More than 70 academics recognised in prestigious list of top global researchers

The World’s Top 2% Scientists, published by Stanford University and Elsevier, is updated annually and represents the most highly-cited scientists across various disciplines. This year, 76 Massey academics and researchers (past and present) have been listed, alongside 200,000 other scientists globally for their recent research publication impact (for the 2023 calendar year).

The latest ranking uses a standardised citation method as the source for ranking the top scientists and is widely used by universities around the globe as a measure of their research excellence and impact.

The highest ranked Massey scholars from the entries international single year data was Emerita Professor Marti Anderson at 813, followed by Riddet Institute Director Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh at 4,902, and the School of Communications, Journalism and Marketing’s Professor Mohan Dutta at 8,183.

Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes says this list is a wonderful way to recognise the world-leading researchers and academics at Massey University.

“I want to congratulate those who have been recognised in the World’s Top 2% Scientists. At Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University we are proud to deliver world-leading pure and applied research, working together with industries and in our communities. Not only are our academics undertaking this research, they are also passing on this knowledge to our ākonga who benefit from learning from these world-renowned academics.”

Distinguished Professor Singh, who was also the highest ranked food scientist in New Zealand, has published more than 500 scientific papers in leading academic journals. He says the annual list reflects the scientific excellence of the team of researchers at the Riddet Institute at Massey University striving to make a meaningful impact in the food sector globally. Several other Riddet Institute scientists also feature in the rankings.

“This recognition reflects the collective dedication and support of many remarkable individuals in my research group whose amazing creativity and hard work have been instrumental in expanding the frontiers of food science.”

Professor Dutta, Dean’s Chair and Professor of Communication and the Director of the Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE), was the recipient of the National Communication Association’s Gerald M Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Scholarship. He says these research rankings reflect the excellence of a collective research team and the contributions of the community partners at CARE.

“From building digital literacy solutions and countering online hate to creating community-led cultural spaces for healing, health promotion interventions, community-led food gardens, and community-owned policy advocacy, the research at CARE is anchored in developing theoretical insights into the nature of communication that empowers the voices of marginalised communities. Communication at Massey is an asset to Aotearoa and globally, generating scholarship that solves complex global challenges through iterative innovation cycles.

“These rankings speak to the broader contributions made to society by applied communication research and practice. I am grateful to Massey leadership for creating the space for my research programme, for sustaining the public interventions and for supporting it with commitment.”

Among the researchers on the list is Head of School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing Professor Stephen Croucher who has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed journal articles, and earlier this year was elected a Fellow at the International Communication Association. He says, “I’m humbled to find out that I am ranked among the top 2% of the world’s scientists. I strive to work hard and this kind of news is a nice acknowledgement of that effort.”

School of Veterinary Science Professor David Hayman who was awarded an Individual Massey University Research Medal earlier this year, and who is internationally recognised for his work in epidemiology and disease ecology, also featured on the list. He says is grateful for the opportunities and support he has received from people he has worked with in the field.

“But there's more to do and this is only a metric, so I am looking forward to continuing to do work with my team and colleagues that is meaningful to help solve important global issues."