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Cassie Hilditch

Senior Research Associate, San José State University Research Foundation

Contents

Professional Bio

Cassie Hilditch joined the Fatigue Countermeasures Lab at NASA Ames Research Center in May 2018 having completed post-doctoral training with the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Sleep for Science Research Lab of Brown University. Over her 20-year career in sleep research, Dr. Hilditch has accumulated comprehensive experience in human sleep research, ranging from tightly controlled inpatient studies to logistically challenging field studies across a wide range of populations, industries, and countries. Dr. Hilditch is passionate about research with an applied focus that aims to discover and develop ways to promote sleep health and to implement evidence-based countermeasures to fatigue for use in safety-critical operations.

Education

  • 2016 Ph.D., Psychology, University of South Australia, Australia
  • 2006 Honours, Physiology, University of Adelaide, Australia
  • 2004 Bachelor of Science, Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Adelaide, Australia

Professional Experience

  • 2018-current, Senior Research Associate, San José State University
  • 2017-2018, Post-doctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School / Brigham & Women’s Hospital
  • 2016, Post-doctoral Fellow, Brown University
  • 2007-2012, Consultant, Clockwork Research

Research Interests

Dr. Hilditch’s primary research focus is on sleep inertia, the groggy feeling experienced after waking from sleep during which cognitive performance is also impaired. Her research includes assessing both proactive and reactive countermeasures to reduce the risk of sleep inertia while maximizing the benefits of sleep opportunities.

Awards/Honors (Since 2018)

  • (2024)  Privately Sponsored, Sleep Research Society Rising Star Award 2024
  • (2023)  Privately Sponsored, Aerospace Human Factors Association Collins Award (for Best Publication) 2023
  • (2022)  NASA Honor Award, Exceptional Public Achievement Medal
  • (2020)  Ames Group Achievement Award, Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory
  • (2020)  Privately Sponsored, Aerospace Medical Association Scientific Merit Award
  • (2020)  Privately Sponsored, European Sleep Research Society Poster Award Nominee
  • (2019)  Privately Sponsored, Working Time Society Outstanding Early Career Researcher Abstract Award
  • (2019)  Privately Sponsored, Sleep Research Society Abstract Merit Based Award

Publications (Since 2018)

  • M.J. Rempe, I. Rasmussen, K.B. Gregory, C. Johnson, M. Hsin, E.E. Flynn-Evans, A. Lamp, C.J. Hilditch. (2025). Layover start timing predicts layover sleep quantity and timing on long-range and ultra-long-range trips, SLEEP Advances, 6(1), zpaf002. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpaf002
  • H. Thorne, R.M. Sophocleous, M. Sprajcer, A.E. Shriane, M.J. Duncan, S.A. Ferguson, C. Vandelanotte, T. Kolbe-Alexander, C.C. Gupta, G. Rigney, M. Thomas, C.J. Hilditch, B Peterson, G.E. Vincent. (2025). Examining the Feasibility of an App-based Sleep Intervention for Shiftworkers Using the RE-AIM Framework, Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2025.2476687[CH1] 
  • C. . Spadola, D. B. Groton, M. . Raval, C. J. Hilditch, K. . Littlewood, P. . Baiden, S. M. Bertisch, & E. S. Zhou (2024) A Sleep Health Education Intervention Improves Sleep Knowledge in Social Work Students, Social Sciences, 13(7):364. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13070364 
  • A. E. Shriane, S. A. Ferguson, G. . Rigney, C. C. Gupta, T. . Kolbe-Alexander, M. . Sprajcer, C. J. Hilditch, R. . Stanton, M. J. Thomas, J. L. Paterson, J. . Marino, & G. E. Vincent (2024) Healthy from the Start: Co‐Designing Sleep, Nutrition and Physical Activity Resources for Young Shiftworkers – Novel Implementation and Evaluation, Health Expectations, 27:e70063. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70063 
  • C. J. Hilditch, L. . Arsintescu, S. K. Pradhan, K. B. Gregory, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2024) Investigating the Causes and Consequences of Controlled Rest on the Flight Deck, Frontiers in Environmental Health (Occupational Safety and Health Interventions special edition), 3, e1368628. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvh.2024.1368628 
  • P. D. Patterson, C. J. Hilditch, M. D. Weaver, D. G. Roach, T. S. Okerman, S. E. Martin, C. G. Patterson, & L. S. Weiss (2024) The effect of a night shift nap on post-night shift performance, sleepiness, mood, and first recovery sleep: A randomized crossover trial, Scand J Work Environ Health. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4129 
  • K. . Kovac, G. E. Vincent, J. L. Paterson, C. J. Hilditch, & S. A. Ferguson (2023) A preliminary framework for managing sleep inertia in occupational settings, SLEEP Advances, 4(1), zpad050, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpad050 
  • C. J. Hilditch, S. K. Pradhan, G. . Costedoat, N. G. Bathurst, Z. L. Glaros, K. B. Gregory, N. L. Shattuck, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2023) An at-home evaluation of a light intervention to mitigate sleep inertia symptoms, Sleep Health, (online publication ahead of print) 
  • P. D. Patterson, T. S. Okerman, D. G. Roach, C. J. Hilditch, M. D. Weaver, C. G. Patterson, M. A. Sheffield, J. S. Di Salvatore, H. . Bernstein, G. . Georges, A. . Andreozzi, C. M. Wilson, D. . Jain, S. E. Martin, & L. S. Weiss (2023) Are short duration naps better than long duration naps for mitigating sleep inertia? Brief report of a randomized crossover trial of simulated night shift work, Prehospital Emergency Care, 27:6, 807-814 
  • C. J. Hilditch, & D. . Fischer (2023) Jet lag, sleep timing, and sleep inertia, The Handbook of Fatigue Management in Transportation: Waking Up to the Challenge, First Edition (Eds. Rudin-Brown CM & Filtness AJ). CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003213154 
  • C. J. Hilditch, K. B. Gregory, L. . Arsintescu, N. G. Bathurst, T. E. Nesthus, H. M. Baumgartner, A. . Lamp, L. K. Barger, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2023) Perspectives on fatigue in short-haul flight operations from US pilots: A focus group study, Transport Policy, 136: 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2023.03.004 
  • C. . Spadola, D. B. Groton, L. . Giorgio Cosenzo, S. . Fantus, C. J. Hilditch, S. . Burke, K. . Littlewood, S. M. Bertisch, & E. S. Zhou (2023) Sleep and sleep knowledge among social work students: Implications for mental health and self-care education, Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment. Online ahead of print. DOI:10.1080/10911359.2023.2204125 
  • L. . Arsintescu, C. J. Hilditch, K. B. Gregory, K. H. Kato, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2023) Sleep during layovers of different lengths after long-haul flying across multiple time zones in different geographic directions, Proceedings of SLEEP 2022, Charlotte, NV, June 4-8, 2022 
  • C. . Spadola, D. B. Groton, K. . Littlewood, C. J. Hilditch, S. . Burke, & S. M. Bertisch (2023) Sleep Health Education to Promote Public Health: Attitudes and Desired Learning Goals among Social Work Students, Social Work in Public Health, Social Work in Public Health, 38(1): 11-20. DOI: 10.1080/19371918.2022.2093304 
  • C. L. Kirkley, Z. L. Glaros, N. G. Bathurst, C. J. Hilditch, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2023) Space Transport and Fatigue, The Handbook of Fatigue Management in Transportation: Waking Up to the Challenge, First Edition (Eds. Rudin-Brown CM & Filtness AJ). CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003213154 
  • P. D. Patterson, C. J. Hilditch, M. D. Weaver, D. G. Roach, T. S. Okerman, S. E. Martin, C. G. Patterson, & L. S. Weiss (2023) The effect of a night shift nap on post-night shift performance, sleepiness, mood, and first recovery sleep: A randomized crossover trial, Scand J Work Environ Health, (online publication ahead of print), https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4129 
  • C. J. Hilditch, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2022) Fatigue, Schedules, Sleep, and Sleepiness in U.S. Commercial Pilots During COVID-19, Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(5):433–441 
  • D. . Fischer, & C. J. Hilditch (2022) Light in ecological settings: Entrainment, circadian disruption, and interventions, In Progress in Brain Research. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.04.001 
  • C. J. Hilditch, L. . Wong, N. G. Bathurst, N. H. Feick, S. K. Pradhan, A. . Santamaria, N. L. Shattuck, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2022) Rise and shine: The use of polychromatic short wavelength-enriched light to mitigate sleep inertia at night following awakening from slow wave sleep, Journal of Sleep Research, e13558 
  • C. J. Hilditch, S. K. Pradhan, G. . Costedoat, N. G. Bathurst, Z. L. Glaros, K. B. Gregory, N. L. Shattuck, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2022) Sex differences in perceptions of sleep inertia following nighttime awakenings, SLEEP Advances, zpac043; https://doi.org/10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac043 
  • E. E. Flynn-Evans, A. . Lamp, & C. J. Hilditch (2022) Sleep issues in aviation and space, Reference module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-822963-7.00315-7 
  • C. C. Gupta, M. . Dominiak, K. . Kovac, A. C. Reynolds, S. A. Ferguson, C. J. Hilditch, M. . Sprajcer, & G. E. Vincent (2021) On-call work and sleep: The importance of switching on during a callout and switching off after a call, Industrial health, ePub. https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2021-0124 
    C. J. Hilditch, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2021) Circadian rhythms and homeostatic mechanisms for sleep regulation, In V Cacho & E Lum (Eds.), Integrative Sleep Medicine. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780190885403.001.0001 
  • K. B. Gregory, R. N. Soriano-Smith, A. . Lamp, C. J. Hilditch, M. J. Rempe, E. E. Flynn-Evans, & G. L. Belenky (2021) Flight Crew Alertness and Sleep Relative to Timing of In-Flight Rest Periods in Long-Haul Flights, Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, Volume 92, Number 2, February 2021, pp. 83-91(9) 
  • A. . McHill, A. . Sano, C. J. Hilditch, L. K. Barger, C. A. Czeisler, R. . Picard, & E. B. Klerman (2021) Robust stability of melatonin circadian phase, sleep metrics, and chronotype across months in young adults living in real-world settings, Journal of Pineal Research, 70(3), e12720 
  • E. E. Flynn-Evans, L. . Wong, Y. . Kuriyagawa, N. M. Gowda, P. . Cravalho, S. K. Pradhan, N. H. Feick, N. G. Bathurst, Z. L. Glaros, T. . Wilaiprasitporn, K. . Bansal, J. O. Garcia, & C. J. Hilditch (2021) Supervision of a self-driving vehicle unmasks latent sleepiness relative to manually controlled driving, Sci Rep 11, 18530 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92914-5 
  • K. . Kovac, G. E. Vincent, J. L. Paterson, A. C. Reynolds, B. . Aisbett, C. J. Hilditch, & S. A. Ferguson (2021) The impact of a short burst of exercise on sleep inertia, Physiology & Behavior, 242:113617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113617 
  • K. . Kovac, S. A. Ferguson, J. L. Paterson, B. . Aisbett, C. J. Hilditch, A. C. Reynolds, & G. E. Vincent (2020) Exercising caution upon waking – can exercise reduce sleep inertia?, Frontiers in Physiology, 11, e254, DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00254 
  • C. J. Hilditch, L. . Arsintescu, K. B. Gregory, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2020) Mitigating fatigue on the flight deck: how is controlled rest used in practice?, Chronobiology International, Selected Proceedings of Shiftwork 2019, 1-9 
  • A. . McHill, C. J. Hilditch, D. . Fischer, C. A. Czeisler, M. . Garaulet, F. A. Scheer, & E. B. Klerman (2020) Stability of the timing of food intake at daily and monthly timescales in young adults, Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1-11, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77851-z 
  • C. J. Hilditch, W. C. Dement, & M. A. Carskadon (2020) Testing the Rip Van Winkle Effect: Sleep Extension following Nominal and Restricted Sleep, Eat, Sleep, Work, 3, 2-17, DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/esw-2020-001 
  • L. . Arsintescu, K. H. Kato, C. J. Hilditch, K. B. Gregory, & E. E. Flynn-Evans (2019) Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments, Journal of Visual Experiments, 150, e59851, DOI:10.3791/59851 
  • C. J. Hilditch, & A. . McHill (2019) Sleep inertia: current insights, Nature and Science of Sleep, 11, p.155-165, DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/nss.s188911 
  • C. J. Hilditch, E. E. Flynn-Evans, K. B. Gregory, L. . Arsintescu, & . . et al (2018) Controlled Rest on the Flight Deck: A resource for operators, Alexandria, VA: Flight Safety Foundation. November 2018, https://flightsafety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Controlled-Rest.pdf