31 October 2025

Researcher to Watch: Lillian Skeiky, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher, Sleep and Circadian Research

Advancing Sleep and Brain Health for the Warfighter

Sleep loss and circadian disruption are among the most persistent threats to Service Member readiness. Whether from irregular schedules, deployment stress, or traumatic brain injury (TBI), disrupted sleep can degrade cognitive performance, decision-making, and emotional regulation, which places both individual and mission outcomes at risk.

Dr. Lillian Skeiky, a postdoctoral researcher with the Sleep and Wearables Research for Operational Readiness and Deployment (SWORD) Lab, is working to change that. Her research focuses on identifying the biological and physiological signatures that reveal how sleep and circadian rhythms affect brain health, resilience, and recovery. By integrating data from wearable devices, polysomnography, and molecular biomarkers, her work helps uncover how sleep disruption contributes to neurological vulnerability and performance decline in operational settings.

A Path Shaped by Curiosity and Collaboration

Dr. Skeiky’s journey into sleep research began at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, where she witnessed the impact of fatigue on Service Member health and performance. That experience inspired her to pursue doctoral training in sleep and circadian neuroscience at Washington State University under Dr. Hans Van Dongen, a leading expert in human sleep and performance.

Now at USU, mentored by Dr. J. Kent Werner, she continues to bridge molecular and physiological research to improve cognitive resilience in military populations. Her work is highly collaborative, involving partnerships with the University of Wisconsin, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the University of Minnesota. Each collaborator brings new insight into how sleep, brain health, and performance are interconnected.

Translating Discovery into Readiness

Dr. Skeiky recently received a Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Discovery Award to study proteomic changes associated with sleep loss. This milestone marks the beginning of her independent research program within military medicine. By integrating proteomic, physiological, and cognitive data, this project seeks to uncover the molecular mechanisms linking sleep deprivation to neurological decline.

Her ultimate goal is to transform these insights into biomarker-based tools for early detection of fatigue-related risk, enabling personalized interventions that protect cognitive performance and brain health across the lifespan of Service Members.

Impact on Military Readiness

By advancing precision strategies to monitor and mitigate sleep-related impairment, Dr. Skeiky’s work contributes directly to the resilience and operational effectiveness of the force. Her research not only enhances near-term readiness but also supports long-term neurological health, which in turn helps Service Members stay sharp, recover faster, and serve longer.

Disclaimer

The views expressed do not reflect the official policy of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

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