Rate My Professor Peta Clode

Associate Professor Peta Clode is a leading expert in bioscience imaging at the University of Western Australia (UWA), where she serves as Platform Leader for Biosciences Electron Microscopy in the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis (CMCA). She also holds an affiliation with the UWA Oceans Institute. Clode earned her PhD in Zoology from La Trobe University in 2002, with her thesis examining microscopy and X-ray microanalysis of calcification processes in reef corals, supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship. She also holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Science, majoring in Zoology with First Class Honours from the same institution. Her academic career at UWA began in 2003 as a Lecturer in the CMCA, progressing to Senior Lecturer from 2007 to 2015, and Associate Professor since 2015. Previously, she served as Deputy Director and Head of Biological Applications at the CMCA.

Clode's research specializations encompass metals in biology, biomineralisation and calcification, cell structure-function relationships, element and nutrient acquisition strategies in symbiotic, parasitic, and diseased biological systems, as well as advanced cellular imaging techniques including electron microscopy (scanning and transmission), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Her work explores nutrient and ion transport, symbioses, structure-function relationships in biological tissues, marine biology, and parasitology. Key publications include 'Exploring the transfer of recent plant photosynthates to soil microbes: mycorrhizal pathway vs direct root exudation' (Kaiser et al., 2015; 565 citations), 'DMSP biosynthesis by an animal and its role in coral thermal stress response' (Raina et al., 2013; 385 citations), 'Calcification rate and the effect of temperature in a zooxanthellate and an azooxanthellate scleractinian reef coral' (Marshall and Clode, 2004; 259 citations), 'Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry—A new analytical tool in biogeochemistry and soil ecology: A review article' (Herrmann et al., 2007; 242 citations), and 'AusTraits, a curated plant trait database for the Australian flora' (Falster et al., 2021; 215 citations). Recent contributions feature 'Hierarchical woven fibrillar structures in developing single gyroids in butterflies' (Jessop et al., 2025) and studies on silicon allocation in sedges and thraustochytrids in abalone. With over 7,000 citations, her research has profoundly influenced biogeochemistry, soil ecology, marine science, and structural biology. Clode supervises projects in the School of Biological Sciences and contributes to education through training programs such as MyScope.