In November, USF College of Public Health (COPH) assistant professor Dr. Rays Jiang, a founding member of the USF genomics program, was named a 2019 Global Highly Cited Researcher by the Web of Science Group, a citation index and research intelligence platform.

Jiang was among 6,216 researchers spanning 21 fields and nearly 60 nations to make the list, compiled with data and analysis from the Web of Science Group’s bibliometric experts.

The list identifies scientists and social scientists who produce multiple papers ranking in the top 1 percent by citations for their field and year of publication. “I believe the real meaning of science is to influence and transform human knowledge and actions,” said Jiang, who uses bioengineering, computer sciences, genetics and biochemistry in the study of human health, “and I am genuinely happy that my work is useful. I am also intensely proud of my lab members, a group of engineers, data scientists and biologists.”

In making the list, dubbed the Who’s Who of influential researchers, Jiang joins some esteemed company. Among the highly cited researchers are 23 Nobel laureates and 57 potential Nobel Prize recipients. Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, highly cited researchers are one in 1,000.

These researchers “demonstrate significant research influence among their peers,” according to the Web of Science Group website. “The Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list … identifies that small fraction of the researcher population that contributes disproportionately to extending the frontiers of knowledge … that make the world healthier, richer, more sustainable and more secure.”

Jiang had the added distinction of being one of 2,491 researchers appearing in more than one field.

“I am thrilled to see this,” said Jiang, “as it shines a spotlight on the interdisciplinary nature of our research. To solve real world problems like infectious and human genetic diseases, we need a set of quantitative and qualitative tools working in synergy. We are taking a first step to bridge some of these traditionally distinct domains together.”

In addition to Jiang, four other researchers named to the list have primary and/or secondary affiliations with USF.

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health