University of Adelaide is home to world-leading researchers

The University of Adelaide’s ability to attract talent to South Australia and nurture world-leading researchers has been further confirmed by the latest list of the world’s most influential researchers.

Adelaide experts in nanotechnology and advanced materials, computer science, engineering, agricultural science, medicine and other fields have all been named among the world’s Highly Cited Researchers 2020 from the Web of Science Group.

The University of Adelaide has jumped from 8th to 5th in Australia in terms of the number of researchers listed across 17 fields on the Highly Cited list.

Regarded as the world’s most influential researchers, the annual list names scientists and social scientists who produced multiple papers ranking in the top 1% of citations in 21 broad research fields. It is a measure of the number of times their research is referenced by other researchers – demonstrating significant research impact globally.

“Our researchers have been acknowledged as among the world’s best, cementing Adelaide as a national and international hub for talent that is central to advancing our society and securing our future,” says Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Adelaide.

“What is particularly pleasing is that many of these research areas are critical to industry, including Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science and Plant and Animal Science. These underpin significant sectors of strategic importance to our state and our nation, including food security, new energy technologies, artificial intelligence, and environmental remediation.

“The University of Adelaide has taken its responsibility for fostering such talent seriously. Over the past year we’ve been investing in new people through our Top Talent program in other areas critical to our state, including defence and international security, critical minerals and medicine – with more to come. This is part of our strategic plan to be a magnet for talent. We aim to recruit, nurture and sustain the best minds so we continue to deliver excellence for South Australia,” Professor Middelberg says.

“Our researchers have been acknowledged as among the world’s best, cementing Adelaide as a national and international hub for talent that is central to advancing our society and securing our future."Professor Anton Middelberg, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

“Congratulations to our highly talented researchers for receiving such global recognition for their work.”

Among those on the list is Professor Matthew Gilliham, Director of the Waite Research Institute, the University’s flagship for agriculture, wine and food research and innovation. Professor Gilliham’s research into crop plant nutrition and stress resilience places him among the best in the world in the Plant and Animal Science field.

Three Adelaide researchers have been listed in two different fields each: Professor Shizhang Qiao, Chair of Nanotechnology in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials (listed in the Chemistry and Materials Science fields), Professor Shaobin Wang, also from the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials (listed in the Chemistry and Engineering fields) and Professor Peng Shi, from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (listed in the Computer Science and Engineering fields).

A number of researchers have been listed in a “cross-field” category which means an exceptionally broad performance based on high-impact papers across several fields.

The University of Adelaide’s Highly Cited Researchers 2020:

Dr Xiaoguang Duan, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Cross-Field

Professor Matthew Gilliham, Waite Research Institute and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine – Plant and Animal Science;

Dr Yan Jiao, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Chemistry

Professor Shizhang Qiao, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Chemistry and Materials Science

Dr Jingrun Ran, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Cross-Field

Professor M. Santosh, School of Physical Sciences – Geosciences

Professor Peng Shi, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering – Computer Science and Engineering

Professor John A. Spertus, Adelaide Medical School – Clinical Medicine

Dr Cheng Tang, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Cross-Field

Professor Emeritus Stephen D. Tyerman, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine – Plant and Animal Science

Professor Shaobin Wang, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Chemistry and Engineering

Dr Yao Zheng, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Chemistry     

Other Highly Cited Researchers 2020 appointed to the University of Adelaide:

Dr Dongliang Chao (recently joined University of Adelaide), School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials – Cross-Field

Professor Mark Jenkinson, Professor of Neuroimaging, School of Computer Science and Australian Institute for Machine Learning (with University of Oxford) – Neuroscience and Behaviour

Professor Dabing Zhang, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine (with Shanghai Jiao Tong University) – Plant and Animal Science.