I’m Forrest, a postdoctoral researcher in sleep medicine at the Experimental and Clinical Sleep Medicine group, part of the Sir Jules Thorn Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford.

I’ve always been one of those people who naturally leans toward late nights, which is probably what first got me curious about how and why our sleep patterns differ. That curiosity turned into a research focus on adolescents with evening chronotypes - young people who, like me, tend to feel most awake at night.

This site is a space to share what I’m working on and connect with others interested in sleep, circadian rhythms, and mental health. Have a look through and feel free to reach out if something resonates.

My academic journey began during my undergraduate dissertation, which marked my first substantive engagement with empirical research. Back then I joined the Psychosis Lab, where I examined how working memory functions in individuals with psychosis proneness. This experience introduced me to rigorous research methods and shaped my interest in studying mental health through a scientific lens.

Following graduation, I moved into applied research and took on a project manager role at the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). There, I contributed to projects investigating protective factors against suicide and conducted analyses of suicide note. Although the work was impactful and socially meaningful, its emotional demands prompted me to reflect carefully on my long-term research direction.

After spending time abroad and reassessing my professional goals, I returned to academia. In early 2018, I began my PhD at the Sleep Research Clinic and Laboratory at HKU under the supervision of Prof. Shirley Li. I also collaborated closely with the Li Chiu Kong Family Sleep Assessment Unit at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

My doctoral research focused on the role of circadian rhythms in adolescent insomnia, with particular emphasis on delayed sleep–wake phase disorder and the use of bright light therapy as a therapeutic intervention. This work fostered a strong interest in translating circadian science into practical, clinically meaningful applications. My current research builds on this foundation by examining the sleep and circadian consequences of shift work, with a specific focus on identifying, developing, and evaluating therapeutic approaches for shift work disorder. Through this work, I aim to bridge basic circadian research and real-world clinical practice, developing interventions that are feasible and effective for use in occupational and healthcare settings.

If you’d like to chat about sleep research or collaboration, feel free to reach out:
hello@drforrestcheung.com