroline, Shiferaw, Brook, Barnes, Maree, Tucker, Andrew J., Huda, M Mamun., Anderson, Clare, Rajaratnam, Shantha M.W. and Howard, Mark E. (2022). The association of schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers with continuous eye-blink parameters of drowsiness. Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 90, 485-499. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2022.08.019
Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Garcia-Hansen, Veronica, White, Melanie J., Huda, M Mamun and Smith, Simon S. (2022). Bright light alone or combined with caffeine improves sleepiness in chronically sleep-restricted young drivers. Sleep Medicine, 93, 15-25. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.03.013
Cori, Jennifer M., Downey, Luke A., Sletten, Tracey L., Beatty, Caroline J., Shiferaw, Brook A., Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Turner, Sophie, Naqvi, Aqsa, Barnes, Maree, Kuo, Jonny, Lenné, Michael G., Anderson, Clare, Tucker, Andrew J., Wolkow, Alexander P., Clark, Anna, Rajaratnam, Shantha M. W., Howard, Mark E. and National Transport Commission Heavy Vehicle Driver Project Team (2021). The impact of 7-hour and 11-hour rest breaks between shifts on heavy vehicle truck drivers' sleep, alertness and naturalistic driving performance. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 159 106224, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106224
Cori, Jennifer M., Anderson, Clare, Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi , Jackson, Melinda L. and Howard, Mark E. (2019). Narrative review: do spontaneous eye blink parameters provide a useful assessment of state drowsiness?. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 45 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2019.03.004, 95-104. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2019.03.004
Eye-blink parameters detect on-road track-driving impairment following severe sleep deprivation
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Wilkinson, Vanessa. E., Cori, Jennifer M., Westlake, Justine, Stevens, Bronwyn, Downey, Luke A., Shiferaw, Brook. A., Rajaratnam, Shantha M. W. and Howard, Mark E. (2019). Eye-blink parameters detect on-road track-driving impairment following severe sleep deprivation. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 15 (9), 1271-1284. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.7918
The effects of sleep loss on young drivers' performance: a systematic review.
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, White, Melanie J., Garcia-Hansen, Veronica and Smith, Simon S. (2017). The effects of sleep loss on young drivers' performance: a systematic review.. PLoS One, 12 (8) e0184002, e0184002. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184002
Ergonomic and Economic Daylight for Workplaces in Iran
S., Shekari S. and Golmohamma, R. (2010). Ergonomic and Economic Daylight for Workplaces in Iran. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences, 4 (1), 42-49. doi: 10.3923/rjes.2010.42.49
Estimation of "daylight autonomy" and "useful daylight illuminances" for industrial parks of Tehran
Shekari, S and Gholmohammadi, R (2010). Estimation of "daylight autonomy" and "useful daylight illuminances" for industrial parks of Tehran. Salamat-i Kar-i Iran, 6 (4), 29-37.
Estimation of horizontal illuminance for clear skies in Iran
Golmohammadi, R., Shekari, S. and Mahjub, H. (2009). Estimation of horizontal illuminance for clear skies in Iran. Journal of Applied Sciences, 9 (11), 2144-2149. doi: 10.3923/jas.2009.2144.2149
Daylight availability and energy conservation in industrial parks of Tehran
Shekari S., S. and Golmohamma, R. (2009). Daylight availability and energy conservation in industrial parks of Tehran. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 4 (3), 167-174. doi: 10.3923/tasr.2009.167.174
Evaluation of horizontal and vertical illuminance models against measured data in Iran
S, Shekari S. and Golmohammadi, R. (2009). Evaluation of horizontal and vertical illuminance models against measured data in Iran. Trends in Applied Sciences Research, 4 (3), 158-166. doi: 10.3923/tasr.2009.158.166
Estimation of illuminance on the south facing surfaces for clear skies in Iran
Shekari, Sh., Golmohammadi, R., Mahjub, H., Mohammadfam, I. and Motamedzadeh, M. (2008). Estimation of illuminance on the south facing surfaces for clear skies in Iran. Journal of Research in Health Sciences, 8 (1), 46-55.
Jaydarifard, Saeed, Smith, Simon, Rossa, Kalina, Mann, Dwayne, Nikooharf Salehi, Elahe and Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi (2023). The mediating effect of sleep quality and psychological distress on the relationship between precarious employment and physical health. 17th World Congress on Public Health, Rome, Italy, 2-6 May 2023. Heraklion, Greece: EU European Publishing. doi: 10.18332/popmed/163873
Association of drowsiness events with a combination of sleep loss and other work metrics
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Sletten, T., Clark, A., Cori, J., Wolkow, A., Beatty, C., Shiferaw, B., Barnes, M., Tucker, A., Anderson, C., Rajaratnam, S. and Howard, M. (2022). Association of drowsiness events with a combination of sleep loss and other work metrics. 33rd annual scientific meeting of Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) & Australian and New Zealand Sleep Science Association (ANZSSA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8-11 November 2022. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press . doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.178
Episodes of drowsiness present during cognitively demanding tasks
Gnani Srinivasan, A., Mann, D., Smith, S., Gadam, S. and Shekari Soleimanloo, S. (2022). Episodes of drowsiness present during cognitively demanding tasks. 33rd annual scientific meeting of Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) & Australian and New Zealand Sleep Science Association (ANZSSA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8-11 November 2022. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.071
The impact of work break characteristics on sleep duration in heavy vehicle drivers
Harris, R., Beatty, C., Cori, J., Spitz, G., Soleimanloo, S., Peterson, S., Naqvi, A., Barnes, M., Downey, L., Shiferaw, B., Anderson, C., Tucker, A., Clark, A., Rajaratnam, S., Howard, M., Sletten, T. and Wolkow, A. (2022). The impact of work break characteristics on sleep duration in heavy vehicle drivers. 33rd annual scientific meeting of Australasian Sleep Association (ASA) & Australian and New Zealand Sleep Science Association (ANZSSA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 8-11 November 2022. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.065
The mediating effect of sleep on the relationship between precarious employment and mental health
Jaydarifard, S., Smith, S., Mann, D., Rossa, K., Huda, M., Nikooharf Salehi, E. and Shekari Soleimanloo, S. (2022). The mediating effect of sleep on the relationship between precarious employment and mental health. 33rd Annual Scientific Meeting of Australasian Sleep Association, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 8-11 November 2022. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.131
P039 Interventions used to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review
Gadam, S., Pattinson, C., Soleimanloo, S., Rossa, K., Moore, J., Begum, T., Srinivasan, A. and Smith, S. (2021). P039 Interventions used to increase sleep duration in young people: a systematic review. 2021 Australasian Sleep Association Abstracts, Virtual, 10-13 October 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpab014.087
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Sletten, T., Clark, A., Cori, J., Wolkow, A., Beatty, C., Shiferaw, B., Barnes, M., Tucker, A., Anderson, C., Rajaratnam, S. and Howard, M. (2021). P133 Backward rotating shifts are associated with real-time drowsiness during daytime drives in heavy vehicle drivers. 2021 Australasian Sleep Association Abstracts, Virtual, 10-13 October 2021. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpab014.174
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Garcia-Hansen, V., White, M. and Smith, S. S. (2020). Bright light could be an alternative to the caffeine for improving driving performance in chronically sleep-deprived young drivers. 34th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Philadelphia, PA United States, 27-30 August 2020. Westchester, IL United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.134
Shekari Soleimanloo, S., Sletten, T. L., Clark, A., Cori, J. M., Wolkow, A. P., Beatty, C., Shiferaw, B., Barnes, M., Tucker, A. J., Anderson, C., Rajaratnam, S. M. and Howard, M. E. (2020). Schedule characteristics of heavy vehicle drivers are associated with eye-blink indicators of real-time drowsiness on the road. 34th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, Philadelphia, PA United States, 27-30 August 2020. Westchester, IL United States: Associated Professional Sleep Societies. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.284
Fatigue among heavy vehicle drivers: the impact of shift-start times and time of day
Shiferaw, Brook A., Cori, Jennifer, Downey, Luke A., Kuo, Jonny, Lenne, Mike, Soleimanloo, Shamsi S., Sletten, Tracey, Rajaratnam, Shantha M.W. and Howard, Mark E. (2019). Fatigue among heavy vehicle drivers: the impact of shift-start times and time of day. Australasian Transport Research Forum 2019, Canberra, ACT Australia, 30 September - 2 October 2019. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australasian Transport Research Forum.
Eye-blink parameters detect drowsy driving impairment
Soleimanloo, S. S., Wilkinson, V. E., Cori, J. M., Westlake, J., Stevens, B., Downey, L. A., Shiferaw, B. A., Swann, P., Rajaratnam, S. M. Wilson and Howard, M. E. (2018). Eye-blink parameters detect drowsy driving impairment. Sleep DownUnder 2014 ASM, Sleep Frontiers, 26th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Brisbane, Australia, 17-20 October 2018. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/jsr.75_12766
Soleimanloo, Shamsi Shekari, Smith, Simon, White, Melanie and Hansen, Veronica Garcia (2016). Comparison of the effects of the light and caffeine on subjective sleepiness and reaction times of partially sleep‐deprived young drivers. International Conference on Traffic and Transport Psychology, Brisbane, Australia, 2-5 August 2016. Online: Iceberg Events.
The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi, Simon Smith, Melanie White, Veronica Garcia-Hansen and Matthew Leong (2015). The effects of light on cognitive performance of partially sleep-deprived young drivers. 27th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 22-24 October 2015. London, United Kingdom: Springer.
Effects of radar on biological systems
Shekari, Shamsi and Samavat, Hamid (2007). Effects of radar on biological systems. The 13th International Congress on Radiation Research, San Francisco, CA USA, 8-12 July 2007. Online:
Evaluation of noise pollution and its effects on workers employed in Malayer stones in 2004
Golmohammadi, Rostam , Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi , Fatemi, Farin and Ziad, Mounes (2006). Evaluation of noise pollution and its effects on workers employed in Malayer stones in 2004. 6th Conference on Safety, Health and Environment in Mining and Mining Industries in 2006, Tehran, 19-21 April 2006.
Resource to support the Towards a Queensland Equity Framework
Reddel, Tim, Curry, Matthew, Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi and Porter, Dave (2021). Resource to support the Towards a Queensland Equity Framework. Institute for Social Science Research: The University of Queensland .
Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project Final Report
Shekari, Shamsi, Cori, Jen, Beatty, Caroline, Shiferaw, Brook and Wolkow, Alexander (2019). Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Project Final Report. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Alertness, Safety and Productivity, Monash University.
Effects of light and caffeine on human sleepiness and alertness: A simulated driving experiment
Shekari Soleimanloo, Shamsi (2016). Effects of light and caffeine on human sleepiness and alertness: A simulated driving experiment. PhD Thesis, Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety - Qld (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology.
Prediction of crash risk of school children at school zones via a machine learning approach
(2021–2023) Road Safety Innovation Fund
(2020–2022) UQ Early Career Researcher
Health and social impacts of precarious work: the role of sleep and fatigue.
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
A sleep extension intervention for precarious shift workers to mitigate the effects of shift work
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Return to safe driving after upper limb surgery
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Improving sleep health in young adults.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: