Zhiguang is a Research Fellow at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. Her work has deepen understanding of sleep, screen use, and physical activity in early childhood, with a particular focus on their developmental implications and socio-ecologic determinants. She currently serves as the Associate Editor for IJBNPA and is the recipient of a 2026 ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award. Read more about Dr. Zhang below!
What is a paper you recently published? What excited you about the question you answered?
Existing evidence on preschoolers’ sleep mainly focuses on a single dimension—duration—and is largely drawn from the Minority World, or traditionally the Western world, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of sleep. Our study found that preschoolers’ sleep profiles varied across nine geocultural regions globally, independent of country income levels, urbanicity, parental education, and child age. There were notable disparities in child sleep characteristics and family practices between the Majority World and the Minority World. Our findings underscore the importance to estimate the health impact of these disparities, address gaps in sleep recommendations, and develop tailored sleep health promotion strategies in early childhood.
Link to full paper: https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/48/4/zsae305/7931623
What inspired you to pursue a career in research? What drives you to continue in this path?
I was inspired to pursue research because I wanted to understand how everyday lifestyle choices can help people live well and truly thrive. Sleep, screen use, and physical activity are simple but powerful behaviours that shape both physical and mental health, especially in early childhood.
What drives me to continue on this path is the opportunity to turn research into practical support for families. I am motivated by the idea that small, achievable changes in daily routines can help children build healthier and happier lives, and that research can empower parents to make confident, informed decisions for their children.
How would you describe your program of research and its significance?
My research focuses on understanding and promoting healthy patterns of sleep, screen use, and physical activity in early childhood, to help families, early childhood education and care settings, and policymakers better support children’s healthy development. My work has been recognised through international awards and has had strong policy impact. My publications havr been cited in over 40 policy documents by organisations such as the OECD and national health and education agencies. I have also contributed to the development of official movement behaviour guidelines led by the Australian Government and the World Health Organization.
What is your #1 piece of advice for emerging early career researchers? (And why do you say that?)
My number one piece of advice is to focus on doing work that is meaningful to you, rather than chasing every external measure of success. Research is a long journey, and it is much more sustainable when it is guided by genuine curiosity and a sense of purpose. When your work matters to you, it becomes easier to stay motivated, resilient, and authentic, even during difficult periods.
Interested in learning more about Dr. Zhang? Check her out on Linkedin, Google Scholar, and Scopus
