World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
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Samuel L. Pfaff

D-Index & Metrics

Neuroscience

D-Index
71
Citations
23459
World Ranking
2373
National Ranking
1125

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
72
Citations
23528
World Ranking
6182
National Ranking
2909

Samuel L. Pfaff publication distribution in Neuroscience in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Neuroscience in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Samuel L. Pfaff sits on this spectrum.

38–47 publications: 18 scientists 48–57 publications: 79 scientists 58–67 publications: 193 scientists 68–77 publications: 323 scientists 78–87 publications: 406 scientists 88–97 publications: 452 scientists 98–107 publications: 539 scientists 108–117 publications: 505 scientists 118–127 publications: 522 scientists 128–137 publications: 469 scientists 138–147 publications: 456 scientists 148–157 publications: 459 scientists 158–167 publications: 397 scientists 168–177 publications: 383 scientists 178–187 publications: 350 scientists 188–197 publications: 302 scientists 198–207 publications: 306 scientists 208–217 publications: 262 scientists 218–227 publications: 242 scientists 228–237 publications: 220 scientists 238–247 publications: 203 scientists 248–257 publications: 174 scientists 258–267 publications: 176 scientists 268–277 publications: 175 scientists 278–287 publications: 125 scientists 288–297 publications: 116 scientists 298–307 publications: 127 scientists 308–317 publications: 128 scientists 318–327 publications: 99 scientists 328–337 publications: 89 scientists 338–347 publications: 78 scientists 348–357 publications: 96 scientists 358–367 publications: 66 scientists 368–377 publications: 59 scientists 378–387 publications: 65 scientists 388–397 publications: 54 scientists 398–407 publications: 48 scientists 408–417 publications: 49 scientists 418–427 publications: 34 scientists 428–437 publications: 31 scientists 438–447 publications: 30 scientists 448–457 publications: 31 scientists 458–467 publications: 36 scientists 468–477 publications: 40 scientists 478–487 publications: 35 scientists 488–497 publications: 30 scientists 498–507 publications: 23 scientists 508–517 publications: 26 scientists 518–527 publications: 20 scientists 528–537 publications: 23 scientists 538–547 publications: 20 scientists 548–557 publications: 20 scientists 558–567 publications: 17 scientists 568–577 publications: 14 scientists 578–587 publications: 20 scientists 588–597 publications: 20 scientists 598–607 publications: 19 scientists 608–617 publications: 18 scientists 618–627 publications: 17 scientists 628–637 publications: 11 scientists 638–647 publications: 11 scientists 648–657 publications: 11 scientists 658–667 publications: 8 scientists 668–677 publications: 7 scientists 678–687 publications: 11 scientists 688–697 publications: 10 scientists 698–707 publications: 4 scientists 708–717 publications: 6 scientists 718–727 publications: 5 scientists 728–737 publications: 5 scientists 738–747 publications: 9 scientists 748–757 publications: 9 scientists 758–767 publications: 3 scientists 768–777 publications: 7 scientists 778–787 publications: 7 scientists 788–797 publications: 6 scientists 798–807 publications: 2 scientists 808–817 publications: 2 scientists 818–827 publications: 7 scientists 828–837 publications: 0 scientists 838–847 publications: 9 scientists 848–857 publications: 3 scientists 858–867 publications: 1 scientists 868–877 publications: 3 scientists 878–886 publications: 6 scientists 887+ publications: 100 scientists
38 publications 887+

This scientist: 124 publications — 30th percentile

30% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 887 publications or more.

Samuel L. Pfaff D-index placement in Neuroscience in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Neuroscience scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Samuel L. Pfaff sits on this spectrum.

30–31 D-Index: 42 scientists 32–33 D-Index: 172 scientists 34–35 D-Index: 296 scientists 36–37 D-Index: 435 scientists 38–39 D-Index: 459 scientists 40–41 D-Index: 456 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 467 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 478 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 512 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 435 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 425 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 418 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 392 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 357 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 334 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 328 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 260 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 278 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 239 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 250 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 210 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 200 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 189 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 170 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 146 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 113 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 126 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 100 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 84 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 99 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 84 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 85 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 72 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 76 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 45 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 49 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 43 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 32 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 45 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 50 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 32 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 39 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 32 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 29 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 27 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 19 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 23 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 27 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 16 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 24 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 13 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 21 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 17 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 14 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 15 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 10 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 10 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 13 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 9 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 8 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 6 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 6 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 7 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 7 scientists 158–159 D-Index: 10 scientists 160–161 D-Index: 4 scientists 162 D-Index: 8 scientists 163+ D-Index: 100 scientists
30 D-Index 163+

This scientist: 71 D-Index — 75th percentile

75% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 163 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 1998 - Fellow of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Overview

Samuel L. Pfaff is affiliated with the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in the United States. Their research spans across the fields of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Neuroscience, with a strong focus on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, and Cell Biology. Additional areas of study include Cognitive Neuroscience and Cancer Research.

The scientist's work addresses multiple main topics, including:

  • Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
  • Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
  • Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
  • Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • RNA Research and Splicing
  • MicroRNA in disease regulation

Recent publications by Samuel L. Pfaff include:

  • "The β1-adrenergic receptor links sympathetic nerves to T cell exhaustion," 2023, Nature
  • "Conserved genetic signatures parcellate cardinal spinal neuron classes into local and projection subsets," 2021, Science
  • "Spinal premotor interneurons controlling antagonistic muscles are spatially intermingled," 2022, eLife
  • "A hidden threshold in motor neuron gene networks revealed by modulation of miR-218 dose," 2021, Neuron
  • "Motor neurons use push-pull signals to direct vascular remodeling critical for their connectivity," 2022, Neuron

Frequent co-authors collaborating with Samuel L. Pfaff include:

  • Shawn P. Driscoll
  • Gokhan Senturk
  • Neal D. Amin
  • Jeffrey D. Moore
  • Miriam Gullo

The scientist's publications have appeared notably in the following venues:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Neuron
  • Cell Reports
  • Nature
  • Science

Awards received include a Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded in 1998.

Best Publications

  • Isl1 Identifies a Cardiac Progenitor Population that Proliferates Prior to Differentiation and Contributes a Majority of Cells to the Heart

    Chen Leng Cai;Xingqun Liang;Yunqing Shi;Po Hsien Chu

  • Topographic organization of embryonic motor neurons defined by expression of LIM homeobox genes

    T. Tsuchida;M. Ensini;S.B. Morton;M. Baldassare

  • Embryonic stem cell potency fluctuates with endogenous retrovirus activity

    Todd S. Macfarlan;Wesley D. Gifford;Shawn Driscoll;Karen Lettieri

  • Requirement for LIM Homeobox Gene Isl1 in Motor Neuron Generation Reveals a Motor Neuron– Dependent Step in Interneuron Differentiation

    Samuel L. Pfaff;Monica Mendelsohn;Colin L. Stewart;Thomas Edlund

  • Independent requirement for ISL1 in formation of pancreatic mesenchyme and islet cells

    Ulf Ahlgren;Samuel L. Pfaff;Samuel L. Pfaff;Thomas M. Jessell;Thomas Edlund

  • Transcriptional Codes and the Control of Neuronal Identity

    Ryuichi Shirasaki;Samuel L Pfaff

  • Distinct roles of nerve and muscle in postsynaptic differentiation of the neuromuscular synapse

    Weichun Lin;Robert W. Burgess;Bertha Dominguez;Samuel L. Pfaff

  • Control of cell pattern in the neural tube: motor neuron induction by diffusible factors from notochord and floor plate.

    Toshiya Yamada;Samuel L. Pfaff;Thomas Edlund;Thomas M. Jessell

  • LIM HOMEODOMAIN FACTORS LHX3 AND LHX4 ASSIGN SUBTYPE IDENTITIES FOR MOTOR NEURONS

    Kamal Sharma;Hui Z Sheng;Karen Lettieri;Hung Li

  • YAP regulates neural progenitor cell number via the TEA domain transcription factor

    Xinwei Cao;Samuel L. Pfaff;Fred H. Gage

  • A functional study of miR-124 in the developing neural tube

    Xinwei Cao;Samuel L. Pfaff;Fred H. Gage

  • LIM factor Lhx3 contributes to the specification of motor neuron and interneuron identity through cell-type-specific protein-protein interactions

    Joshua P. Thaler;Soo Kyung Lee;Linda W. Jurata;Gordon N. Gill

  • Pancreas dorsal lobe agenesis and abnormal islets of Langerhans in Hlxb9-deficient mice

    Kathleen A. Harrison;Joshua Thaler;Samuel L. Pfaff;Hua Gu

  • Active Suppression of Interneuron Programs within Developing Motor Neurons Revealed by Analysis of Homeodomain Factor HB9

    Joshua Thaler;Kathleen Harrison;Kamal Sharma;Karen Lettieri

  • Topographic mapping from the retina to the midbrain is controlled by relative but not absolute levels of EphA receptor signaling.

    Arthur Brown;Paul A Yates;Paul A Yates;Patrick Burrola;Dan Ortuño

  • Transcriptional networks regulating neuronal identity in the developing spinal cord

    Soo Kyung Lee;Samuel L. Pfaff

  • Formation of Rathke's pouch requires dual induction from the diencephalon.

    Naoyuki Takuma;Hui Z. Sheng;Yasuhide Furuta;Jerrold M. Ward

  • SnapShot: Spinal Cord Development

    William A. Alaynick;Thomas M. Jessell;Samuel L. Pfaff

  • Synchronization of Neurogenesis and Motor Neuron Specification by Direct Coupling of bHLH and Homeodomain Transcription Factors

    Soo Kyung Lee;Samuel L Pfaff

  • Identification of a MicroRNA that Activates Gene Expression by Repressing Nonsense-Mediated RNA Decay

    Ivone G. Bruno;Rachid Karam;Rachid Karam;Lulu Huang;Lulu Huang;Lulu Huang;Anjana Bhardwaj

Frequent Co-Authors

Gordon N. Gill
Gordon N. Gill University of California, San Diego
Sylvia M. Evans
Sylvia M. Evans University of Montana
Fred H. Gage
Fred H. Gage Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Thomas Edlund
Thomas Edlund Umeå University
Robert W. Burgess
Robert W. Burgess The Jackson Laboratory
Thomas M. Jessell
Thomas M. Jessell Columbia University
Dennis D.M. O'Leary
Dennis D.M. O'Leary Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Joshua R. Sanes
Joshua R. Sanes Harvard University
Jack E. Dixon
Jack E. Dixon University of California, San Diego
Peter H. Duesberg
Peter H. Duesberg University of California, Berkeley

External Links

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Best Scientists Citing Samuel L. Pfaff

Sylvia M. Evans

Sylvia M. Evans

University of Montana

Publications: 62

James Briscoe

James Briscoe

The Francis Crick Institute

Publications: 49

Silvia Arber

Silvia Arber

University of Basel

Publications: 46

Thomas M. Jessell

Thomas M. Jessell

Columbia University

Publications: 42

Lin Mei

Lin Mei

Case Western Reserve University

Publications: 40

Kenneth R. Chien

Kenneth R. Chien

Karolinska Institute

Publications: 36

Wen Cheng Xiong

Wen Cheng Xiong

Case Western Reserve University

Publications: 35

Michael G. Rosenfeld

Michael G. Rosenfeld

University of California, San Diego

Publications: 34

Johan Ericson

Johan Ericson

Karolinska Institute

Publications: 33

Antoon F.M. Moorman

Antoon F.M. Moorman

University of Amsterdam

Publications: 31

Joshua R. Sanes

Joshua R. Sanes

Harvard University

Publications: 31

Sally A. Camper

Sally A. Camper

University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

Publications: 30

Hynek Wichterle

Hynek Wichterle

Columbia University

Publications: 30

Martyn Goulding

Martyn Goulding

Salk Institute for Biological Studies

Publications: 29

François Guillemot

François Guillemot

The Francis Crick Institute

Publications: 29

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Alain Chédotal

Institut de la Vision

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