Nov 12, 2025
A testament to the quality of cutting-edge research: 13 TUD researchers are among the most cited worldwide
Eleven TUD-own researchers and two stating TUD as their second affiliation are among the world's most cited academics in their respective disciplines. This is one of the latest findings of the Highly-Cited Researcher Rankings, analyzed by the Institute for Scientific Information from the American company Clarivate Analytics. This is a significant improvement compared to 2024, proving TUD's research strength, international competitiveness and shining scientific reputation. Nationally, TUD has reasserted its research prowess and once again positioned itself in the top group of universities in Germany.
"The fact that we have now been able to build upon the already superb results of previous years is outstanding proof of the research strength of our scientists. They make decisive contributions to the state of research in their respective disciplines, which in turn have a particularly strong impact on the scientific communities. The results of the current ranking of the Highly Cited Researchers underpin TUD’s position as a research-strong, University of Excellence," emphasizes Prof. Angela Rösen-Wolff, Vice-Rector Research and Technology Transfer at TUD.
This year, 6,868 researchers have made the HCR list. Based on the number of citations, they are the world’s most influential researchers. Amongst these, 363 are researchers working in Germany. With thirteen researchers included in the list, TUD is again one of the most highly represented institutions worldwide. Amongst the 3,562 distinctions awarded across the 21 research fields of the Essential Science Indicators (ESI), only 227 researchers are listed in two ESI fields — including TUD’s Professor Xinliang Feng, recognized in the fields of Chemistry and Materials Science.
Exemplary for excellence and integrity in research
David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, added: "The list of highly-cited researchers identifies and recognizes outstanding, individual researchers at TUD who have made a significant and far-reaching impact in their fields. They are exemplary for excellence in their research disciplines and for integrity in their publications and citations. These researchers continue to shape the future of technology and science worldwide, delivering innovations that drive societal progress."
The data company Clarivate Analytics lists scientists who have been involved in several of the most cited one percent of publications in their field over the past decade, categorized by publication year. The evaluation is based on the Science Citation Index Expanded™ and the Social Sciences Citation Index™. The past eleven years were analyzed for this year's HCR list. In addition to being a personal distinction for the researchers, the result equally reflects the outstanding performance of their teams.
Background: Most cited TUD researchers (in alphabetical order)
The following ranking takes into account the research fields of the persons concerned and includes links to their profiles in TUD's Research Information System (FIS).
TUD researchers
Alberti, Simon, Prof. Dr. rer. nat., Chair of Cellular Biochemistry, Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life: Category Molecular Biology and Genetics
Chernikov, Alexey, Prof. Dr. rer. nat., Chair of Ultrafast Microscopy and Photonics (ct.qmat), Clusters of Excellence ct.qmat: Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter: Category Physics
Feng, Xinliang, Prof. Dr. rer. nat., Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed): Category Chemistry and Category Materials Science (second affiliation Max Planck Society)
Franzmann, Titus M., Dr. rer. nat., Chair of Cellular Biochemistry: Category Cross-Field
Heine, Thomas, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil., Chair of Theoretical Chemistry: Category Chemistry
Jahnel, Marcus, Dr. rer. nat., Dynamics of Biomolecules (Research Group), Clusters of Excellence Physics of Life (PoL): Category Cross-Field
Kaskel, Stefan, Prof. Dr. rer. nat., Chair of Inorganic Chemistry I, CARE - Climate-Neutral and Resource-Efficient Construction: Category Chemistry
Maharana, Shovamayee, Postdoc 2019-2021 (now: Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Science): Category Cross-Field
Mikolajick, Thomas, Prof. Dr.-Ing., Chair of Nanoelectronics, Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed): Category Cross-Field (second affiliation NaMLab GmbH, Germany)
Yu, Minghao, Dr. rer. nat., Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed): Category Cross-Field (second affiliation Max Planck Society)
Zscheischler, Jakob, Prof. Dr. rer. nat., Chair of Data Analytics in Hydro Sciences: Category Geosciences (second affiliation Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research UFZ)
Other researchers affiliated with TUD
Schroeder, Uwe, Dr. rer. nat., Dielectric Materials (NaMLab GmbH, affiliated institute of TUD): Category Cross-Field
Zhuang, Xiaodong, Dr. rer. nat., (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China Mainland / TUD): Category Cross-Field
Background: Highly-Cited Researchers
Highly-cited researchers boast a significant and far-reaching influence in their fields of research. This small part of the global research community contributes disproportionately to the expansion of knowledge boundaries and to innovations that make the world healthier and more sustainable, all the while driving social change. Each selected researcher has authored a minimum number of highly-cited articles (research documents that rank in the top 1% of cited articles in the Web of Science Core Collection for their subject area and publication year over the last eleven years) and a minimum number of citations. Citation frequency, however, is not the only selection indicator. This list, which is based on citation data, is subsequently refined using other quantitative key figures, qualitative analyses and expert opinions. The more comprehensive selection process is designed to highlight researchers who have demonstrated outstanding research achievements and integrity in their publications and citations. Adding enhanced filters to circumvent hyperauthorship, excessive self-citations, anomalous citation patterns, etc. ensures that recognized researchers meet the benchmarks required for the Highly-Cited Researchers program.
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