A scientist's position in this ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a metric that specifically focuses on a researcher's publications and citations within the examined discipline of Ecology and Evolution. This approach ensures that the ranking reflects impact and productivity exclusively within the relevant scientific field.
Scope of Research and Eligibility Criteria
The ranking considers a total of 279,971 scientist profiles identified across a variety of bibliometric sources, encompassing all disciplines. Within the specialized domain of Ecology and Evolution, 382 scientists were specifically examined. To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist must have a D-index of at least 30 and demonstrate that the majority of their tier publications are within Ecology and Evolution.
Additionally, scientists’ awards and achievements in the field were factored into the evaluation process to enrich the assessment beyond citation metrics alone. The threshold for the D-index is calibrated as increments of 10 according to the estimated total number of scholars within each discipline, thereby ensuring that the top 1% of leading experts are included.
Furthermore, there is a necessary proximity criterion whereby the disparity between a scientist’s general H-index and their discipline-specific D-index must not exceed 30%. This ensures that the profile accurately reflects focused expertise rather than generalized citation impact.
Additional Verification and Quality Assurance
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data can never serve as an absolute measure of scholarly output or impact, the researchers behind this ranking undertook careful manual verification of all scientist profiles. This process involved cross-correlation against publications indexed in a wide array of trustworthy and authoritative sources to confirm accuracy and relevance.
While the number of publications in prominent journals and conferences does not directly influence a researcher’s position in the Research.com ranking, it is acknowledged as a valuable secondary indicator of a scientist’s contribution within a given field. The primary ranking metric remains the discipline-specific D-index, which is derived from the most prominent and well-known bibliometric databases available to the research community—OpenAlex and CrossRef.
For a detailed explanation of the methodology and data sources employed, readers are encouraged to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Commitment
Research.com’s overarching mission is to motivate researchers, companies, and policymakers worldwide to closely examine the directions in which leading experts are advancing science. By providing a transparent and rigorously compiled ranking, we aim to facilitate the scientific community’s ability to identify and connect with top scholars in specific research domains, whether at the national level, across countries, or within particular research institutions.
This ranking reflects meticulous curation and analysis, underscoring our commitment to credibility and thoughtful scholarship in the representation of scientific leadership within Ecology and Evolution in France.
