Each institution's position in the ranking is determined by aggregating the D-indexes (Discipline H-index) of all scholars affiliated with that university whose primary publication area is Mathematics. The D-index considers exclusively publications and citation data within the field of Mathematics, providing a focused view of scholarly activity and influence. Only scholars whose main research output resides in Mathematics were included, ensuring discipline-specific representation in the evaluation.
Scope and Criteria of the Research
For the current edition, Research.com examined 279,971 scientist profiles identified from various bibliometric databases. Within Mathematics, 15,282 scientist profiles were thoroughly analyzed. To ensure the highest quality, only scientists with a minimum D-index of 30 were considered, with the majority of their publications classified in the Mathematics domain.
The qualifying D-index threshold for top researchers was incrementally adjusted, by steps of 10, relative to the total number of scholars estimated for each scientific discipline. This method guarantees that the most distinguished 1% of scholars are incorporated into the final list, providing a robust representation of leading talent. Additional criteria required that there was proximity of 30% or less between a scientist’s overall H-index and their Mathematics-specific D-index, ensuring that Mathematical research is the core of their contributions. Furthermore, distinguished achievements and major awards in Mathematics were also evaluated as part of the selection process.
Verification and Data Validation Practices
Recognizing the inherent limitations of quantitative data, the Research.com team performed comprehensive manual verification of all scientist profiles under consideration. These profiles were cross-referenced against publications in a broad array of reputable sources to verify accuracy and authenticity.
While a scholar’s position in the ranking is based primarily on their H-index as compiled from OpenAlex and CrossRef—the leading bibliometric databases available—Research.com acknowledges that the number of articles published in high-impact journals and conference proceedings, while not directly affecting ranking positions, remains an important secondary indicator of contribution and influence in the field.
All data and profiles undergo meticulous validation to ensure the dependability and relevance of the ranking outcomes. For full details on the sophisticated methodology utilized, please refer to our methodology page.
Research.com’s Agenda and Mission
Research.com’s mission is to inspire scientists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers around the world to explore research directions followed by leading experts. The ranking aims to empower the global research community by providing transparent, reliable insights into who the top mathematicians are, both within specific countries and individual research institutions. In doing so, we seek to foster collaboration, inform strategic decision-making, and celebrate scientific achievement.
Key Results of the 2024 Mathematics Ranking
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Top 3 Brazilian institutions by number of leading scientists:
- Universidade de São Paulo – 6 scientists
- State University of Campinas – 5 scientists
- Federal University of Pernambuco – 3 scientists
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The world's most prominent Mathematics scholars, as represented in our global ranking: Temple University, Brown University, Paul Sabatier University, California Institute of Technology, Lebanese American University, University of California, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv University, Tsinghua University, Stanford University, and Columbia University.
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Top 3 individuals globally:
- Professor Donald B. Rubin (Temple University) – D-index: 135
- George Em Karniadakis (Brown University) – D-index: 133
- Didier Dubois (Paul Sabatier University) – D-index: 131
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Statistical insights for universities included in the ranking:
- Average total D-index for the top 5% universities: 1192
- Average total D-index for all 824 ranked institutions: 179
- Average number of published articles in Mathematics by scientists in the top 5% universities: 4,426
- Average number of published articles for all 824 institutions: 798
- Average number of citations of researchers in the top 1% universities: 279,971
- Average number of citations for all 824 institutions: 53,143
This edition of the Research.com Best Mathematics Universities in Brazil Ranking was developed with careful attention to rigor, impartiality, and scholarly relevance, and is intended as a tool for scientists, institutional leaders, and policymakers seeking insight into the landscape of excellence in Mathematics research.
