Dr Aisling (Ash) Smyth is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Canberra. She graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science (Nursing) degree and is a Registered Nurse. She obtained a Master of Biomedical Science and  PhD in Biomedical Science from University College Dublin, Ireland. Aislings research aims to marry biological quantifiaction data with nursing-focused research issues. Her research is centred around two main (sometimes overlapping) themes; Sleep as a modifiable lifestyle factor and Older Adults Health and Wellbeing. 

Sleep: Sleep is a foundational pillar of health and wellbeing. Aislings research used blood markers, wearables (actigraphs/OURA rings) and subjetive measures to investigate the role of sleep in a variety of settings and populations, ranging from shift workers to diabetics. She is also interested in interventional studies aimed at optimising sleep such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia. Aisling is a member of Sleep Health Australia and Australasian Sleep Association where she is a member of the Nursing Sleep Education sub-committee. 

Older Adults Health & Wellbeing: Aisling is passionate about promoting health as we age. Her research ranges from investigating sleep health in Residential Aged Care Facilities to optimising wellbeing in dementia caregivers. Aisling is a state committee member of the Australian Assocation of Gerontology. 

Aisling is interested in supervising PhD students in the following areas:

Older Adults & Residential Aged Care

Nursing Workforce Issues

Pressure Injuries

The role of sleep in Health & Disease

People living with Dementia & their caregivers