Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker earned his degree in neuroscience from Nottingham University in the UK and his PhD in neurophysiology from the Medical Research Council in London. Early in his career, he served as a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School before relocating to the West Coast. Currently at UC Berkeley, Walker holds the position of Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology in the Department of Psychology and with the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute. He founded and directs the Center for Human Sleep Science, positioning himself as a leading voice in sleep research and its relationship to human health. His research has consistently examined how sleep affects brain function across healthy and diseased populations, with particular focus on conditions like Alzheimer's disease and neurological health. Walker's research has received substantial funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and he holds the distinction of being a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. His scientific contributions have been recognized with the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Achievements in 2020.