Dr Mario Miguel

Co Lead

A physiologist shaped by years of intensive chronobiology. Assistant Professor in Sleep Science at Northumbria University, with interests spanning sleep neurophysiology, circadian rhythms, mental health, and machine learning for physiological and behavioural signal processing.

Scholar ORCID

Biography

I can describe myself as a physiologist shaped by several years of intensive chronobiology. I am an Assistant Professor in Sleep Science at Northumbria University, where my research interests include the neurophysiology of sleep, circadian rhythms, mental health, and machine learning. I am particularly focussed on developing new approaches to physiological and behavioural signal processing.

My work spans from the genetics and heritability of sleep architecture to actigraphy-based methods for measuring circadian organisation in diverse populations — including infants, children, and blind adults. I am also interested in the validation of consumer wearable devices for sleep research and the application of machine learning to chronobiology data.

Education

PhD in Human Physiology - Time estimation in humans: ontogeny and circadian variation - Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil - 2012)

MSc in Human Physiology - Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil - 2006)

BSc in Physiotherapy - Universidade Paulista (São Paulo, Brazil - 2002)

Experience

Assistant Professor in Sleep Sciences - Department of Psychology, Northumbria University (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK | 2023 - Current)

Adjunct Professor in Physiology and Chronobiology - Department of Physiology and Behaviour, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Natal, Brazil | 2014 - 2023)

Selected Publications

Pugliane, K.C., França, L.G.S., Leocadio-Miguel, M.A. & Araújo, J.F. (2026). Low-latitude environmental regularity supports circadian organisation in blind adults. Chronobiology International.

Batista, E.D.S., Silva Gomes, S.R.B., de Morais Ferreira, A.B., França, L.G.S., Araújo, J.F., Mortatti, A.L. & Leocadio-Miguel, M.A. (2026). From movement to METs: A validation of ActTrust® for energy expenditure estimation and physical activity classification in young adults. PLoS One, 21(5).

Buest de Mesquita Silva, R., Holler Pykocz, A., Victoria Leal, H., Leocadio-Miguel, M.A. & Louzada, F.M. (2026). L5 onset as a proxy for circadian phase in infants. Chronobiology International.

Leocadio-Miguel, M.A., Taporoski, T., Beijamini, F., Ruiz, F., Horimoto, A., Pereira, A., Knutson, K. & von Schantz, M. (2025). Heritability of sleep architecture based on home polysomnography. Journal of Sleep Research.

Elder, G., Phillips, A., Voysey, Z., Leocadio-Miguel, M.A. & Hill, E. (2025). Consumer wearable devices for sleep measurement: ready for use in sleep research and medicine? Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation.

Silva, R., Schmidt, H., dos Santos, G., Leocadio-Miguel, M.A. & Louzada, F. (2025). Chronotype Profile in Children: A Systematic Review. Sleep and Vigilance.

Palombini, L., Mello, L., Santos-Silva, R., Miguel, M., et al. (2024). 2024 Standardization of Polysomnography Reports — A Consensus of the Brazilian Sleep Association. Sleep Science.