Five UCD researchers have placed in the top 1% most cited scientific researchers in the world, according to the 2020 “Highly Cited Researchers” report conducted by Clarivate Analytics. In total, 33 Irish based researchers placed on the list, 5 more than in 2019.

The UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering had three of its faculty listed as ‘highly cited’; Professor Colm O’Donnell, Professor Da-Wen Sun, and Professor Paula Bourke. This is the 6th time that O’Donnell and Da-Wen Sun have made the list since the annual report’s beginning 7 years ago.

Last year Professor Da-Wen Sun was among the world’s most-cited researchers in the field of Agricultural Sciences, with his work focusing primarily on computational fluid dynamics modeling and vacuum cooling. Sun’s work has been cited 29,812 times across 711 publications.

Professor O’Donnell, the Head of the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, has been cited more than 8,000 times across his 251 publications. Currently leading the Food Quality and Processing Pillar in UCD’s Institute of Food & Health, O’Donnell’s work focuses on spectroscopy, spectral imaging and bioprocessing.

This year was the first time that a female researcher from UCD was named on the list, Professor Bourke recognising her work in cold plasma bioscience and sustainable food processing projects. 

Professor Kenneth Dawson of the UCD School of Chemistry and Associate Professor Nigel Brunton of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science was also honoured in the list.

The ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ report focuses on the world’s most influential researchers, rating them by the frequency at which their work is cited. In total 6,167 researchers were recognised with the title of ‘Highly Cited Researcher’, including 26 Nobel laureates.