Eight remarkable researchers from The University of Western Australia have been named as leaders in their respective fields in The Australian newspaper's 2026 list of Australia's top 250 researchers.
The Research magazine uses big-data techniques to analyse researchers and their work across 250 fields, highlighting top research performers and institutions.
Professor Ho Ching Iu, from UWA's School of Engineering, was recognised in the field of Computer Hardware Design for his research, which includes power electronics, renewable energy, nonlinear dynamics and chaos and current sensing techniques.
Winthrop Professor Mohammed Bennamoun, from UWA's School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing, was recognised in the field of Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition.
Professor Bennamoun has led breakthroughs across 3D vision, deep learning, multimodal video understanding, human-robot interaction, biometrics, medical and satellite imaging and large-scale multimodal AI systems.
His innovations support capabilities in defence and homeland security, crime prevention, transportation, agriculture, clinical diagnostics, geospatial intelligence= and media analytics.
Through his leadership in fundamental algorithms, industry translation, and real-world AI deployment, he continues to set new benchmarks for innovation, impact and technological excellence across academia, government and industry.
Regenerative biology expert Winthrop Professor Jiake Xu, from UWA's School of Biomedical Sciences and Head of Molecular Laboratory, was recognised in the field of Physiology.
His research interests are in osteoclast biology, molecular cross talks of osteoclast and osteoblast, as well as angiogenic and angiocrine regulation in bone microenvironment, which have significant implication in skeletal disorders including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and cancer metastasis in bone.
Clinical Professor Dieter Weber, from UWA Medical School and consultant trauma and general surgeon at Royal Perth Hospital, was recognised in the field of Surgery.
His research is focused on trauma and emergency surgery including: providing well-coordinated care for patients and their families; discharge planning; conducting patient education on injuries and follow-up; intervening during patient's inpatient stay to improve care and conserve resources; and expert knowledge of trauma care and the consequences of injury to the human body.
Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique, Director of The UWA Institute of Agriculture, was recognised in the field of Agronomy & Crop Science.
The 2023 Premier's Scientist of the Year's research interests are in the fields of crop physiology, production agronomy, farming systems, genetic resources, breeding research in cereal, grain legumes and oilseed crops to address food security.
Professor Nanthi Bolan, from UWA's School of Agriculture and Environment, was recognised in the field of Environmental Sciences.
Along with his research team, he has been able to identify the causes for the decline in soil health and has developed innovative methods to improve soil health to achieve food security.
Professor Martin Barbetti, from UWA's School of Agriculture and Environment, was recognised in the field of Plant Pathology.
His research insights have provided a better understanding of the epidemiology and management of a wide range of foliar and soilborne pathogens across a diverse array of broad-acre and horticultural crops.
Professor Ullrich Ecker, from UWA's School of Psychological Science, was recognised in the field of Cognitive Science.
His research interests include human memory, and in particular the impact of misinformation on memory, reasoning and behaviour.
UWA was also named the leading research institution in Australia in the fields of Ocean and Marine Engineering, Agronomy and Crop Science, Botany, Pest Control and Pesticides, Plant Pathology and Soil Sciences.
This year the magazine features Australian universities where the research is doing the most to support a better and more sustainable world.
It examined each university's contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and found UWA is one of the top five Australian universities supporting the Quality Education goal.
