Seven College of Health & Human Sciences faculty members are ranked among the most-cited researchers in the world.
Seven faculty members in the College of Health & Human Sciences have been named to the latest Stanford University list of the world's top 2% of scientists, a ranking that measures how often researchers' work is cited by others.
Elsevier and Professor John P. A. Ioannidis released the newest update of the list, formally known as the Science-Wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators, on Oct. 7. It includes roughly 250,000 researchers worldwide, drawn from every field and discipline.
Why Citations Matter
When researchers publish a study, other scientists who build on that work cite it in their own publications. Each citation is a sign that a study has shaped how others think, test ideas, and move their fields forward.
The more often a researcher's work is cited, the broader its reach. High citation counts reflect impact, respect, and authority within a field, and earning a place in the top 2% means a researcher's work stands out among scientists across all disciplines worldwide.
The list ranks researchers in two ways: single-year impact, based on citations from the most recent year, and career-long impact, based on citations across an entire career.
CHHS Faculty Included in Top 2% for Single-Year Impact (2025)
- Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, associate dean for innovation, chair and Horn Professor, Nutritional Sciences
- Sandra J. Huston, professor, School of Financial Planning
- Stacy H. Lee, associate professor, Hospitality, Fashion Design and Retail Management
- Sergej Ostojic, professor, Nutritional Sciences
- Debajyoti Pati, professor of interior design, Department of Design
- Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam, professor, Nutritional Sciences
- Jon R. Webb, associate professor of addictive disorders and recovery studies, Community, Family, and Addiction Sciences
CHHS Faculty Included in Top 2% for Career-Long Impact
- Nikhil V. Dhurandhar
- Sandra J. Huston
- Sergej Ostojic
- Debajyoti Pati
Influence Across the Field
"It is a great honor to be included in the top 2% of the world's scientists based on citations of their work," Dhurandhar said. "The more relevant your research is to others, the more often it is cited. Ranking in the top 2% speaks to the influence and relevance of one's work in the scientific community."
Malinda J. Colwell, associate dean for research and graduate students and professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, said the recognition reflects the strength of research across the college.
"This recognition is a testament to the importance and reach of these scholars' research," Colwell said. "We are proud to celebrate each of them, and their work highlights the cutting-edge research happening in the College of Health & Human Sciences."