Sarah-Jane joined the Sleep/Wake Research Centre in 2001 having completed an MSc in Reproductive Biology at the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology of the University of Otago.
Her main research areas include (1) investigating the role of the internal circadian clock in regulating sleep timing in everyday life and the implications of this for health and safety and (2) understanding inequalities in sleep health between Māori and non-Māori. She has a broad range of skills using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and significant experience conducting kaupapa Māori research.
Her first project involved a large national survey of insomnia symptoms and sleeping problems in the general population of New Zealand. This study was part of a series of studies undertaken by the Sleep/Wake Research Centre and Te Ropu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare (University of Otago, Wellington) which were designed to assess how many people were affected by common sleep problems in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Sarah-Jane completed her PhD research in 2007 (HRC Māori Health PhD Scholarship) where she investigated the role of the circadian biological clock in controlling preferred sleep timing in everyday life (also known as morningness/eveningness), and the ethical implications of conducting research into the genetic basis of sleep timing for the Māori community. The studies conducted included:
Sarah-Jane is the recipient of the Health Research Council Eru Pomare Fellowship in Māori Health (2008-2011). This Fellowship will provide new information on who has sleep problems associated with the circadian body clock (i.e. the Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders), and how this clock regulates sleep timing. These studies, and her previous work, will provide input for a project to improve health service delivery for Māori, using sleep disorders as a case study.
Sarah-Jane is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Eru Pomare Māori Health Research Centre at the University of Otago, Wellington, where she is leading a study investigating ethnic disparities in obstetric procedures and adverse birth outcomes for mothers and babies (funded by HRC).
In October 2009, Sarah-Jane and Laird became parents to a beautiful baby girl. Motherhood is keeping her very busy, but, on a lazy Sunday, Sarah-Jane can be found watching the Home and Away Omnibus or visiting one of Wellington's many fine cafes to catch up with friends. She also loves escaping the city, heading home to see her family and spending time at Lake Waikaremoana
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Travier, N.. The epidemiology of morningness/eveningness: influence of age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic factors in adults (30-49 years). Journal of Biological Rhythms (2006); 21/1: pp68-76.
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R. B.; Reid, P.. Prevalence and consequences of insomnia in New Zealand: disparities between Maori and non-Maori. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (2005); 29/1: pp22-8.
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R.; Reid, P.. Who reports insomnia? Relationships with age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic deprivation. Sleep (2004); 27/6: pp1163-9.
Paine, S-J.; Harris, R.; Mihaere, K. Sleep Problems. In Hauora: Maori Standards of Health IV. A Study of the Years 2000-2005.. ed. Wellington, New Zealand, Te Ropu Rangahau a Eru Pomare (2007)
Paine, S.J.; Gander, P. H. Circadian versus psychosocial factors in habitual sleep timing. 21st Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Minneapolis MN, 9-14 June, 2007. Sleep : A54
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Travier, N. The epidemiology of morningness/eveningness in a middle-aged population (30-49 years). Poster Presentation at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, 19th Annual Meeting. Denver, CO, June 18-23rd, 2005. Sleep : A61 (2005)
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Travier, N. The early bird gets the worm: implications of morningness/eveningness for work, sleep and life. Poster Presentation at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, 19th Annual Meeting. Denver, CO, June 18-23rd, 2005. Sleep : A61 (2005)
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R.; Reid, P. Insomnia risk factors: implications for treatment services. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association. Auckland, NZ, October 10-12th, 2003. Internal Medicine Journal : A20 (2004)
Paine, S-J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R.; Reid, P. Insomnia risk factors: implications for treatment services. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association. Auckland, NZ, 10-12th October, 2003. Internal Medicine Journal : A20 (2004)
Gander, P. H.; Paine, S. J.; Harris, R.; Reid, P. Health and safety consequences of insomnia remain significant after controlling for demographic and socio-economic factors. Associated Professional Sleep Societies 17th Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, June 3-8, 2003. Sleep : A295 (2003)
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R.; Reid, P. Ethnicity and insomnia: implications for treatment services. Associated Professional Sleep Societies 17th Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, June 3-8, 2003. Sleep : A296 (2003)
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R.; Reid, P. Insomnia: a probem of poverty?. Associated Professional Sleep Societies 17th Annual Meeting. Chicago, IL, June 3-8, 2003. Sleep : A296 (2003)
Paine, S. J.; Gander, P. H.; Harris, R.; Reid, P. Insomnia: prevalence, risk factors, and consequences. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association. Hobart TA, October, 2002.
Paine, T. H. S-J. Towards a Balanced and Ethically Responsible Approach to Understanding Differences in Sleep Timing. A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Massey University, Wellington, NZ (2006)
Paine, S. J.; Cram, F.; Reid, P. Towards the Development of Guidelines for the Handling, Use and Storage of Maori Genetic Material in Research: Maori Hopes and Fears for Genetic Research in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Report for Nga Pae o te Maramatanga , (2005)
Paine, T.H.S.J. Morphometric Analysis of the Small Follicle Population in the Human Ovary. Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Science Dept. of Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Otago, Dunedin (2001)
Paine, S-J. Genetic Research and Health Inequalities. Invited Presentation at the Ethnicity Data Forum Univeristy of Otago. Wellington, New Zealand, September 2008.
Paine, S-J. Good Sleep Habits. Invited Presentation at the Wellbeing Day . Wellington, New Zealand, September, 2008.
Paine, S-J.; Robson, B.; Purdie, G.; Harris, R.; Harwood, M. Inequalities in Adverse Birth Outcomes Between Maori and non-Maori Mothers in New Zealand. Invited Presentation at the Annual Meeting Public Health Association. Waitangi, New Zealand, July 2008.
Paine, S-J.; Harris, R.; Mihaere, K. Maori/non-Maori Disparities in Sleep Disorders-Implications for Health Services. Invited Presentation at the Annual Meeting Public Health Assocation. Waitangi, New Zealand, July 2008.
Paine, S-J.; Robson, B.; Purdie, G.; Harris, R.; Harwood, M. Inequalities in Adverse Birth Outcomes Between Maori and non-Maori Mothers and Babies in New Zealand. Invited Presentation at the Population Health Congress . Brisbane, Australia, July 2008.
Paine, S-J.; Harris, R.; Mihaere, K. M. Maori/non-Maori Disparities in Sleep Disorders-Implications for Health Services. Invited Presentation at the Population Health Congress . Brisbane, Australia, July 2008.
Paine, S-J. Kaupapa Maori Research: An Introduction. Lecture at the PUBH708, Social Research Methods Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. .
Paine, S. J. Sleep Disorders and the Impact on Occupations. Invited Presentation at the Asian Conference on Occupational and Environmental Health . Wellington, May 2005.
Paine, S. J. Postgraduate Student Research Award: Wellington Campus Research Excellence Award (student researcher), Research Days, Massey University, Wellington, September 2005.
Paine, S. J. Professional Membership: , Royal Society of New Zealand .
Paine, S. J. Professional Membership: , Sleep Research Society, , current.
Paine, S-J. The Epidemiology of Sleeping Problems in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Invited Presentation to the Harbour City Wellington Rotary Club. Wellington, New Zealand, February 25th, 2009.
Paine, S. J. Te Rapunga: The Search for Knowledge. Invited Presentation to the Massey University, Celebrating Research Day. Wellington, NZ, April, 2004.