Dr Matt Walker is a British scientist and Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley andDirector of the Center for Human Sleep Science. His research explores the critical role of sleep in human health, disease, and brain function. Prior to his tenure at Berkeley, he served as a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. A Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, Walker has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.
Walker has published over 100 scientific studies and is widely recognised for his public science communication. His work has been featured across major media platforms, including 60 Minutes, NOVA, BBC, National Geographic, and NPR’s Science Friday. In addition to his academic and public speaking roles, Walker is the creator and host of The Matt Walker Podcast, where he shares insights on sleep, the brain, and the body.
He is a frequent keynote speaker, having presented at venues such as TED, Google Zeitgeist, and the Cognitive Neuroscience Society. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, described by Bill Gates as an “important and fascinating book.” Why We Sleep explains how we can harness sleep to improve learning, mood, and energy levels; regulate hormones; prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s, obesity and diabetes; slow the effects of aging; increase longevity; enhance the education and lifespan of our children; and boost the efficiency, success, and productivity of our businesses. Why We Sleep has been translated into over 40 different languages and was recently selected for the prestigious Sundance Book Festival.
Most recently, Walker was named Estée Lauder’s first-ever Global Sleep Science Advisor. In this role, he brings cutting-edge scientific research to help advance the company’s work in understanding the impact of sleep on skin health and in developing solutions to address sleep-related skin concerns.
Walker holds a degree in neuroscience from the University of Nottingham and a Ph.D. in neurophysiology from the Medical Research Council in London.
