Data Sources and Ranking Methodology
The 4th edition of the Research.com Best Rising Stars of Science in Lebanon Ranking is a comprehensive initiative built on robust and transparent data collection. The primary sources utilized for the creation of this ranking are OpenAlex and CrossRef, which are internationally recognized for their breadth and reliability in scholarly data. Several additional data sources were also consulted to enhance the depth and coverage of the ranking. Importantly, only scientists whose earliest publication was released 12 or fewer years ago were considered eligible, ensuring a focus on emerging contributors to science.
The bibliometric data underpinning the citation-based metrics employed in the ranking were collected on 2024-11-27. A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined based on the researcher’s H-index, which serves as a well-established indicator of both productivity and citation impact within the scientific community.
Scope of Research and Selection Criteria
To ensure the inclusiveness and multidisciplinarity of the ranking, profiles of 279,971 scientists were examined, representing a diverse spectrum of all major scientific disciplines. These profiles were aggregated from a variety of high-quality bibliometric data sources.
- The qualifying H-index threshold for each scientist differed by research area, reflecting disciplinary norms, but was generally set at either 30 or 40.
- A scientist’s major awards and notable achievements within their field of study were also incorporated as part of the overall assessment.
- Ultimately, only the top 1,000 rising stars possessing the highest H-index are featured in this exclusive ranking.
Verification Practices and Data Integrity
The Research.com team places the utmost importance on accuracy and integrity when presenting these classifications. We understand that raw bibliometric data, while informative, should not be viewed as the sole measure of scholarly value. Therefore, all scientist profiles underwent meticulous manual verification and were cross-referenced with publications from a wide spectrum of authoritative sources.
While the number of publications in leading journals and conference proceedings does not influence a researcher’s position in the Research.com ranking, it remains a valuable indicator of a scholar's impact and contribution within their domain. The final ranking is established solely using each researcher’s H-index, extracted specifically from OpenAlex and CrossRef—two of the most respected and widely recognized bibliometric databases available to the academic community.
We welcome those interested in the technical and methodological underpinnings of this ranking to consult our methodology page for a detailed explanation.
Purpose and Agenda of the Ranking
The Research.com Best Rising Stars of Science ranking is guided by a commitment to equity and inspiration within science. We believe that all researchers, independent of their academic tenure, merit an equal opportunity for recognition and celebration of their accomplishments. Our aim is to illuminate the journeys of scientists at the early stages of their careers, with the hope of inspiring current and future scholars, as well as informing institutional leaders and policymakers worldwide.
Through these efforts, we aspire to foster increased opportunity and fairness, thereby nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders and the global research community as a whole.
