A researcher’s position within the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined bibliometric indicator that focuses exclusively on publications and citation metrics pertinent to Ecology and Evolution. This approach allows for a discipline-specific assessment of scholarly impact, isolating the contributions within the area under examination.
Scope of Research and Qualification Criteria
The ranking examines a total of 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a diversity of bibliometric sources across all scientific disciplines. Within the specific field of Ecology and Evolution, 1,293 scientists were evaluated to establish a robust and representative ranking.
Qualification for inclusion in the ranking requires that a scientist’s D-index be at least 30, underscoring significant impact within the field. Additionally, the majority of a qualifying scientist’s tier publications must reside within Ecology and Evolution to ensure domain specificity. Beyond bibliometrics, awards and distinguished achievements in Ecology and Evolution were also factored into the evaluation, adding an expert qualitative dimension to the ranking.
The D-index threshold is dynamically set in increments of 10, scaled according to the estimated total number of scholars in each respective discipline. This methodology guarantees that the top 1% of leading scholars are incorporated into the list, maintaining rigorous inclusion standards. Furthermore, a proximity of 30% or less between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index is required, ensuring consistency between their overall and discipline-specific impacts.
Verification Practices and Data Integrity
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone cannot fully encapsulate the qualitative contributions of individual researchers, the Research.com team undertook exhaustive manual verification of all scientist profiles included in the ranking. Each profile was cross-correlated with publications sourced from a wide array of trustworthy and authoritative academic outlets.
While not directly influencing the positioning in Research.com rankings, the number of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings serves as a valuable secondary indicator of a scientist’s scholarly contributions within Ecology and Evolution.
The positions in the ranking are ultimately established using each researcher’s D-index extracted from OpenAlex and CrossRef, which remain the most prominent and reliable bibliometric platforms available to the global research community. For an in-depth explanation of the methodology behind the ranking, we encourage readers to consult our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
Research.com is committed to motivating researchers, academic institutions, companies, and policymakers worldwide to gain insights into the trajectories of leading experts across the scientific landscape. By providing a transparent and meticulously curated ranking of top scientists in specific disciplines, countries, and institutions, we aim to facilitate connectivity, collaboration, and recognition within the global scientific community. Our mission is to empower stakeholders with actionable knowledge about where expertise resides and how it evolves, ultimately fostering innovation and excellence in research worldwide.
