Aug. 31, 2026
Holly Rus, Psychological Sciences, Ph.D. ’17
For Holly Rus, ’17, a passion for health psychology and real-world impact has led to a career at the forefront of consumer sleep research. She is head of scientific research at Sleep.ai, where she directs studies designed to improve health and wellness through better sleep.
“I lead a team of researchers and serve as principal investigator on longitudinal behavioral health intervention studies testing consumer sleep products,” said Rus, who earned a Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences.
Her work at Sleep.ai (formerly SleepScore Labs) examines everything from mattresses and wearables to supplements and air purifiers, analyzing how these products affect sleep and overall well-being. In addition to designing studies and analyzing data, Rus plays a key role in translating complex scientific findings into practical insights for industry partners.
Rus was drawn to UC Merced by her interest in health psychology and its practical applications, particularly at the intersection of technology and health. As a student, she co-authored publications on how social media influences romantic relationships and stress.
“I wanted to do research that had real-world relevance to people’s well-being,” she said. “The chance to study how emerging platforms like social media were affecting psychological and physiological health felt timely and meaningful.”
That curiosity became the foundation of her graduate work and continues to shape her career today. Through her doctoral training at UC Merced, Rus developed both technical expertise and critical thinking skills essential to her leadership role.
“The rigorous training in research methodology and statistics gave me the technical toolkit I use every day,” she said. “But beyond that, graduate school taught me how to think like a scientist.”
Her experience at UC Merced also helped prepare her to lead research teams and communicate complex ideas effectively — skills she now uses regularly in both scientific and business settings.
Rus credits her advisor, Jitske Tiemensma, for playing a pivotal role in her development as a researcher and leader.
“Working with her taught me how to design rigorous experimental studies on behavioral questions that are genuinely hard to operationalize,” she said.
She also points to opportunities such as the UC Merced’s Grad Slam competition as helping her refine one of the most valuable skills in her career: clear communication. She was runner-up in the campus’s inaugural event in 2015.
“Being able to boil complex research down to a short, basic explanation is probably the skill I use the most,” she said.
Today, Rus is helping bridge science and industry — using research to guide innovation, improve products and ultimately enhance people’s health through better sleep.
