Nine outstanding researchers from The University of Western Australia have been named as leaders in their respective fields by The Australian's 2025 Research Magazine.
The magazine uses big-data techniques to analyse researchers and their work across 250 fields, highlighting top research performers and institutions.
Institute of Agriculture Director Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique AM, an internationally renowned agricultural scientist who has dedicated more than four decades to research, training and industry development, was recognised in the field of Agronomy and Crop Science.
Clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at UWA’s School of Psychological Science Kristin Gainey was recognised in the field of Academic and Psychological Testing.
Image: Associate Professor Kristin Gainey.
Known globally for his development of tools and methods from computational chemistry to inform aspects of modern crystallography, Emeritus Professor Mark Spackman was named as a leader in Crystallography and Structural Chemistry.
Regenerative biology expert Winthrop Professor Jiake Xu, Head of the Molecular Laboratory at UWA’s School of Biomedical Science, was listed as a leading force in the field of Physiology.
UWA Chair in Plant Physiology Professor Sergey Shabala from the School of Biological Sciences was named the leading researcher in the field of Botany.
Professor Nanthi Bolan from the UWA School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (SAgE) was named the top researcher in the field of Environmental Sciences and Professor Martin Barbetti from SAgE, the leading researcher in the field of Plant Pathology.
Top trauma surgeon Dr Dieter Weber from the UWA Medical School, who has authored and instructed on various trauma and emergency surgery related courses and is engaged in research in these fields, was celebrated as an Australian leader in the field of surgery.
And Professor of Marine Botany and an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences based within the UWA’s Oceans Institute, Professor Thomas Wernberg, was named a leader in the field of Marine Sciences and Fisheries.
UWA was also named the leading research institution in Australia in the fields of Crystallography and Structural Chemistry, Botany, Plant Pathology and Soil Sciences.
UWA Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak said the results underscored UWA's commitment to excellence and innovation in research.
“Our researchers, research centres and institutes are highly innovative and working to solve the most pressing problems facing Western Australia and our world,” Professor Nowak said.
“We are incredibly proud of their achievements and contributions to their respective fields.”
Image at top of page: (left to right) Among UWA's top researchers in their field in Australia, Winthrop Professor Jiake Xu, Professor Sergey Shabala, Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique, Professor Thomas Wernberg and Professor Martin Barbetti.