November 9, 2022

UOW researchers named Australia’s best in 14 fields

Academics recognised for excellence in the Australian Research 2023 Magazine

University of Wollongong (UOW) academics have been named as the best in Australia in 14 fields of research in The Australian newspaper’s annual list highlighting Australian research excellence.

UOW was also recognised as the top research institution in two fields of research: computer security and cryptography, and manufacturing and machinery.

Published in The Australian Research 2023 magazine, the list of top Australian researchers and research institutions covers 250 fields of research across eight broad disciplines: physics and mathematics; life sciences and earth sciences; chemical and material sciences; health and medical sciences; engineering and computer science; social sciences; business, economics and management; and humanities, literature and arts.

The selection is made objectively based on the number of citations given by peers to research published in top journals.

UOW had at least one researcher recognised as the leader in their field in all eight disciplines.

Distinguished Professor Shi Xue Dou from the Australian Institute of Innovative Materials had the rare distinction of being named as the top researcher in three fields: electrochemistry; materials engineering; and nanotechnology.

Associate Professor Shahriar Akter from the School of Business was the top researcher in two fields, marketing and strategic management.

Professor Thomas Astell-Burt, Professor of Population Health and Environmental Data Science in the School of Health and Society was also named as the top researcher in two fields, environmental and occupational medicine, and toxicology.

The other UOW researchers to be named as the leaders in their field were:

• Professor Aidan Sims (algebra),
• Professor Huijun Li (metallurgy),
• Distinguished Professor Sharon Robinson (biophysics),
• Associate Professor Wanqing Li (multimedia),
• Senior Professor Simon Ville (history),
• Distinguished Professor Willy Susilo (computer security and cryptography), and
• Distinguished Professor Shujun Zhang (ceramic engineering).

In a new feature this year, The Australian also listed the institutions best placed to tackle Australia's top 10 research challenges, with UOW named in the top five in two challenge areas: medical technology and devices, and media technology.

UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor David Currow commended the researchers named on the list and those who contributed to the University’s recognition as a leader in several fields.

“I congratulate our distinguished researchers on being recognised by their peers as being at the very top of their fields,” Professor Currow said.

“And congratulations also to those who have helped UOW achieve recognition as a leader in computer security and cryptography, manufacturing and machinery, medical technology and devices, and media technology.

“It is wonderful to see so many of our researchers acknowledged for their excellence. It is especially pleasing to see researchers from each of our faculties on the list and to see UOW researchers feature in each of the eight discipline areas, highlighting the variety and breadth of the truly world-class research being undertaken at our University.”