World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Environmental Sciences

D-Index
34
Citations
3998
World Ranking
9475
National Ranking
3397

Susan M. Pfiffner 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 Susan M. Pfiffner 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: 117 publications — 22nd percentile

22% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Susan M. Pfiffner 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 Susan M. Pfiffner 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: 34 D-Index — 3rd percentile

3% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Overview

Susan M. Pfiffner is affiliated with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in the United States. Their research primarily spans the fields of Environmental Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences, with a notable focus on several subfields including Ecology, Atmospheric Science, Environmental Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Environmental Engineering.

Their work investigates multiple topics related to microbial ecology and environmental processes, with key subjects such as:

  • Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
  • Climate change and permafrost
  • Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
  • Polar Research and Ecology
  • Radioactive element chemistry and processing
  • Groundwater flow and contamination studies
  • Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping

Recent publications by Pfiffner illustrate a strong engagement with permafrost environments, microbial communities in extreme and ancient habitats, and environmental contamination studies. Some of the recent papers include:

  • Genomic reconstruction of fossil and living microorganisms in ancient Siberian permafrost (2021), published in Microbiome
  • Characterization of subsurface media from locations up- and down-gradient of a uranium-contaminated aquifer (2020), published in Chemosphere
  • Comparative Metagenomics of the Active Layer and Permafrost from Low-Carbon Soil in the Canadian High Arctic (2021), published in Environmental Science & Technology
  • Detection of the deep biosphere in metamorphic rocks from the Chinese continental scientific drilling (2021), published in Geobiology
  • Microbial life in 25-m-deep boreholes in ancient permafrost illuminated by metagenomics (2023), published in Environmental Microbiome

Pfiffner frequently collaborates with a number of researchers including Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya, Elizaveta Rivkina, Xiaofen Wu, Daniel E. Williams, and Maggie C. Y. Lau. These collaborations reflect consistent joint contributions to the fields of environmental microbiology, ecology, and geosciences.

Their research outputs are distributed across various specialized publication venues, notably:

  • Microbiome
  • Chemosphere
  • Environmental Science & Technology
  • Geobiology
  • Environmental Microbiome

Best Publications

  • Desulfotomaculum and Methanobacterium spp. Dominate a 4- to 5-Kilometer-Deep Fault

    Duane P. Moser;Thomas M. Gihring;Fred J. Brockman;James K. Fredrickson

  • Alkaliphilus transvaalensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from a deep South African gold mine.

    Ken Takai;Duane P. Moser;Tullis C. Onstott;Nico Spoelstra

  • Comparison between geochemical and biological estimates of subsurface microbial activities.

    T. J. Phelps;E. M. Murphy;Susan M. Pfiffner;David C. White

  • Microbes in thawing permafrost: the unknown variable in the climate change equation

    David E Graham;Matthew D Wallenstein;Tatiana A Vishnivetskaya;Tatiana A Vishnivetskaya;Mark P Waldrop

  • Methods for recovery of deep terrestrial subsurface sediments for microbiological studies

    T.J. Phelps;C.B. Fliermans;T.R. Garland;S.M. Pfiffner

  • Microbial incorporation of 13C-labeled acetate at the field scale: detection of microbes responsible for reduction of U(VI).

    Yun-Juan Chang;Philip E. Long;Roland Geyer;Aaron D. Peacock

  • Validation of signature polarlipid fatty acid biomarkers for alkane-utilizing bacteria in soils and subsurface aquifer materials

    David B. Ringelberg;John D. Davis;Glen A. Smith;Susan M. Pfiffner

  • Indigenous and contaminant microbes in ultradeep mines.

    T. C. Onstott;Duane P. Moser;Susan M. Pfiffner;Jim K. Fredrickson

  • An active atmospheric methane sink in high Arctic mineral cryosols

    M C Y Lau;B T Stackhouse;A C Layton;A Chauhan

  • The Origin and Age of Biogeochemical Trends in Deep Fracture Water of the Witwatersrand Basin, South Africa

    T. C. Onstott;L.-H. Lin;M. Davidson;B. Mislowack

  • Commercial DNA extraction kits impact observed microbial community composition in permafrost samples

    Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya;Alice C. Layton;Maggie C. Y. Lau;Archana Chauhan

  • Microbial characterization of a JP-4 fuel-contaminated site using a combined lipid biomarker/polymerase chain reaction--denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE)-based approach.

    John R. Stephen;Yun Juan Chang;Ying Dong Gan;Aaron Peacock

  • Microbiological Comparisons within and across Contiguous Lacustrine, Paleosol, and Fluvial Subsurface Sediments

    T L Kieft;J K Fredrickson;J P McKinley;B N Bjornstad

  • Temporal Shifts in the Geochemistry and Microbial Community Structure of an Ultradeep Mine Borehole Following Isolation

    D. P. Moser;Tullis C. Onstott;J. K. Fredrickson;F. J. Brockman

  • Microbial community composition and diversity in Caspian Sea sediments

    Nagissa Mahmoudi;Michael S. Robeson;Hector F. Castro;Julian L. Fortney

  • Simulating the Cranfield geological carbon sequestration project with high-resolution static models and an accurate equation of state.

    Mohamad Reza Soltanian;Mohammad Amin Amooie;David R. Cole;David E. Graham

  • Geochemically Generated, Energy-Rich Substrates and Indigenous Microorganisms in Deep, Ancient Groundwater

    Thomas L. Kieft;Sean M. McCuddy;T. C. Onstott;Mark Davidson

  • Isolation of Halotolerant, Thermotolerant, Facultative Polymer-Producing Bacteria and Characterization of the Exopolymer

    S. M. Pfiffner;Michael J. McInerney;Gary E. Jenneman;Roy M. Knapp

  • Environmental proteomics reveals early microbial community responses to biostimulation at a uranium- and nitrate-contaminated site

    Karuna Chourey;Silke Nissen;Silke Nissen;Tatiana Vishnivetskaya;Manesh Shah

  • The unique chemistry of Eastern Mediterranean water masses selects for distinct microbial communities by depth.

    Stephen M. Techtmann;Julian L. Fortney;Kati A. Ayers;Dominique C. Joyner

  • Factors influencing the abundance and metabolic capacities of microorganisms in Eastern Coastal Plain sediments

    T. J. Phelps;Susan M. Pfiffner;K. A. Sargent;David C. White;David C. White

  • Deep Subsurface Microbial Biomass and Community Structure in Witwatersrand Basin Mines

    Susan M. Pfiffner;James M. Cantu;Amanda Smithgall;Aaron D. Peacock

Frequent Co-Authors

Tullis C. Onstott
Tullis C. Onstott Princeton University
Tommy J. Phelps
Tommy J. Phelps Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya
Tatiana A. Vishnivetskaya University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Anthony V. Palumbo
Anthony V. Palumbo Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Lyle G. Whyte
Lyle G. Whyte McGill University
David C. White
David C. White University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Robert L. Hettich
Robert L. Hettich Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Terry C. Hazen
Terry C. Hazen University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Lisa M. Pratt
Lisa M. Pratt Indiana University
James K. Fredrickson
James K. Fredrickson Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

For students pursuing Environmental Sciences, expanding knowledge through related fields can enhance career prospects. One valuable option is a gis degree. Geographic Information Systems are crucial in analyzing environmental data and managing natural resources, offering hands-on skills applicable in government, conservation, and urban planning roles.

Leadership and policy skills are also essential in environmental careers. Online 1 year mpa programs prepare graduates for public administration and policy-making positions, enabling them to influence sustainable development and environmental regulations effectively.

Understanding social dynamics plays a significant role in addressing environmental challenges. Earning a bachelors degree in sociology online provides foundational knowledge about societal behaviors and structures, helping to design impactful community-based environmental programs.

For those seeking advanced expertise without extended research commitments, certain doctoral programs online no dissertation offer flexible pathways to enhance credentials and leadership potential in environmental science education and administration.

Best Scientists Citing Susan M. Pfiffner

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles