A scientist’s position within this ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined version of the well-known H-index. The D-index considers only publications and associated citation metrics explicitly within the examined discipline, thereby offering a more focused evaluation of a researcher’s impact within Plant Science and Agronomy.
Scope and Selection Criteria
The ranking process involved an extensive examination of 279,971 scientist profiles compiled from various bibliometric sources across all scientific disciplines. Specifically for Plant Science and Agronomy, 204 scientist profiles were scrutinized.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist’s D-index had to be at least 30, ensuring that only those with a demonstrable and substantial research output in the field were considered. Additionally, a majority of the scientist’s tier publications had to be directly relevant to Plant Science and Agronomy. Beyond bibliometric thresholds, awards and professional achievements within the domain were also factored in to reflect contributions that may not be fully captured through citation data alone.
The D-index threshold for considering top researchers is calibrated as an increment of 10, proportional to the estimated total number of scholars within each discipline. This methodology guarantees that the top 1% of leading scholars in the field are represented in the ranking. Furthermore, to maintain balance between general research impact and discipline-specific influence, the proximity between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index must be 30% or less.
Verification Practices and Ranking Integrity
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measurement of scholarly output, the Research.com research team incorporates several rigorous verification practices. Each scientist profile included in the ranking was manually verified and meticulously cross-correlated against publication records from a broad spectrum of trustworthy and authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Although the number of papers published in leading journals and conference proceedings does not directly influence the positioning within the Research.com ranking, it is regarded as a valuable secondary indicator of a scientist’s contribution to their specific scientific community.
The final position in the ranking is established exclusively using a researcher’s D-index derived from data compiled via OpenAlex and CrossRef. These databases represent the most comprehensive and respected bibliometric datasets available to the research community globally.
For a deeper understanding of the extended methodology, readers are encouraged to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission Behind the Ranking
Research.com is dedicated to fostering transparency and awareness in the scientific community by providing reliable, data-driven insights into where leading experts are focusing their research efforts. Our mission is to motivate researchers, companies, policy makers, and academic institutions worldwide to explore these rankings as a tool to identify top experts within specific disciplines, countries, or institutions.
By doing so, we aim to facilitate collaborations, recognize exemplary scientific contributions, and enable informed decision-making within the global research ecosystem. The meticulous work behind this ranking reflects our commitment to upholding high standards of accuracy, fairness, and credibility for the benefit of the scientific community.
