A university's position in the ranking is determined by aggregating the D-indexes of all ranking scholars whose primary area of publication falls within Engineering and Technology and are affiliated with the institution. The D-index exclusively considers publications and citation data related to the evaluated discipline, ensuring domain-specific accuracy.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
The ranking initiative undertook a comprehensive survey of 279,971 scientist profiles across various bibliometric sources. Of these, 50,429 profiles within the Engineering and Technology domain were subject to detailed analysis. A key eligibility threshold was set at a D-index of 30 for each scholar, with the majority of high-tier publications required to be in Engineering and Technology. Additionally, a scientist’s awards and achievements in the field were recognized during assessment.
To maintain rigor, the D-index qualifying threshold for top researchers increases in increments of 10, tailored to the total number of estimated scholars within each specific discipline. This ensures that the upper 1% of leading scholars are properly incorporated. Furthermore, only those with a maximum proximity of 30% or less between their general H-index and D-index were considered, thereby reinforcing the focus on true disciplinary impact. Recognition of significant awards and achievements in Engineering and Technology was also a contributing factor.
Verification and Assessment Practices
Mindful that quantitative data alone cannot capture the full spectrum of a scholar’s contributions, the ranking team subjected all selected scientist profiles to manual verification processes. Each profile was cross-referenced against publications available in a diverse array of trusted sources, lending additional credibility to the results.
Although the quantity of publications in prominent journals or conference proceedings does not influence a scientist’s placement in the Research.com ranking, it serves as a valuable supplemental indicator of individual research impact within specific scientific domains.
Final ranking positions are calculated using each researcher’s H-index as sourced from OpenAlex and CrossRef—two of the most prominent, authoritative bibliometric databases accessible to the global research community. We invite interested parties to consult the detailed explanation of our assessment and selection process on our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Agenda
The primary mission driving the creation of this ranking is to motivate scientists, business leaders, and policymakers worldwide to follow the trajectories established by leading experts. Our goal is to equip the global research community with relevant, transparent data to identify top contributors in various scientific disciplines, in numerous countries, and within specific research institutions. Through this initiative, we aspire to bolster interdisciplinary collaboration, foster scientific transparency, and showcase the outstanding achievements of the research community.
Summary of Key Results
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Top 3 Malaysian institutions by number of leading scientists:
- University of Technology Malaysia — 28 scientists
- University of Malaya — 22 scientists
- National University of Malaysia — 14 scientists
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The world’s most prominent institutions in Engineering and Technology include:
Rice University, Pennsylvania State University, University College Dublin, HEC Montréal, Quaid-i-Azam University, Northwestern University, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, Penn State Harrisburg, and The University of Texas at Arlington.
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Top individual scholars globally:
- Professor Frederick E. Shelton (Johnson & Johnson, United States), ranked #1 with a D-index of 257
- Menachem Elimelech (Rice University), ranked #2 with a D-index of 200
- Bruce E. Logan (Pennsylvania State University), ranked #3 with a D-index of 163
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Overall metrics:
- Average total D-index for the top 5% universities: 2,073 (compared to an average of 305 across all 1,290 ranked institutions)
- Average number of published Engineering and Technology articles by scientists from the top 5% of scholars: 10,087 (compared to 1,480 for all universities)
- Average number of citations for researchers from the top 1% universities: 1,279,971 (compared to 71,259 for all ranked universities)
This ranking represents the outcome of diligent research, multiple layers of verification, and an unwavering commitment to accuracy and academic integrity. We trust that these findings will serve as a valuable tool for institutional benchmarking, academic collaboration, and the recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of Engineering and Technology.
