Research at Western

Western Sydney University is a research institution driven by impact. We believe excellent research and practical outcomes are essential parts of our overarching research mission. Our research has real impact upon the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of our regional, national and international communities.

The University invites outstanding graduate researchers, innovative new generation researchers and established researchers to consider joining or collaborating with us.

Professor Deborah Sweeney
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research, Enterprise and Global)

Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings Success

We are thrilled to announce that Western Sydney University has, for the third year running, been ranked number one in the world in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for our social, economic and environmental impact.

About the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities on their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Institutions are assessed against performance indicators across teaching; research; international outlook; and industry and community engagement. These rankings are based on research, outreach and stewardship and are the only ranking system in the world to assess higher education’s sustainability impact.

Research Spotlight

BabyLab Infant Research Centre

Dyslexia affects one child in ten and there is still no universal test for diagnosis. Western Sydney University supports groundbreaking research in early infancy.

Learn more about infant research at Western:

• BabyLab
• The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development

EucFACE Facility – From Western to the Atmosphere

EucFACE, the world's only Free Air CO₂ Experiment in native woodland, is designed to predict the effects of rapidly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on Australia's unique native forests.

Learn more about climate change research at Western:

• EucFACE
• Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment

Research

Research provides an integrated suite of services supporting the University's research effort through the development of contracts and agreements, and the provision of application advice and grant writing support to researchers; research policy implementation and development; maintenance and provision of research data; and the monitoring and promotion of ethical research practice.

See Research for more information.

Business Services

Business Services connects business, government and the community with the University by establishing external linkages and identifying partnership opportunities for commercial research, professional consultancy, commercialisation opportunities, access to intellectual property and expertise, and to the University's cutting-edge research facilities. Our team of dedicated business support professionals is available to discuss your specific needs and interests.

See Business Services for more information.

Research Infrastructure

Western's world-leading research facilities

Impactful change is driven by word-leading research and world-leading research requires world-leading facilities. At Western Sydney University, our facilities provide researchers and collaborators with the best the world has to offer. Equipping stakeholders with technical expertise and the instruments and technologies needed to drive meaningful change. Working with Western means engaging with world-class infrastructure, world leading researchers and benefiting from unprecedented investment in the region.

See Research Infrastructure for more information.

Our Stories

Researchers call for change to gestational diabetes treatment and management An international team of researchers led by Western's Distinguished Professor David Simmons have published a new Lancet Series challenging current approaches to the management and treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).	Eucalyptus trees hindered by soil microbes in elevated CO2 environments Researchers at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment have published a groundbreaking study in the journal Nature finding that elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels may actually limit tree growth in elevated CO2 environments.
1 Million Turtles wins Eureka Prize The 1 Million Turtles Conservation Program has won the 2023 Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science.	Stellar new camera tech deployed to the ISS Data received following deployment of groundbreaking neuromorphic cameras on the International Space Station.