World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Chemistry 102 1148 1015 454 368 426 42226
Physics 104 1430 1354 750 698 477 46261

W. E. Moerner publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by W. E. Moerner between 1974 and 2025, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. W. E. Moerner published across 52 years, from 1974 to 2025, averaging 11.5 papers a year. Output peaked at 32 publications in 2014. 19 of the 599 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
10 20 30
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1974 to 2025. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 32. Peak 32 publications in 2014. 1974: 3 publications 1975: 0 publications 1976: 0 publications 1977: 0 publications 1978: 0 publications 1979: 0 publications 1980: 0 publications 1981: 4 publications 1982: 4 publications 1983: 5 publications 1984: 7 publications 1985: 8 publications 1986: 9 publications 1987: 7 publications 1988: 5 publications 1989: 6 publications 1990: 10 publications 1991: 13 publications 1992: 16 publications 1993: 16 publications 1994: 24 publications 1995: 6 publications 1996: 9 publications 1997: 10 publications 1998: 14 publications 1999: 10 publications 2000: 7 publications 2001: 7 publications 2002: 12 publications 2003: 19 publications 2004: 14 publications 2005: 17 publications 2006: 15 publications 2007: 17 publications 2008: 11 publications 2009: 20 publications 2010: 20 publications 2011: 20 publications 2012: 21 publications 2013: 17 publications 2014: 32 publications 2015: 26 publications 2016: 9 publications 2017: 10 publications 2018: 22 publications 2019: 19 publications 2020: 20 publications 2021: 9 publications 2022: 19 publications 2023: 11 publications 2024: 11 publications 2025: 8 publications
1974 2025

599 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
W. E. Moerner: publications per year, 1974 to 2025
Year Publications
1974 3
1975 0
1976 0
1977 0
1978 0
1979 0
1980 0
1981 4
1982 4
1983 5
1984 7
1985 8
1986 9
1987 7
1988 5
1989 6
1990 10
1991 13
1992 16
1993 16
1994 24
1995 6
1996 9
1997 10
1998 14
1999 10
2000 7
2001 7
2002 12
2003 19
2004 14
2005 17
2006 15
2007 17
2008 11
2009 20
2010 20
2011 20
2012 21
2013 17
2014 32
2015 26
2016 9
2017 10
2018 22
2019 19
2020 20
2021 9
2022 19
2023 11
2024 11
2025 8
Total 599
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W. E. Moerner publication distribution in Chemistry in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Chemistry in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where W. E. Moerner sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
250 500 750 1,000 1,250
Bar chart with 63 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 61–80 to 1,295+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 1,350. Most scientists, 1,350, have 161–180 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 1,295 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 421–440 publications, is where this scientist sits. 61–80 publications: 66 scientists 81–100 publications: 302 scientists 101–120 publications: 623 scientists 121–140 publications: 918 scientists 141–160 publications: 1,218 scientists 161–180 publications: 1,350 scientists 181–200 publications: 1,344 scientists 201–220 publications: 1,281 scientists 221–240 publications: 1,216 scientists 241–260 publications: 1,100 scientists 261–280 publications: 979 scientists 281–300 publications: 939 scientists 301–320 publications: 764 scientists 321–340 publications: 643 scientists 341–360 publications: 628 scientists 361–380 publications: 522 scientists 381–400 publications: 459 scientists 401–420 publications: 397 scientists 421–440 publications: 327 scientists 441–460 publications: 270 scientists 461–480 publications: 265 scientists 481–500 publications: 252 scientists 501–520 publications: 201 scientists 521–540 publications: 185 scientists 541–560 publications: 148 scientists 561–580 publications: 148 scientists 581–600 publications: 132 scientists 601–620 publications: 114 scientists 621–640 publications: 104 scientists 641–660 publications: 91 scientists 661–680 publications: 92 scientists 681–700 publications: 73 scientists 701–720 publications: 57 scientists 721–740 publications: 54 scientists 741–760 publications: 67 scientists 761–780 publications: 45 scientists 781–800 publications: 46 scientists 801–820 publications: 39 scientists 821–840 publications: 32 scientists 841–860 publications: 36 scientists 861–880 publications: 29 scientists 881–900 publications: 26 scientists 901–920 publications: 24 scientists 921–940 publications: 14 scientists 941–960 publications: 23 scientists 961–980 publications: 28 scientists 981–1,000 publications: 15 scientists 1,001–1,020 publications: 29 scientists 1,021–1,040 publications: 12 scientists 1,041–1,060 publications: 19 scientists 1,061–1,080 publications: 12 scientists 1,081–1,100 publications: 6 scientists 1,101–1,120 publications: 8 scientists 1,121–1,140 publications: 12 scientists 1,141–1,160 publications: 5 scientists 1,161–1,180 publications: 6 scientists 1,181–1,200 publications: 14 scientists 1,201–1,220 publications: 7 scientists 1,221–1,240 publications: 2 scientists 1,241–1,260 publications: 6 scientists 1,261–1,280 publications: 4 scientists 1,281–1,294 publications: 6 scientists 1,295+ publications: 100 scientists
61–80 publications 1,295+

This scientist: 426 publications — 83rd percentile

83% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 1,295 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Chemistry scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 17,934 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
61–80 66
81–100 302
101–120 623
121–140 918
141–160 1,218
161–180 1,350
181–200 1,344
201–220 1,281
221–240 1,216
241–260 1,100
261–280 979
281–300 939
301–320 764
321–340 643
341–360 628
361–380 522
381–400 459
401–420 397
421–440 327 426
441–460 270
461–480 265
481–500 252
501–520 201
521–540 185
541–560 148
561–580 148
581–600 132
601–620 114
621–640 104
641–660 91
661–680 92
681–700 73
701–720 57
721–740 54
741–760 67
761–780 45
781–800 46
801–820 39
821–840 32
841–860 36
861–880 29
881–900 26
901–920 24
921–940 14
941–960 23
961–980 28
981–1,000 15
1,001–1,020 29
1,021–1,040 12
1,041–1,060 19
1,061–1,080 12
1,081–1,100 6
1,101–1,120 8
1,121–1,140 12
1,141–1,160 5
1,161–1,180 6
1,181–1,200 14
1,201–1,220 7
1,221–1,240 2
1,241–1,260 6
1,261–1,280 4
1,281–1,294 6
1,295+ 100
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W. E. Moerner D-index placement in Chemistry in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Chemistry scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where W. E. Moerner sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
250 500 750 1,000
Bar chart with 61 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 40–41 to 159+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 1,051. Most scientists, 1,051, have 56–57 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 159 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 102–103 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 40–41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 612 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 808 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 776 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 835 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 861 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 872 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 933 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 1,051 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 930 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 882 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 834 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 731 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 775 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 683 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 646 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 561 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 501 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 437 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 388 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 354 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 292 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 275 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 254 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 235 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 185 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 192 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 155 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 163 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 125 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 105 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 105 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 112 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 88 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 68 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 69 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 65 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 79 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 61 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 44 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 37 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 40 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 33 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 26 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 34 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 35 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 25 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 27 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 17 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 16 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 20 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 20 scientists 144–145 D-Index: 15 scientists 146–147 D-Index: 9 scientists 148–149 D-Index: 9 scientists 150–151 D-Index: 16 scientists 152–153 D-Index: 11 scientists 154–155 D-Index: 9 scientists 156–157 D-Index: 3 scientists 158 D-Index: 3 scientists 159+ D-Index: 98 scientists
40–41 D-Index 159+

This scientist: 102 D-Index — 94th percentile

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

The last bar groups every scientist with 159 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Chemistry scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 17,934 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
40–41 289
42–43 612
44–45 808
46–47 776
48–49 835
50–51 861
52–53 872
54–55 933
56–57 1,051
58–59 930
60–61 882
62–63 834
64–65 731
66–67 775
68–69 683
70–71 646
72–73 561
74–75 501
76–77 437
78–79 388
80–81 354
82–83 292
84–85 275
86–87 254
88–89 235
90–91 185
92–93 192
94–95 155
96–97 163
98–99 125
100–101 105
102–103 105 102
104–105 112
106–107 88
108–109 68
110–111 69
112–113 65
114–115 79
116–117 61
118–119 44
120–121 37
122–123 40
124–125 33
126–127 26
128–129 34
130–131 35
132–133 25
134–135 27
136–137 17
138–139 16
140–141 20
142–143 20
144–145 15
146–147 9
148–149 9
150–151 16
152–153 11
154–155 9
156–157 3
158 3
159+ 98
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Research.com Recognitions

  • 2015 - SPIE Fellow
  • 2014 - Nobel Prize for the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy
  • 2013 - Peter Debye Award, American Chemical Society (ACS)
  • 2008 - Wolf Prize in Chemistry, Wolf Foundation for the ingenious creation of a new field of science, single molecule spectroscopy and electrochemistry, with impact at the nanoscopic regime, from the molecular and cellular domain to complex material systems.
  • 2007 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2003 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 2001 - Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy, American Physical Society
  • 2001 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1992 - Fellow of American Physical Society (APS) Citation For contributions to highresolution laser spectroscopy of solids, including the first demonstration of singlemolecule detection in solids

Overview

W. E. Moerner is affiliated with Stanford University in the United States. Their primary research interests span the fields of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and engineering, with substantial work in molecular biology, biophysics, biomedical engineering, structural biology, and electrical and electronic engineering.

The scientist's work focuses on a range of topics related to advanced microscopy and molecular techniques. Main topics include:

  • Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
  • Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
  • Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
  • Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
  • Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications
  • Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms

Moerner has published extensively in journals such as the Biophysical Journal, bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Communications, and The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. Publication venues with frequent appearances include:

  • Biophysical Journal (16 publications)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (13 publications)
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (4 publications)
  • Nature Communications (3 publications)
  • The Journal of Physical Chemistry B (3 publications)

Recent noteworthy papers authored or coauthored by Moerner include:

  • "Super-resolution Microscopy with Single Molecules in Biology and Beyond-Essentials, Current Trends, and Future Challenges," 2020, Journal of the American Chemical Society
  • "Genome-wide CRISPR screens reveal a specific ligand for the glycan-binding immune checkpoint receptor Siglec-7," 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "Selective sequestration of signalling proteins in a membraneless organelle reinforces the spatial regulation of asymmetry in Caulobacter crescentus," 2020, Nature Microbiology
  • "Cryogenic single-molecule fluorescence annotations for electron tomography reveal in situ organization of key proteins in Caulobacter," 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • "Deep learning in single-molecule microscopy: fundamentals, caveats, and recent developments [Invited]," 2020, Biomedical Optics Express

Frequent collaborators include Peter D. Dahlberg, Davis Perez, Anish R. Roy, Lucy Shapiro, and Saumya Saurabh.

W. E. Moerner's research contributions have been recognized through various awards and honors, including the Nobel Prize in 2014 for the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy. Other accolades include:

  • SPIE Fellow (2015)
  • Peter Debye Award, American Chemical Society (ACS) (2013)
  • Wolf Prize in Chemistry, Wolf Foundation (2008), for pioneering the field of single molecule spectroscopy and electrochemistry
  • Membership in the National Academy of Sciences (2007)
  • Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) (2003)
  • Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy, American Physical Society (2001)
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2001)
  • Fellow of American Physical Society (APS) (1992), cited for contributions to high-resolution laser spectroscopy of solids and first demonstration of single-molecule detection in solids

Best Publications

  • Large single-molecule fluorescence enhancements produced by a bowtie nanoantenna

    Anika A. Kinkhabwala;Zongfu Yu;Shanhui Fan;Yuri Avlasevich

  • Introduction to photorefractive nonlinear optics

    Pochi Yeh;W. E. Moerner

  • Optical detection and spectroscopy of single molecules in a solid

    William E. Moerner;Lothar Kador

  • On/off blinking and switching behaviour of single molecules of green fluorescent protein

    Robert M. Dickson;Andrew B. Cubitt;Roger Y. Tsien;W. E. Moerner

  • Illuminating single molecules in condensed matter.

    W. E. Moerner;Michel Orrit

  • Three-dimensional single-molecule fluorescence imaging beyond the diffraction limit using a double-helix point spread function

    Rafael Piestun;Sri Rama Prasanna Pavani;Michael A. Thompson;Julie S. Biteen

  • Improving the Mismatch between Light and Nanoscale Objects with Gold Bowtie Nanoantennas

    P. J. Schuck;D. P. Fromm;A. Sundaramurthy;G. S. Kino

  • Methods of single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy

    W. E. Moerner;David P. Fromm

  • Polymeric photorefractive materials

    W. E. Moerner;Scott M. Silence

  • Single photons on demand from a single molecule at room temperature

    B. Lounis;W. E. Moerner

  • Persistent Spectral Hole-Burning: Science and Applications

    William E. Moerner

  • Photon antibunching in the fluorescence of a single dye molecule trapped in a solid

    Th. Basché;W. E. Moerner;M. Orrit;H. Talon

  • Observation of the photorefractive effect in a polymer.

    Stephen Ducharme;J. C. Scott;R. J. Twieg;W. E. Moerner

  • Gap-Dependent Optical Coupling of Single “Bowtie” Nanoantennas Resonant in the Visible

    David P. Fromm;Arvind Sundaramurthy;P. James Schuck;Gordon Kino

  • Orientationally enhanced photorefractive effect in polymers

    W. E. Moerner;S. M. Silence;F. Hache;Gary C. Bjorklund

  • Organic photorefractives: mechanisms, materials, and applications.

    Oksana Ostroverkhova;W. E. Moerner

  • New directions in single-molecule imaging and analysis

    W. E. Moerner

  • A Dozen Years of Single-Molecule Spectroscopy in Physics, Chemistry, and Biophysics

    W. E. Moerner

  • Three-Dimensional Localization of Single Molecules for Super-Resolution Imaging and Single-Particle Tracking

    Alex von Diezmann;Yoav Shechtman;W. E. Moerner

  • Three-dimensional imaging of single molecules solvated in pores of poly(acrylamide) gels.

    Robert M. Dickson;David J. Norris;Yih-Lin Tzeng;W.E. Moerner

  • Photon antibunching in single CdSe/ZnS quantum dot fluorescence

    B. Lounis;B. Lounis;H.A. Bechtel;D. Gerion;P. Alivisatos

Frequent Co-Authors

Robert J. Twieg
Robert J. Twieg Kent State University
Lucy Shapiro
Lucy Shapiro Stanford University
Judith Frydman
Judith Frydman Stanford University
Stephen Ducharme
Stephen Ducharme University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Gordon S. Kino
Gordon S. Kino Stanford University
Brahim Lounis
Brahim Lounis University of Bordeaux
Rafael Piestun
Rafael Piestun University of Colorado Boulder
Soichi Wakatsuki
Soichi Wakatsuki Stanford University
Robert M. Dickson
Robert M. Dickson Georgia Institute of Technology
Michel Orrit
Michel Orrit Leiden University

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