Data Sources and Criteria for the Ranking
The 5th edition of the Research.com Best Rising Stars of Science in Lebanon ranking is primarily built upon data collected from OpenAlex and CrossRef, supplemented with multiple other reputable bibliometric data sources. Inclusion in the ranking was limited exclusively to scientists whose earliest publication dates back no more than 12 years, ensuring that the focus remains on emerging researchers. The bibliometric data underpinning the citation-based metrics used in the ranking were collected on January 12, 2026. Each scientist’s position within the ranking is determined by their research H-index, a widely recognized metric quantifying both the productivity and citation impact of the publications authored by the researcher.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
To comprehensively assess rising scientific talent, this edition examined a total of 279,971 scientist profiles drawn from a diverse range of bibliometric databases across all major scientific disciplines. The qualifying H-index thresholds applied to researchers differed across various research areas, typically set at 30 or 40, reflecting distinct citation dynamics inherent to different fields. In addition to bibliometric performance, a scientist’s notable awards and achievements within their specific domain were also factored into the evaluation process. Ultimately, only the top 1,000 scientists with the highest H-index values were selected to feature in the final ranking, ensuring a highly selective and merit-based representation of rising scientific leaders.
Additional Verification Practices
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone cannot fully capture the quality and impact of scholarly output, the Research.com team undertook rigorous manual verification of all scientist profiles included in the ranking. This process involved cross-correlating publication records against a wide array of trustworthy academic sources to confirm accuracy and mitigate data discrepancies. While the number of publications in prominent journals and conference proceedings is not included as a formal criterion influencing a researcher's ranking position, it remains an important secondary indicator of scholarly contribution within a specific scientific area. The ranking position itself is established based on each scientist’s H-index as derived from OpenAlex and CrossRef, the most prominent and widely used bibliometric databases available to the research community today. For a comprehensive overview of the detailed methodology applied, readers are encouraged to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Vision and Purpose Behind the Ranking
At Research.com, we strongly believe that all researchers, regardless of their academic tenure or career stage, deserve equitable opportunities for recognition and celebration of their achievements. The Best Rising Stars of Science ranking seeks to inspire not only scholars who are at the nascent stages of their academic journeys but also prospective academics and policy-makers worldwide. By highlighting the accomplishments of early-career researchers who demonstrate exceptional promise, we aim to promote more inclusive opportunities and foster fairer representation across the global scientific community. This initiative embodies our commitment to supporting and advancing the next generation of scientific innovators.
