Twelve academics from The University of Western Australia are among 6,868 researchers from institutions in 60 countries and regions around the world to have been recognised on the annual Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list from Clarivate.
UWA's highly cited researchers are: Associate Professor Elisabete da Cunha from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research; Professor Gerald Watts from the Medical School; Professor Fiona Bull from the School of Human Sciences; Professor Zed Rengel from the School of Agriculture and Environment, Professors Sergey Shabala, Thomas Wernberg and John Raven (posthumous award); and Associate Professor Mads Thomsen from the School of Biological Sciences; Dr Shaun Wilson from the Oceans Institute; and Professors Mohammed Bennamoun, Enrico Valdinoci and Nick Golding from the School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing.
Image: Associate Professor Elisabete da Cunha .
The highly anticipated annual list identifies researchers who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their chosen field of research.
This small fraction of the global researcher population makes a big contribution to extending the frontiers of knowledge and introducing innovations that make the world healthier, more sustainable and which drive societal impact.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anna Nowak said the University was proud of its highly cited researchers for gaining recognition of their achievements in a highly competitive global environment.
"We congratulate all our highly cited researchers who continue to enhance our worldwide reputation for excellence in their respective fields," Professor Nowak said.
"We look forward to their continued success and contribution to tackling some of our greatest challenges."
Professor Wernberg has been recognised in two categories – Environment and Ecology and Geosciences – and is also WA Scientist of the Year finalist in the Premier's Science Awards.
Image: Professor Thomas Wernberg.
His work has transformed our understanding of the critical ecological and socio-economic importance of kelp forests, and how climate change and marine heatwaves impact species and ecosystem services globally.
Professor Golding is the Chair in Infectious Disease Modelling at UWA and Head of Infectious Disease Ecology and Modelling at The Kids Research Institute Australia.
He is internationally recognised for mathematical and statistical modelling for the control of epidemics and emerging infectious diseases.
His modelling has guided Australia's response to Covid-19 and Japanese Encephalitis virus, Ebola policy in the UK and Sierra Leone, and China's H7N9 surveillance.
Associate Professor da Cunha, also recognised as a Mid-Career Scientist of the Year finalist in the Premier's Science Awards, aims to understand how galaxies formed and evolved in the past 13 billion years.
Professor Bennamoun leads research into advanced AI systems capable of identifying and retrieving precise moments in video based on text queries, which will be valuable in sectors such as homeland security, crime prevention, transportation, retail and entertainment, enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making.
