A scientist’s position within the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a metric specifically designed to evaluate research impact relevant to the examined discipline. The D-index includes only papers and citation counts from works published within the field of Ecology and Evolution, providing a focused and discipline-specific assessment of scholarly influence.
Scope of Research and Qualification Criteria
The ranking encompasses an extensive scope of research activity. Initially, 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a variety of bibliometric data sources across all academic disciplines were examined. Of these, 310 profiles pertain specifically to researchers active within the Ecology and Evolution domain.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist’s D-index must be at least 30, highlighting a high level of scholarly impact within the discipline. Furthermore, a majority of their tier publications must be situated within Ecology and Evolution to ensure domain relevance. Additionally, significant awards and achievements in this field were factored into the evaluation to further validate the researcher’s contributions.
The threshold for the D-index is dynamically adjusted in increments of 10, depending on the estimated total number of scholars within each discipline. This approach guarantees that the top 1% of leading experts are incorporated into the list. To ensure consistency of expertise, the difference between a researcher’s general H-index and their D-index is maintained at 30% or less, ensuring that the ranking captures interdisciplinary excellence without dilution of field-specific impact.
Additional Verification Practices
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of a scholar’s output, all scientist profiles included in the ranking undergo rigorous manual verification. This process involves cross-correlating bibliometric information against publications indexed in a wide range of trustworthy academic sources to confirm accuracy and domain alignment.
While the number of publications in prominent journals and conference proceedings is not a direct component of the ranking algorithm, this metric is regarded as a valuable secondary signal of a researcher's contribution to the field. The primary ranking criteria focus on the D-index derived from data curated by OpenAlex and CrossRef—two of the most prominent and widely recognized bibliometric databases available to the scientific community.
For a detailed overview of the methodology employed in constructing this ranking, readers are encouraged to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
At Research.com, our mission is to motivate researchers, academic institutions, companies, and policymakers worldwide to engage deeply with the trajectories of leading experts. By providing clear, transparent, and meticulously curated rankings, we offer a vital resource to help the broader scientific community identify and connect with top researchers in specific fields, countries, or research organizations.
Through this endeavor, we aim to foster informed decision-making and collaboration, ultimately advancing scientific discovery and innovation in Ecology and Evolution and beyond.
