World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Heileen Hsu-Kim

Heileen Hsu-Kim

D-Index & Metrics

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
52
Citations
10328
World Ranking
4466
National Ranking
1664

Heileen Hsu-Kim publication distribution in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Environmental Sciences in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Heileen Hsu-Kim sits on this spectrum.

41–50 publications: 21 scientists 51–60 publications: 62 scientists 61–70 publications: 133 scientists 71–80 publications: 257 scientists 81–90 publications: 361 scientists 91–100 publications: 440 scientists 101–110 publications: 492 scientists 111–120 publications: 541 scientists 121–130 publications: 617 scientists 131–140 publications: 544 scientists 141–150 publications: 541 scientists 151–160 publications: 539 scientists 161–170 publications: 444 scientists 171–180 publications: 444 scientists 181–190 publications: 400 scientists 191–200 publications: 377 scientists 201–210 publications: 318 scientists 211–220 publications: 283 scientists 221–230 publications: 263 scientists 231–240 publications: 220 scientists 241–250 publications: 217 scientists 251–260 publications: 180 scientists 261–270 publications: 181 scientists 271–280 publications: 155 scientists 281–290 publications: 130 scientists 291–300 publications: 127 scientists 301–310 publications: 130 scientists 311–320 publications: 85 scientists 321–330 publications: 106 scientists 331–340 publications: 80 scientists 341–350 publications: 83 scientists 351–360 publications: 75 scientists 361–370 publications: 69 scientists 371–380 publications: 52 scientists 381–390 publications: 54 scientists 391–400 publications: 56 scientists 401–410 publications: 44 scientists 411–420 publications: 40 scientists 421–430 publications: 36 scientists 431–440 publications: 25 scientists 441–450 publications: 25 scientists 451–460 publications: 32 scientists 461–470 publications: 29 scientists 471–480 publications: 21 scientists 481–490 publications: 26 scientists 491–500 publications: 25 scientists 501–510 publications: 17 scientists 511–520 publications: 18 scientists 521–530 publications: 15 scientists 531–540 publications: 22 scientists 541–550 publications: 12 scientists 551–560 publications: 15 scientists 561–570 publications: 11 scientists 571–580 publications: 19 scientists 581–590 publications: 9 scientists 591–600 publications: 9 scientists 601–610 publications: 7 scientists 611–620 publications: 11 scientists 621–630 publications: 5 scientists 631–640 publications: 5 scientists 641–650 publications: 6 scientists 651–660 publications: 3 scientists 661–670 publications: 3 scientists 671–680 publications: 4 scientists 681–686 publications: 3 scientists 687+ publications: 100 scientists
41 publications 687+

This scientist: 142 publications — 37th percentile

37% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 687 publications or more.

Heileen Hsu-Kim D-index placement in Environmental Sciences in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Environmental Sciences scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Heileen Hsu-Kim sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 12 scientists 31 D-Index: 26 scientists 32 D-Index: 51 scientists 33 D-Index: 88 scientists 34 D-Index: 123 scientists 35 D-Index: 163 scientists 36 D-Index: 206 scientists 37 D-Index: 267 scientists 38 D-Index: 265 scientists 39 D-Index: 275 scientists 40 D-Index: 321 scientists 41 D-Index: 343 scientists 42 D-Index: 305 scientists 43 D-Index: 336 scientists 44 D-Index: 330 scientists 45 D-Index: 348 scientists 46 D-Index: 291 scientists 47 D-Index: 275 scientists 48 D-Index: 272 scientists 49 D-Index: 273 scientists 50 D-Index: 263 scientists 51 D-Index: 232 scientists 52 D-Index: 266 scientists 53 D-Index: 217 scientists 54 D-Index: 199 scientists 55 D-Index: 177 scientists 56 D-Index: 202 scientists 57 D-Index: 204 scientists 58 D-Index: 166 scientists 59 D-Index: 177 scientists 60 D-Index: 166 scientists 61 D-Index: 152 scientists 62 D-Index: 143 scientists 63 D-Index: 150 scientists 64 D-Index: 124 scientists 65 D-Index: 119 scientists 66 D-Index: 120 scientists 67 D-Index: 118 scientists 68 D-Index: 82 scientists 69 D-Index: 98 scientists 70 D-Index: 94 scientists 71 D-Index: 105 scientists 72 D-Index: 74 scientists 73 D-Index: 84 scientists 74 D-Index: 70 scientists 75 D-Index: 67 scientists 76 D-Index: 78 scientists 77 D-Index: 60 scientists 78 D-Index: 59 scientists 79 D-Index: 52 scientists 80 D-Index: 47 scientists 81 D-Index: 38 scientists 82 D-Index: 48 scientists 83 D-Index: 42 scientists 84 D-Index: 42 scientists 85 D-Index: 43 scientists 86 D-Index: 29 scientists 87 D-Index: 37 scientists 88 D-Index: 29 scientists 89 D-Index: 30 scientists 90 D-Index: 34 scientists 91 D-Index: 20 scientists 92 D-Index: 22 scientists 93 D-Index: 17 scientists 94 D-Index: 19 scientists 95 D-Index: 24 scientists 96 D-Index: 21 scientists 97 D-Index: 20 scientists 98 D-Index: 24 scientists 99 D-Index: 17 scientists 100 D-Index: 17 scientists 101 D-Index: 21 scientists 102 D-Index: 25 scientists 103 D-Index: 18 scientists 104 D-Index: 26 scientists 105 D-Index: 19 scientists 106 D-Index: 15 scientists 107 D-Index: 10 scientists 108 D-Index: 13 scientists 109 D-Index: 15 scientists 110 D-Index: 12 scientists 111 D-Index: 8 scientists 112 D-Index: 7 scientists 113 D-Index: 9 scientists 114 D-Index: 6 scientists 115 D-Index: 12 scientists 116 D-Index: 7 scientists 117 D-Index: 8 scientists 118 D-Index: 3 scientists 119 D-Index: 5 scientists 120 D-Index: 7 scientists 121 D-Index: 2 scientists 122 D-Index: 4 scientists 123 D-Index: 8 scientists 124 D-Index: 7 scientists 125+ D-Index: 99 scientists
30 D-Index 125+

This scientist: 52 D-Index — 55th percentile

55% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 125 D-Index or more.

Overview

Heileen Hsu-Kim is affiliated with Duke University in the United States and has contributed extensively to the field of environmental science. Their research primarily focuses on topics related to mercury impact and mitigation, heavy metal exposure and toxicity, and the use of coal and its by-products. They also explore geochemistry and elemental analysis, extraction and separation processes, and recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production.

Their publication record includes papers in notable venues such as Environmental Science & Technology, where they have published 11 articles, and Environmental Science Processes & Impacts, with 4 publications. Other frequent venues include bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) with 3 papers, International Journal of Coal Geology with 2, and Fuel with 2 publications.

Hsu-Kim's recent papers demonstrate a range of environmental and biochemical research topics:

  • "Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining" (2022, Nature Communications)
  • "A biosorption-based approach for selective extraction of rare earth elements from coal byproducts" (2020, Separation and Purification Technology)
  • "Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessments for Sustainable Rare Earth Recovery from Coal Byproducts using Biosorption" (2020, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering)
  • "Biomolecular condensates regulate cellular electrochemical equilibria" (2024, Cell)
  • "Elevated Hair Mercury Levels Are Associated With Neurodevelopmental Deficits in Children Living Near Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Peru" (2020, GeoHealth)

Their frequent co-authors include Nelson Rivera, William Pan, Axel Berky, Joel N. Meyer, and Ernesto Ortiz. The collaborative nature of their work spans multiple disciplines intersecting environmental science and toxicology.

The main fields of study for Heileen Hsu-Kim reveal a strong focus on Environmental Science with 52 publications. Their subfields encompass Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis; Geochemistry and Petrology; Pollution; Molecular Biology; and Mechanical Engineering.

The scientist's work integrates topics such as:

  • Mercury impact and mitigation studies
  • Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
  • Coal and Its By-products
  • Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
  • Heavy metals in environment
  • Extraction and Separation Processes
  • Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production

Best Publications

  • Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter on the Environmental Fate of Metals, Nanoparticles, and Colloids

    George R. Aiken;Heileen Hsu-Kim;Joseph N. Ryan

  • Mechanisms Regulating Mercury Bioavailability for Methylating Microorganisms in the Aquatic Environment: A Critical Review

    Heileen Hsu-Kim;Katarzyna H. Kucharzyk;Tong Zhang;Marc A. Deshusses

  • Mechanism of silver nanoparticle toxicity is dependent on dissolved silver and surface coating in Caenorhabditis elegans.

    Xinyu Yang;Andreas P. Gondikas;Stella M. Marinakos;Melanie Auffan

  • Long-Term Transformation and Fate of Manufactured Ag Nanoparticles in a Simulated Large Scale Freshwater Emergent Wetland

    Gregory V. Lowry;Benjamin P. Espinasse;Appala Raju Badireddy;Curtis J. Richardson

  • Trends in the Rare Earth Element Content of U.S.-Based Coal Combustion Fly Ashes.

    Ross K. Taggart;James C. Hower;Gary S. Dwyer;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • Methylation of mercury by bacteria exposed to dissolved, nanoparticulate, and microparticulate mercuric sulfides.

    Tong Zhang;Bojeong Kim;Clément Levard;Brian C. Reinsch

  • Cysteine-Induced Modifications of Zero-valent Silver Nanomaterials: Implications for Particle Surface Chemistry, Aggregation, Dissolution, and Silver Speciation

    Andreas P. Gondikas;Andreas P. Gondikas;Amanda Morris;Amanda Morris;Brian C. Reinsch;Brian C. Reinsch;Stella M. Marinakos

  • Survey of the Potential Environmental and Health Impacts in the Immediate Aftermath of the Coal Ash Spill in Kingston, Tennessee

    Laura Ruhl;Avner Vengosh;Gary S. Dwyer;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • Challenges and opportunities for managing aquatic mercury pollution in altered landscapes.

    Heileen Hsu-Kim;Chris S. Eckley;Dario Achá;Xinbin Feng

  • Photolytic degradation of methylmercury enhanced by binding to natural organic ligands

    Tong Zhang;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • Precipitation of Mercuric Sulfide Nanoparticles in NOM-Containing Water: Implications for the Natural Environment

    Amrika Deonarine;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • Environmental impacts of the coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee: an 18-month survey.

    Laura Ruhl;Avner Vengosh;Gary S. Dwyer;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • River transport of mercury from artisanal and small-scale gold mining and risks for dietary mercury exposure in Madre de Dios, Peru

    Sarah E. Diringer;Beth J. Feingold;Ernesto J. Ortiz;John A. Gallis

  • Effects of Humic Substances on Precipitation and Aggregation of Zinc Sulfide Nanoparticles

    Amrika Deonarine;Boris L.T. Lau;George R. Aiken;Joseph N. Ryan

  • Silver Nanoparticle Behavior, Uptake, and Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans: Effects of Natural Organic Matter

    Xinyu Yang;Chuanjia Jiang;Heileen Hsu-Kim;Appala Raju Badireddy

  • Aqueous acid and alkaline extraction of rare earth elements from coal combustion ash

    Jack F. King;Ross K. Taggart;Ryan C. Smith;James C. Hower

  • Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining

    Unknown

  • Effects of roasting additives and leaching parameters on the extraction of rare earth elements from coal fly ash

    Ross K. Taggart;James C. Hower;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • A Critical Time for Mercury Science to Inform Global Policy

    Celia Y. Chen;Charles T. Driscoll;Collin A. Eagles-Smith;Chris S. Eckley

  • Selective Recovery of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Fly Ash Leachates Using Liquid Membrane Processes

    Ryan C. Smith;Ross K. Taggart;James C. Hower;Mark R. Wiesner

  • The Impact of Coal Combustion Residue Effluent on Water Resources: A North Carolina Example

    Laura Ruhl;Avner Vengosh;Gary S. Dwyer;Heileen Hsu-Kim

  • Effects of Natural Organic Matter Properties on the Dissolution Kinetics of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

    Chuanjia Jiang;George R. Aiken;Heileen Hsu-Kim

Frequent Co-Authors

James C. Hower
James C. Hower University of Kentucky
Gregory V. Lowry
Gregory V. Lowry Carnegie Mellon University
Avner Vengosh
Avner Vengosh Duke University
Mark R. Wiesner
Mark R. Wiesner Duke University
Marc A. Deshusses
Marc A. Deshusses Duke University
Joel N. Meyer
Joel N. Meyer Duke University
Cole W. Matson
Cole W. Matson Baylor University
Gary S. Dwyer
Gary S. Dwyer Duke University
Michael F. Hochella
Michael F. Hochella Virginia Tech
Chuanjia Jiang
Chuanjia Jiang Nankai University

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

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Professionals aiming to balance advanced research with practical application can consider doctoral options. Accessible 1 year PhD programs online no dissertation present a streamlined approach for career advancement without the typical dissertation hurdle. This option suits those focused on applied leadership roles in environmental and educational fields.

For educators and leaders driving environmental education, the best online EdS to EdD programs offer a flexible progression from specialist training to doctoral credentials, enhancing both pedagogical skills and subject matter expertise.

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