Researcher · National Research Council Canada · University of Ottawa

Hello, I'm Dr. Ashley Nixon

I'm an Experimental Psychologist at the National Research Council of Canada and the University of Ottawa. My research bridges sleep, circadian rhythms, and health with environmental psychology.

Dr. Ashley Nixon

A bit about me

I am a Research Officer at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. Before becoming a Research Officer, I was a Research Associate (postdoctoral fellow equivalent) at NRC and completed my PhD at the University of Ottawa.

My research focuses on how environmental factors, such as light and temperature, influence mental and physical health. I aim to advance interdisciplinary research that investigates how built and natural environments can promote human health, well‑being, and restorative sleep.

Outside the lab I participate in the Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, where I advocate and support initiatives to help educate Canadians on the importance of the timing of light for sleep and health.

Dr. Ashley Nixon

What I work on

Built Environments & Well-being
How the built environment impacts our health, well-being, cognitive performance, and thermal comfort.
Biophilic Design Thermal Comfort Cognitive Performance
Light, Sleep & Circadian Rhythms
The effects of light on sleep, circadian rhythms, and mental health.
Light Exposure Circadian Rhythms Sleep Quality Mental Health
Daylight Saving Time & Health
The negative health implications of daylight saving time.
Public Health Chronobiology Sleep Disruption Policy

Selected work

2025
Testing the Benefits of Natural Products Indoors: Measuring Well-Being and Thermal Comfort
Nixon, A., Veitch, J. A., Arsenault, C., Nolan, A., Kalra, A., Arbuckle, L., & Gauthier, P.
International Conference on Environmental Psychology, Vilnius, Lithuania. Abstract ID: 902, p. 126
Conference Well-being Built Environment Biophilic Design
2025
Assessing the Effects of Polychromatic Light Exposure on Heart Rate in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review Contrasting α-Opic Equivalent Daylight Illuminances
Leveille, C., Nixon, A., Veitch, J. A., & Robillard, R.
The Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, vol. 21, pp. 196–213
Journal Light Exposure Heart Rate
2024
Assessing the Effects of Polychromatic Light Exposure on Mood in Adults: A Systematic Review Contrasting α-Opic Equivalent Daylight Illuminances
Nixon, A., Robillard, R., Leveille, C., Douglass, A. B., Porteous, M., & Veitch, J. A.
LEUKOS, 20(2), 127–147
Journal Light Exposure Mood
2024
The Practice of Daylight Saving Time in Canada: Its Suitability with Respect to Sleep and Circadian Rhythms
De Koninck, J., Nixon, A., & Godbout, R.
Canadian Journal of Public Health, 115(2), 276–281
Journal Daylight Saving Time Sleep Circadian Rhythms
2024
Solid State Lighting: Review of Health Effects
Martinsons, C., Veitch, J. A., Loughran, S., Nixon, A., Mate, R., Harris, R., & Shen, L.
IEA 4E Smart Sustainability in Lighting & Controls Platform
Report Lighting Health
2024
Effects of Humidity on the Health of Occupants of Dwelling Units: A Literature Review
Nixon, A., & Laouadi, A.
National Research Council Canada – Construction Research Centre
Report Built Environment Health
View full publication list on Google Scholar ↗

Where I've spoken

2019–2025
Media interviews on daylight saving time, sleep, light therapy, and mental health
CBC, CTV, Radio-Canada, Royal Ottawa, La Rotonde, Ming Pao Daily News
2026
Webinar Presenter, Environmental Design Research Association: "Sustainable Construction for People and Planet with Mass Timber"
Environmental Design Research Association (English)
2026
Webinar Presenter, Canadian Sleep Research Consortium: "Chasing Twilights: A Cross-Canada Journey into Sleep Science"
Canadian Sleep Research Consortium (English)
2024
Webinar Presenter, Canadian Sleep Research Consortium: "Parlons de l'heure avancée"
Canadian Sleep Research Consortium (French)
2023
Public Lecturer (in-person), Canadian Sleep Society: "Daylight saving time and sleep"
Canadian Sleep Society (Bilingual)
2020
Guest Lecturer, Carleton University (NEUR 4001 Neurobiology of Depression): "The Rhythms of Depression"
Carleton University
2018
Invited Speaker, University of Ottawa, Enrichment Mini-Courses: "Chronobiology and Sleep"
University of Ottawa
2017
Invited Speaker, University of Ottawa, GeeGees Football Team: "Timing is Everything: Better Understanding of Sleep for Better Performance"
University of Ottawa

Beyond the lab

Teaching
University Teaching
  • PSY4327 — Sleep and Dreams (English), University of Ottawa
  • PSY4727 — Sommeil et rêves (French), University of Ottawa
Public engagement
Science Communication
  • Public lectures, webinars, and guest lectures on sleep, circadian science, daylight saving time, biophilic design, and mental health
  • Media interviews with CBC, CTV, and Radio-Canada
Service
Reviewing & Committees
  • Member, Canadian Sleep Research Consortium
  • Early Career Advisory Board Member, Journal of Environmental Psychology
  • Committee Member, NRC Human Factors Community of Practice
  • Former Executive Committee Member, NRC Early Career Research Network

Let's connect

Photography by Dr. Ashley Nixon
Beyond the lab

When I'm not in the lab, I'm chasing light with a camera. Photography ↗

I am open to research collaborations, graduate student supervision, and industry partnerships in sleep science and environmental psychology. Feel free to reach out via email, connect on LinkedIn, or follow my research on Google Scholar.