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Dr Philip Lewis
Research Associate
Institute & Policlinic for Occupational Medicine, Environmental Medicine
and Prevention Research
University of Cologne
Germany
2021 MPhil (epidemiology) University of Cambridge
2014 PhD (physiology) University College Cork
2010 BSc (physiology) Univsersity College Dublin
On this page:
News
October 2024
- Publication! A scoping review of architecture, light, and circadian biology – a collaboration with the Healthy Living Spaces research group in Aachen – is accepted for publication in Science of the Total Environment.
September 2024
- Ethics comittee approval granted to go into the field and start collecting data on work and lifestyle exposures and mental health in teachers. Very excited to start this important project!
August 2024
- Presentation at the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology‘s conference on Daylight Saving Time. Great conference all-round.
- Student succesfully completed her project on mental health and burnout in teachers during and post-pandemic!
July 2024
- Excellent exam results from the IMES environmental medicine module!
June 2024
- Publication! A systematic review and meta-analysis of daylight saving time transitions and associations with heart attack published in the Deutsches Ärtzeblatt.
May 2024
- Two students started working on exciting projects: one involving the occupational health of teachers and one involving meal timing.
April 2024
- Publication! An epidemiological study of perinatal photoperiod associations with bipolar disorder and depression published in the Psychiatry Research.
March 2024
- Two presentations at the German Society for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Annual Meeting in Münich: (1) a review of architecture, light, and circadian biology, (2) a meta-analysis of daylight saving time effects on acute myocardial infarction (presented by a student).
- A seminar for ‘Cologne Children’s University’ on sleep and rhythms: “Why do I sleep at night but owls do not?”
February 2024
- Light and activity sensors for field studies are ordered and on the way – very excited to work with these!
January 2024
- End of teaching semester. We added some student presentations this term with excellent results. We will definately repeat this.
A little about me...
From West of Ireland to Cologne
From the west of Ireland originally, but now living in Cologne (Germany), I am a 35-year old research associate (one of the lucky few on a permanent contract!) at the University of Cologne.
Specifically, I work at the Institute and Policlininc for Occupational Medicine, Environmental Medicine and Prevention Research, which is part of the University Hospital.
I first came to Cologne in 2014 after finishing my PhD (because my now wife was studying here and is from the area).
Before joining the University, I spent two years working in the Corkonian Irish Bar in the city centre – a change of pace and scenery after the PhD and I made a lot of friends and memories.
The people in Cologne, and in the Rheinland more generally, might as well be Irish given their temperament, characters, and humour! And I am very grateful, because Cologne (also twinned with Cork where I completed my PhD) is now home.
“It is hard, however, to single out any field to which circadian [rhythms] are not relevant, whether to scientists and other professionals, or even the proverbial person on the street.
As a minimum, everyone should know about when to eat…
and, if need be, when to treat…”
Franz Halberg
(a founder of modern chronobiology)
From Muscle Physiology to Circadian Epidemiology
Being the right person in the right place at the right time following a BSc in physiology at University College Dublin led to a PhD in physiology (specifically, working with respiratory muscles) at University College Cork instead of teaching English in South Korea!
Following two years as a shiftworker in the bar in Cologne, a speculative cover letter with the right (and fortunate) endorsement led to joining the Occupational & Environmental Medicine team in Cologne, exposure to the fascinating field of circadian biology, an MPhil Epidemiology following a short stint at the University of Cambridge, and a permanent contract at the University in Cologne!
It must be said, without the peers and mentors (friends) I have had as an undergrad, postgrad, and postdoctoral academic, I would not be so fortunate. I owe a lot of people a lot of thanks!
The Job
My primary research theme is understanding how our circadian timing system (i.e., our internal 24-hour clock), circadian rhythms, and the timing of exposures (including, inter alia, light-dark, food, physical activity, work, and sleep) affect well-being, performance, health resilience, disease prevention, recovery, and aging.
This includes exposures across the lifespan more generally (from early development through adulthood and old age), in specific situations (intensive care unit, school, workplace, healthy, sick, injured, or facing other physical or mental functional difficulties), and both immediate and long-term health outcomes.
In addition to circadian biology, I am contributing to projects concerning research and academic practice per se, ethics, other occupational and enviornmental exposures, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, allergy, mental health, and mortality. Covid-19 also became a recent and important research topic.
Physiology + Epidemiology + Circadian Biology +
Occupational Medicine + Environmental Medicine
=
Fantastic Research & Teaching Opportunities!
I co-coordinate the environmental medicine modules for the International Masters in Environmental Science program at the University of Cologne and lecture on a diverse range of topics.
Currently, I am reading (again) “Human frontiers, environments and disease” by the late, great Tony McMichael, which I can thoroughy reccomend!
Work-Life Balance
I really enjoy my job involving research and teaching and with opportunities to travel and a good work-life balance.
My wife and I are assimilating to village life since we moved out of the city. Our two cats boss the neighbourhood. I have entered the annual local 10km charity race every year since I arrived in Germany. The 25km cycle into the city for work keeps me in some reasonable shape.
In down time, there are always social events happening such as parties, gigs/shows in the city, helping friends move, “Kaffee und Kuchen” on a Sunday afternoon, sport on TV, places to explore, and, of course, food to eat!
