Data Sources and Citation Metrics
The 5th edition of the Research.com Best Plant Science and Agronomy Scientists in Taiwan Ranking was developed using comprehensive bibliometric data aggregated primarily from OpenAlex and CrossRef, supplemented with multiple other reputable data sources. The citation-based metrics that underpin this ranking were collected on January 12, 2026. To ensure discipline-specific relevance, a scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined metric that exclusively incorporates scholarly publications and citation counts pertinent to the examined discipline, in this case, Plant Science and Agronomy.
Scope of Research and Qualification Criteria
In constructing this ranking, a total of 279,971 scientist profiles drawn from a wide array of bibliometric sources were initially examined across all scientific disciplines. Within this extensive dataset, 19 scientists specifically associated with Plant Science and Agronomy were identified and evaluated. To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist was required to have a minimum D-index of 30, with the majority of their tier-level publications concentrated in the Plant Science and Agronomy fields. Additionally, scientists’ awards and notable achievements within the discipline were taken into account.
The threshold for the D-index was dynamically adjusted in increments of 10 based on the estimated total number of scholars in each discipline, thereby guaranteeing that the top 1% of leading researchers are consistently included. Moreover, to maintain coherence between general impact and disciplinary specialization, a proximity threshold was applied—limiting the difference between a scientist’s overall H-index and their D-index to no more than 30%.
Additional Verification Practices
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of scholarly output, the Research.com team conducted thorough manual verifications of all scientist profiles. These were cross-correlated with publications indexed in a broad range of trustworthy academic journals and conference proceedings, ensuring robustness and accuracy in profiling. While the quantity of papers published in prominent journals and proceedings does not directly influence a researcher’s position in our ranking, it is recognized as a valuable secondary indicator of their contribution to Plant Science and Agronomy research.
The final positioning in the ranking is established based on each researcher’s D-index calculated from data gathered through OpenAlex and CrossRef—the most prominent and widely respected bibliometric databases accessible to the research community.
For a detailed explanation of the methodology employed in compiling this ranking, please visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Agenda
At Research.com, our mission is to inspire researchers, corporations, and policy makers worldwide to closely observe the trajectories of leading experts. We aim to facilitate transparency and recognition within the global scientific community by providing a reliable platform to identify who the foremost experts are in specialized fields, across various nations, and within academic institutions.
This ranking represents a result of meticulous and careful work designed to build credible, discipline-specific leaderboards that support informed decision-making in research collaboration, funding, and academic recruitment.
