30 NIT Rourkela Researchers Make Global Top 2% List
NIT Rourkela has earned international recognition for its research excellence, with 30 members of its academic community featuring in a prestigious list of the world’s top 2 per cent of scientists. The selection includes 29 faculty members and one PhD graduate of the institute.
The ranking, compiled by Stanford University professor John P. A. Ioannidis and his research team, evaluates scientists worldwide using a composite indicator that measures their research performance and academic influence. It covers the world’s top 1,00,000 scientists as well as leading researchers across individual subject areas.
The achievement highlights NIT Rourkela’s contributions across a diverse range of disciplines, including biotechnology, life sciences, materials and metallurgical engineering, mathematics, chemical engineering, medical engineering, physics, astronomy, civil engineering, mining engineering, electronics and communication, ceramic engineering, food process engineering, humanities and social sciences.
Congratulating the selected researchers, NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao described the recognition as a significant milestone for the institute. He said the achievement reflected the quality and international relevance of research undertaken by its faculty and scholars. He also expressed hope that their accomplishments would motivate students and emerging researchers to pursue excellence in science and innovation.
The ranking assesses researchers based on several indicators, including publication citations and the h-index, which measures both research output and citation impact. It also considers individual contributions to published research to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of academic influence.
In a further achievement, 19 NIT Rourkela researchers have been recognised in the 2026 Stanford list under the career-long impact category, acknowledging their sustained contributions to research and academia over the course of their careers.
