World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Robert D. van der Hilst

Robert D. van der Hilst

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
80
Citations
30779
World Ranking
522
National Ranking
270

Robert D. van der Hilst publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Earth Science in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Robert D. van der Hilst sits on this spectrum.

38–42 publications: 1 scientists 43–47 publications: 0 scientists 48–52 publications: 3 scientists 53–57 publications: 8 scientists 58–62 publications: 11 scientists 63–67 publications: 16 scientists 68–72 publications: 24 scientists 73–77 publications: 31 scientists 78–82 publications: 49 scientists 83–87 publications: 77 scientists 88–92 publications: 86 scientists 93–97 publications: 88 scientists 98–102 publications: 92 scientists 103–107 publications: 84 scientists 108–112 publications: 102 scientists 113–117 publications: 108 scientists 118–122 publications: 117 scientists 123–127 publications: 126 scientists 128–132 publications: 146 scientists 133–137 publications: 114 scientists 138–142 publications: 102 scientists 143–147 publications: 127 scientists 148–152 publications: 102 scientists 153–157 publications: 112 scientists 158–162 publications: 102 scientists 163–167 publications: 127 scientists 168–172 publications: 121 scientists 173–177 publications: 112 scientists 178–182 publications: 109 scientists 183–187 publications: 98 scientists 188–192 publications: 92 scientists 193–197 publications: 105 scientists 198–202 publications: 77 scientists 203–207 publications: 80 scientists 208–212 publications: 89 scientists 213–217 publications: 70 scientists 218–222 publications: 74 scientists 223–227 publications: 74 scientists 228–232 publications: 70 scientists 233–237 publications: 67 scientists 238–242 publications: 59 scientists 243–247 publications: 67 scientists 248–252 publications: 51 scientists 253–257 publications: 46 scientists 258–262 publications: 41 scientists 263–267 publications: 39 scientists 268–272 publications: 34 scientists 273–277 publications: 39 scientists 278–282 publications: 35 scientists 283–287 publications: 36 scientists 288–292 publications: 35 scientists 293–297 publications: 29 scientists 298–302 publications: 23 scientists 303–307 publications: 39 scientists 308–312 publications: 34 scientists 313–317 publications: 23 scientists 318–322 publications: 18 scientists 323–327 publications: 18 scientists 328–332 publications: 21 scientists 333–337 publications: 20 scientists 338–342 publications: 15 scientists 343–347 publications: 13 scientists 348–352 publications: 24 scientists 353–357 publications: 25 scientists 358–362 publications: 10 scientists 363–367 publications: 20 scientists 368–372 publications: 17 scientists 373–377 publications: 18 scientists 378–382 publications: 15 scientists 383–387 publications: 7 scientists 388–392 publications: 22 scientists 393–397 publications: 9 scientists 398–402 publications: 11 scientists 403–407 publications: 16 scientists 408–412 publications: 4 scientists 413–417 publications: 5 scientists 418–422 publications: 14 scientists 423–427 publications: 8 scientists 428–432 publications: 7 scientists 433–437 publications: 7 scientists 438–442 publications: 10 scientists 443–447 publications: 10 scientists 448–452 publications: 3 scientists 453–457 publications: 9 scientists 458–462 publications: 11 scientists 463–467 publications: 4 scientists 468–472 publications: 6 scientists 473–477 publications: 11 scientists 478–482 publications: 8 scientists 483–487 publications: 2 scientists 488–492 publications: 3 scientists 493–497 publications: 4 scientists 498–502 publications: 4 scientists 503–507 publications: 4 scientists 508–509 publications: 4 scientists 510+ publications: 100 scientists
38 publications 510+

This scientist: 269 publications — 81st percentile

81% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 510 publications or more.

Robert D. van der Hilst D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Robert D. van der Hilst sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 15 scientists 31 D-Index: 42 scientists 32 D-Index: 60 scientists 33 D-Index: 90 scientists 34 D-Index: 103 scientists 35 D-Index: 108 scientists 36 D-Index: 142 scientists 37 D-Index: 147 scientists 38 D-Index: 147 scientists 39 D-Index: 152 scientists 40 D-Index: 143 scientists 41 D-Index: 157 scientists 42 D-Index: 141 scientists 43 D-Index: 151 scientists 44 D-Index: 140 scientists 45 D-Index: 135 scientists 46 D-Index: 121 scientists 47 D-Index: 108 scientists 48 D-Index: 128 scientists 49 D-Index: 111 scientists 50 D-Index: 106 scientists 51 D-Index: 112 scientists 52 D-Index: 102 scientists 53 D-Index: 103 scientists 54 D-Index: 94 scientists 55 D-Index: 61 scientists 56 D-Index: 101 scientists 57 D-Index: 71 scientists 58 D-Index: 65 scientists 59 D-Index: 78 scientists 60 D-Index: 93 scientists 61 D-Index: 56 scientists 62 D-Index: 58 scientists 63 D-Index: 52 scientists 64 D-Index: 63 scientists 65 D-Index: 49 scientists 66 D-Index: 53 scientists 67 D-Index: 57 scientists 68 D-Index: 50 scientists 69 D-Index: 44 scientists 70 D-Index: 44 scientists 71 D-Index: 31 scientists 72 D-Index: 33 scientists 73 D-Index: 33 scientists 74 D-Index: 23 scientists 75 D-Index: 32 scientists 76 D-Index: 24 scientists 77 D-Index: 17 scientists 78 D-Index: 19 scientists 79 D-Index: 9 scientists 80 D-Index: 21 scientists 81 D-Index: 20 scientists 82 D-Index: 17 scientists 83 D-Index: 19 scientists 84 D-Index: 19 scientists 85 D-Index: 14 scientists 86 D-Index: 6 scientists 87 D-Index: 14 scientists 88 D-Index: 17 scientists 89 D-Index: 10 scientists 90 D-Index: 8 scientists 91 D-Index: 8 scientists 92 D-Index: 9 scientists 93 D-Index: 6 scientists 94+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 94+

This scientist: 80 D-Index — 94th percentile

94% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 94 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2014 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1997 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • 1997 - James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Overview

Robert D. van der Hilst is affiliated with MIT in the United States and works primarily in the field of Earth and Planetary Sciences, with a specific focus on Geophysics. Their research intersects several subfields including Artificial Intelligence and Ocean Engineering.

The main topics of van der Hilst's work encompass:

  • High-pressure geophysics and materials
  • Earthquake and tectonic studies
  • Seismic Imaging and Inversion Techniques
  • Geological and Geochemical Analysis
  • Seismic Waves and Analysis
  • Earthquake Detection and Analysis
  • Seismology and Earthquake Studies

Notable recent publications by van der Hilst include:

  • "Space-time monitoring of groundwater fluctuations with passive seismic interferometry," 2022, Nature Communications
  • "Variations in Seismic Wave Speed and VP/VS Ratio in the North American Lithosphere," 2020, Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
  • "Compositional heterogeneity in the mantle transition zone," 2022, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
  • "Seismic evidence for global basalt accumulation in the mantle transition zone," 2023, Science Advances
  • "Microseismic Constraints on the Mechanical State of the North Anatolian Fault Zone 13 Years After the 1999 M7.4 Izmit Earthquake," 2022, Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth

Van der Hilst has frequently collaborated with several coauthors, including:

  • Michel Campillo
  • Éric Beaucé
  • E. M. Golos
  • Saskia Goes
  • Chunquan Yu

Their research has been published in multiple prominent venues, with repeated publications in:

  • Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
  • Earth and Planetary Science Letters
  • Inverse Problems
  • Nature Communications
  • Nature Reviews Earth & Environment

Robert D. van der Hilst has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2014 and of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) since 1997, reflecting a continued involvement in the geoscience research community.

Best Publications

  • Global teleseismic earthquake relocation with improved travel times and procedures for depth determination

    E. Robert Engdahl;Rob D. van der Hilst;Raymond P. Buland

  • The Geological Evolution of the Tibetan Plateau

    Leigh H. Royden;B. Clark Burchfiel;Robert D. van der Hilst

  • Evidence for deep mantle circulation from global tomography

    R. D. van der Hilst;Sri Widiyantoro;E. R. Engdahl

  • Surface-wave array tomography in SE Tibet from ambient seismic noise and two-station analysis: I - Phase velocity maps

    Huajian Yao;Robert D. van der Hilst;Maarten V. de Hoop

  • High resolution global tomography : a snapshot of convection in the Earth

    S.P. Grand;R.D. van der Hilst;S. Widiyantoro

  • Global seismic tomography: A snapshot of convection in the earth

    Stephen P. Grand;Rob D. Van Der Hilst;Sri Widiyantoro

  • A geological and geophysical context for the Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008, Sichuan, People's Republic of China

    B.C. Burchfiel;L.H. Royden;R.D. van der Hilst;B.H. Hager

  • Compositional stratification in the deep mantle

    Louise H. Kellogg;Bradford H. Hager;Rob D. van der Hilst

  • Subduction of the Indian lithosphere beneath the Tibetan Plateau and Burma

    Chang Li;Robert D. van der Hilst;Anne S. Meltzer;E. Robert Engdahl

  • A new global model for P wave speed variations in Earth's mantle

    Chang Li;Robert D. van der Hilst;E. Robert Engdahl;Scott Burdick

  • Surface wave array tomography in SE Tibet from ambient seismic noise and two-station analysis - II. Crustal and upper-mantle structure

    Huajian Yao;Caroline Beghein;Robert D. van der Hilst

  • Travel-time tomography of the European-Mediterranean mantle down to 1400 km

    Wim Spakman;Suzan van der Lee;Suzan van der Lee;Rob van der Hilst

  • Eastward expansion of the Tibetan Plateau by crustal flow and strain partitioning across faults

    Qi Yuan Liu;Robert D. van der Hilst;Yu Li;Hua Jian Yao

  • Compositional heterogeneity in the bottom 1000 kilometers of earth's mantle : Toward a hybrid convection model

    Rob D. van der Hilst;Hrafnkell Kárason

  • Heterogeneity and anisotropy of the lithosphere of SE Tibet from surface wave array tomography

    Huajian Yao;Huajian Yao;Robert D. van der Hilst;Jean-Paul Montagner

  • Structure of the upper mantle and transition zone beneath Southeast Asia from traveltime tomography

    Chang Li;Robert D. van der Hilst

  • Structure of the crust beneath the southeastern Tibetan Plateau from teleseismic receiver functions

    Lili Xu;Stéphane Rondenay;Robert D. van der Hilst

  • Complex morphology of subducted lithosphere in the mantle beneath the Tonga trench

    R.D. van der Hilst

  • 4-D evolution of SE Asia’s mantle from geological reconstructions and seismic tomography

    Anne Replumaz;Hrafnkell Karason;Rob Dyan van der Hilst;Jean Besse

  • Direct inversion of surface wave dispersion for three-dimensional shallow crustal structure based on ray tracing: methodology and application

    Hongjian Fang;Huajian Yao;Haijiang Zhang;Yu-Chih Huang

  • Geodynamics of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau from seismic anisotropy and geodesy

    S. Sol;A. Meltzer;R. Bürgmann;R.D. van der Hilst

Frequent Co-Authors

Huajian Yao
Huajian Yao University of Science and Technology of China
Maarten V. de Hoop
Maarten V. de Hoop Rice University
Michel Campillo
Michel Campillo Grenoble Alpes University
Frederik J. Simons
Frederik J. Simons Princeton University
Maureen D. Long
Maureen D. Long Yale University
Sébastien Chevrot
Sébastien Chevrot Paul Sabatier University
Haijiang Zhang
Haijiang Zhang University of Science and Technology of China
Sergei Lebedev
Sergei Lebedev Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies
Brian Kennett
Brian Kennett Australian National University
Stéphane Rondenay
Stéphane Rondenay University of Bergen

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