Scientists at the University of Exeter have earned a prestigious place on the global academic stage, with twenty of its researchers featured in the latest Highly Cited Researchers TM 2025 list published by Clarivate. This recognition places them among the top 1% of scholars worldwide based on citations in their respective fields.
Now in its twelfth year, the Highly Cited Researchers TM list identifies scholars who have demonstrated significant influence through the publication of numerous highly cited papers over the past decade. The rankings are derived from the Web of Science citation index and utilize a combination of quantitative metrics alongside qualitative analysis to assess both the significance and breadth of a researcher’s influence.
Prominent Names in Diverse Fields
Among those honored is Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, an authority on the global carbon cycle, who has achieved the distinction of being listed in two categories: Environment and Ecology, and Geosciences. Only 5% of this year’s honorees were recognized in more than one category, highlighting the significance of his contributions.
A total of eleven Exeter academics were named in the Cross-Field Category. This group includes notable figures such as Professor Gordon Brown, Director of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology; mathematician Professor Peter Cox, Director of the Global Systems Institute; and epidemiologist Lora Fleming, Emeritus Professor. Other distinguished researchers in this category include Professor Timothy Frayling, Kevin Gaston, Professor Ceri Lewis, Professor Jason Reifler, Professor James Screen, Professor Charles Tyler, Dr Kees Jan van Groenigen, and Professor Andrew Wood.
In the Environment and Ecology category, Professor Tamara Galloway joined Professor Friedlingstein, while Professor Tim Lenton, a key contributor to the Global Tipping Points Report, and Professor Stephen Sitch, a specialist in Physical Geography, were featured in the Geosciences category. Additionally, Jack Bowden, Professor of Biomedical Data Science, and Professor Ruth Garside, in Public Health and Sport Sciences, earned recognition in the Social Sciences category.
The list also acknowledged Professor Geyong Min, Chair and Director of the High Performance Computing and Networking Research Group, in Computer Science. Furthermore, Exeter served as an affiliation for Professor Herman Aguinis from George Washington University, marine scientist Professor Penelope Lindeque from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and environmental psychologist Dr Mathew White from the University of Vienna, who were recognized in their respective fields.
Recognition and Impact
Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, expressed pride in the recognition of the institution’s research community. She stated, “It is fantastic to see our world-renowned research community represented here in such great numbers and across such a diversity of areas. This is a testament to the global importance, quality, and academic impact of the work they, and their colleagues, are undertaking here at the University of Exeter.”
Roberts highlighted that while such recognition is appreciated, the primary motivation for researchers is to address pressing global challenges. “From conserving our environment and ecosystems to supporting medical breakthroughs and social wellbeing, the work of our researchers is leading the way towards a greener, healthier, and fairer future for everyone,” she added.
The Highly Cited Researchers TM list aims to celebrate scholars who exemplify excellence in their research while adhering to integrity in publication and citation practices. This year, a total of 7,131 awards were distributed among 6,868 researchers across 21 Essential Science Indicators (ESI) disciplines and the cross-field category. Academics from 1,300 institutions in 61 countries participated, with 570 of those being from the United Kingdom.
