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Best Female Scientists
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Best Female Scientists 149 157 145 96 89 595 75648
Biology and Biochemistry 145 224 197 155 135 355 67873

Frances H. Arnold publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by Frances H. Arnold between 1982 and 2023, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. Frances H. Arnold published across 42 years, from 1982 to 2023, averaging 9.5 papers a year. Output peaked at 22 publications in 2003. 24 of the 397 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
5 10 15 20
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1982 to 2023. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 22. Peak 22 publications in 2003. 1982: 1 publication 1983: 0 publications 1984: 0 publications 1985: 3 publications 1986: 2 publications 1987: 2 publications 1988: 2 publications 1989: 1 publication 1990: 5 publications 1991: 11 publications 1992: 3 publications 1993: 7 publications 1994: 5 publications 1995: 7 publications 1996: 8 publications 1997: 11 publications 1998: 8 publications 1999: 14 publications 2000: 12 publications 2001: 16 publications 2002: 13 publications 2003: 22 publications 2004: 15 publications 2005: 12 publications 2006: 13 publications 2007: 12 publications 2008: 8 publications 2009: 14 publications 2010: 7 publications 2011: 12 publications 2012: 11 publications 2013: 15 publications 2014: 19 publications 2015: 12 publications 2016: 11 publications 2017: 14 publications 2018: 15 publications 2019: 19 publications 2020: 4 publications 2021: 7 publications 2022: 13 publications 2023: 11 publications
1982 2023

397 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
Frances H. Arnold: publications per year, 1982 to 2023
Year Publications
1982 1
1983 0
1984 0
1985 3
1986 2
1987 2
1988 2
1989 1
1990 5
1991 11
1992 3
1993 7
1994 5
1995 7
1996 8
1997 11
1998 8
1999 14
2000 12
2001 16
2002 13
2003 22
2004 15
2005 12
2006 13
2007 12
2008 8
2009 14
2010 7
2011 12
2012 11
2013 15
2014 19
2015 12
2016 11
2017 14
2018 15
2019 19
2020 4
2021 7
2022 13
2023 11
Total 397
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Frances H. Arnold publication distribution in Biology and Biochemistry in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Biology and Biochemistry in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Frances H. Arnold sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
200 400 600 800
Bar chart with 100 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 47–56 to 1,028+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 980. Most scientists, 980, have 127–136 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 1,028 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 347–356 publications, is where this scientist sits. 47–56 publications: 8 scientists 57–66 publications: 35 scientists 67–76 publications: 106 scientists 77–86 publications: 231 scientists 87–96 publications: 413 scientists 97–106 publications: 546 scientists 107–116 publications: 704 scientists 117–126 publications: 848 scientists 127–136 publications: 980 scientists 137–146 publications: 942 scientists 147–156 publications: 969 scientists 157–166 publications: 949 scientists 167–176 publications: 951 scientists 177–186 publications: 915 scientists 187–196 publications: 787 scientists 197–206 publications: 840 scientists 207–216 publications: 733 scientists 217–226 publications: 708 scientists 227–236 publications: 651 scientists 237–246 publications: 605 scientists 247–256 publications: 510 scientists 257–266 publications: 524 scientists 267–276 publications: 434 scientists 277–286 publications: 417 scientists 287–296 publications: 350 scientists 297–306 publications: 363 scientists 307–316 publications: 315 scientists 317–326 publications: 296 scientists 327–336 publications: 261 scientists 337–346 publications: 240 scientists 347–356 publications: 219 scientists 357–366 publications: 196 scientists 367–376 publications: 154 scientists 377–386 publications: 161 scientists 387–396 publications: 155 scientists 397–406 publications: 145 scientists 407–416 publications: 124 scientists 417–426 publications: 112 scientists 427–436 publications: 132 scientists 437–446 publications: 116 scientists 447–456 publications: 99 scientists 457–466 publications: 81 scientists 467–476 publications: 91 scientists 477–486 publications: 80 scientists 487–496 publications: 80 scientists 497–506 publications: 59 scientists 507–516 publications: 36 scientists 517–526 publications: 46 scientists 527–536 publications: 54 scientists 537–546 publications: 44 scientists 547–556 publications: 43 scientists 557–566 publications: 43 scientists 567–576 publications: 42 scientists 577–586 publications: 25 scientists 587–596 publications: 34 scientists 597–606 publications: 23 scientists 607–616 publications: 33 scientists 617–626 publications: 31 scientists 627–636 publications: 27 scientists 637–646 publications: 25 scientists 647–656 publications: 28 scientists 657–666 publications: 34 scientists 667–676 publications: 18 scientists 677–686 publications: 16 scientists 687–696 publications: 10 scientists 697–706 publications: 12 scientists 707–716 publications: 21 scientists 717–726 publications: 12 scientists 727–736 publications: 12 scientists 737–746 publications: 10 scientists 747–756 publications: 7 scientists 757–766 publications: 13 scientists 767–776 publications: 15 scientists 777–786 publications: 13 scientists 787–796 publications: 9 scientists 797–806 publications: 9 scientists 807–816 publications: 7 scientists 817–826 publications: 4 scientists 827–836 publications: 9 scientists 837–846 publications: 7 scientists 847–856 publications: 3 scientists 857–866 publications: 5 scientists 867–876 publications: 5 scientists 877–886 publications: 11 scientists 887–896 publications: 3 scientists 897–906 publications: 4 scientists 907–916 publications: 7 scientists 917–926 publications: 5 scientists 927–936 publications: 6 scientists 937–946 publications: 6 scientists 947–956 publications: 3 scientists 957–966 publications: 7 scientists 967–976 publications: 2 scientists 977–986 publications: 2 scientists 987–996 publications: 1 scientist 997–1,006 publications: 5 scientists 1,007–1,016 publications: 2 scientists 1,017–1,026 publications: 2 scientists 1,027 publications: 1 scientist 1,028+ publications: 100 scientists
47–56 publications 1,028+

This scientist: 355 publications — 86th percentile

86% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,028 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Biology and Biochemistry scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 19,587 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
47–56 8
57–66 35
67–76 106
77–86 231
87–96 413
97–106 546
107–116 704
117–126 848
127–136 980
137–146 942
147–156 969
157–166 949
167–176 951
177–186 915
187–196 787
197–206 840
207–216 733
217–226 708
227–236 651
237–246 605
247–256 510
257–266 524
267–276 434
277–286 417
287–296 350
297–306 363
307–316 315
317–326 296
327–336 261
337–346 240
347–356 219 355
357–366 196
367–376 154
377–386 161
387–396 155
397–406 145
407–416 124
417–426 112
427–436 132
437–446 116
447–456 99
457–466 81
467–476 91
477–486 80
487–496 80
497–506 59
507–516 36
517–526 46
527–536 54
537–546 44
547–556 43
557–566 43
567–576 42
577–586 25
587–596 34
597–606 23
607–616 33
617–626 31
627–636 27
637–646 25
647–656 28
657–666 34
667–676 18
677–686 16
687–696 10
697–706 12
707–716 21
717–726 12
727–736 12
737–746 10
747–756 7
757–766 13
767–776 15
777–786 13
787–796 9
797–806 9
807–816 7
817–826 4
827–836 9
837–846 7
847–856 3
857–866 5
867–876 5
877–886 11
887–896 3
897–906 4
907–916 7
917–926 5
927–936 6
937–946 6
947–956 3
957–966 7
967–976 2
977–986 2
987–996 1
997–1,006 5
1,007–1,016 2
1,017–1,026 2
1,027 1
1,028+ 100
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Frances H. Arnold D-index placement in Biology and Biochemistry in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Biology and Biochemistry scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Frances H. Arnold sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
250 500 750 1,000 1,250
Bar chart with 65 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 40–41 to 167+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 1,253. Most scientists, 1,253, have 58–59 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 167 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 144–145 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 40–41 D-Index: 80 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 183 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 316 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 504 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 718 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 899 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 1,025 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 1,149 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 1,235 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 1,253 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 1,162 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 1,130 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 1,031 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 897 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 814 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 714 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 709 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 596 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 512 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 473 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 412 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 373 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 358 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 285 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 273 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 227 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 208 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 193 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 153 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 157 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 148 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 120 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 113 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 100 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 86 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 67 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 71 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 73 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 64 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 53 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 60 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 54 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 43 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 38 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 49 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 26 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 18 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 23 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 32 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 32 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 27 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 19 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 22 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 12 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 16 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 14 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 10 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 13 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 10 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 7 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 9 scientists 162–163 D-Index: 13 scientists 164–165 D-Index: 4 scientists 166 D-Index: 4 scientists 167+ D-Index: 98 scientists
40–41 D-Index 167+

This scientist: 145 D-Index — 99th percentile

99% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 167 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Biology and Biochemistry scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 19,587 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
40–41 80
42–43 183
44–45 316
46–47 504
48–49 718
50–51 899
52–53 1,025
54–55 1,149
56–57 1,235
58–59 1,253
60–61 1,162
62–63 1,130
64–65 1,031
66–67 897
68–69 814
70–71 714
72–73 709
74–75 596
76–77 512
78–79 473
80–81 412
82–83 373
84–85 358
86–87 285
88–89 273
90–91 227
92–93 208
94–95 193
96–97 153
98–99 157
100–101 148
102–103 120
104–105 113
106–107 100
108–109 86
110–111 67
112–113 71
114–115 73
116–117 64
118–119 53
120–121 60
122–123 54
124–125 43
126–127 38
128–129 49
130–131 26
132–133 18
134–135 23
136–137 32
138–139 32
140–141 27
142–143 19
144–145 22 145
146–147 12
148–149 16
150–151 14
152–153 10
154–155 13
156–157 10
158–159 7
160–161 9
162–163 13
164–165 4
166 4
167+ 98
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Best Female Scientists Award
  • 2020 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom
  • 2018 - Nobel Prize for the directed evolution of enzymes
  • 2014 - Fellow, National Academy of Inventors
  • 2011 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 2009 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 2008 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2001 - Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE)
  • 2000 - Member of the National Academy of Engineering For integration of fundamentals in molecular biology, genetics, and bioengineering to the benefit of life science and industry.

Overview

What is she best known for?

The fields of study she is best known for:

  • Enzyme
  • Gene
  • DNA

Frances H. Arnold mainly focuses on Directed evolution, Biochemistry, Genetics, Protein engineering and Computational biology. Her Directed evolution research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Mutagenesis, Amino acid and Thermostability. Her work in Biochemistry addresses issues such as Bacillus subtilis, which are connected to fields such as Mutant.

As a part of the same scientific family, Frances H. Arnold mostly works in the field of Genetics, focusing on Protein structure and, on occasion, Sequence alignment, Mutagenesis, Protein folding and Peptide sequence. Her study in Computational biology is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from both Fitness landscape, Selection and Function. She has researched Enzyme in several fields, including Combinatorial chemistry, Chemical synthesis and Biocatalysis.

Her most cited work include:

  • Dynamic pattern formation in a vesicle-generating microfluidic device. (1630 citations)
  • A Microfabricated Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter (989 citations)
  • A synthetic multicellular system for programmed pattern formation (935 citations)

What are the main themes of her work throughout her whole career to date?

Her primary scientific interests are in Directed evolution, Biochemistry, Enzyme, Stereochemistry and Protein engineering. Her Directed evolution study is related to the wider topic of Genetics. Her specific area of interest is Enzyme, where she studies Cofactor.

Her work carried out in the field of Stereochemistry brings together such families of science as Enantioselective synthesis, Cyclopropanation, Substrate, Cytochrome P450 and Carbene. The study incorporates disciplines such as Heme and Hydroxylation in addition to Cytochrome P450. In her research, Combinatorial chemistry is intimately related to Catalysis, which falls under the overarching field of Biocatalysis.

She most often published in these fields:

  • Directed evolution (33.73%)
  • Biochemistry (26.08%)
  • Enzyme (20.59%)

What were the highlights of her more recent work (between 2013-2021)?

  • Directed evolution (33.73%)
  • Stereochemistry (20.20%)
  • Catalysis (10.00%)

In recent papers she was focusing on the following fields of study:

Frances H. Arnold mainly focuses on Directed evolution, Stereochemistry, Catalysis, Enzyme and Biocatalysis. Her Directed evolution research incorporates elements of Amination, Nanotechnology, Biochemical engineering, Protein engineering and Computational biology. Frances H. Arnold combines subjects such as Genetics and Recombination with her study of Computational biology.

Her studies in Stereochemistry integrate themes in fields like Cyclopropanation, Tryptophan synthase, Cytochrome P450 and Carbene. Enzyme is a subfield of Biochemistry that Frances H. Arnold tackles. Her Biocatalysis research is multidisciplinary, relying on both Molecule, Enzyme catalysis, Enantiomer and Substrate.

Between 2013 and 2021, her most popular works were:

  • Directed Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life. (317 citations)
  • Directed evolution of cytochrome c for carbon–silicon bond formation: Bringing silicon to life (267 citations)
  • Expanding the Enzyme Universe: Accessing Non‐Natural Reactions by Mechanism‐Guided Directed Evolution (266 citations)

In her most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Enzyme
  • Gene
  • DNA

Her main research concerns Directed evolution, Biocatalysis, Catalysis, Protein engineering and Stereochemistry. In her works, Frances H. Arnold conducts interdisciplinary research on Directed evolution and Pyrococcus furiosus. Her Catalysis research is multidisciplinary, incorporating perspectives in Combinatorial chemistry and Molecule.

Protein engineering is a subfield of Enzyme that Frances H. Arnold explores. Enzyme is a subfield of Biochemistry that Frances H. Arnold investigates. Her research in Stereochemistry intersects with topics in Regioselectivity, Tryptophan, Cyclopropanation, Active site and Hemeprotein.

Best Publications

  • Dynamic pattern formation in a vesicle-generating microfluidic device.

    Todd Thorsen;Richard W. Roberts;Frances H. Arnold;Stephen R. Quake

  • A microfabricated fluorescence-activated cell sorter

    Anne Y. Fu;Charles Spence;Axel Scherer;Frances H. Arnold

  • A synthetic multicellular system for programmed pattern formation

    Subhayu Basu;Yoram Gerchman;Cynthia H. Collins;Frances H. Arnold

  • Protein stability promotes evolvability.

    Jesse D. Bloom;Sy T. Labthavikul;Christopher R. Otey;Frances H. Arnold

  • Molecular evolution by staggered extension process (StEP) in vitro recombination

    Huimin Zhao;Lori Giver;Zhixin Shao;Joseph A. Affholter

  • Exploring protein fitness landscapes by directed evolution

    Philip A. Romero;Frances H. Arnold

  • Engineering microbial consortia: a new frontier in synthetic biology.

    Katie Brenner;Lingchong You;Frances H. Arnold

  • Directed Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life.

    Frances H. Arnold

  • Design by Directed Evolution

    Frances H. Arnold

  • Why highly expressed proteins evolve slowly

    D. Allan Drummond;Jesse D. Bloom;Christoph Adami;Christoph Adami;Claus O. Wilke;Claus O. Wilke

  • Programmed population control by cell-cell communication and regulated killing.

    Lingchong You;Robert Sidney Cox;Ron Weiss;Frances H. Arnold

  • Machine-learning-guided directed evolution for protein engineering.

    Kevin K. Yang;Zachary Wu;Frances H. Arnold

  • An Integrated Microfabricated Cell Sorter

    Anne Y. Fu;Hou-Pu Chou;Charles Spence;Frances H. Arnold

  • Long-Term Monitoring of Bacteria Undergoing Programmed Population Control in a Microchemostat

    Frederick K. Balagaddé;Lingchong You;Carl L. Hansen;Frances H. Arnold

  • Tuning the activity of an enzyme for unusual environments: sequential random mutagenesis of subtilisin E for catalysis in dimethylformamide

    Keqin Chen;Frances H. Arnold

  • Directed evolution of a thermostable esterase

    Lori Giver;Anne Gershenson;Per-Ola Freskgard;Frances H. Arnold

  • Metal-affinity separations: a new dimension in protein processing.

    Frances H. Arnold

  • Directed evolution of a para-nitrobenzyl esterase for aqueous-organic solvents.

    Jeffrey C. Moore;Frances H. Arnold

  • Combinatorial and computational challenges for biocatalyst design

    Frances H. Arnold

Frequent Co-Authors

Jesse D. Bloom
Jesse D. Bloom Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Huimin Zhao
Huimin Zhao University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Viviana Gradinaru
Viviana Gradinaru California Institute of Technology
Rudi Fasan
Rudi Fasan University of Rochester
Stephen L. Mayo
Stephen L. Mayo California Institute of Technology
Claus O. Wilke
Claus O. Wilke The University of Texas at Austin
Harry B. Gray
Harry B. Gray California Institute of Technology
Stephen R. Quake
Stephen R. Quake Stanford University
Ulrich Schwaneberg
Ulrich Schwaneberg RWTH Aachen University
Zhen-Gang Wang
Zhen-Gang Wang California Institute of Technology

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