The prestigious list, compiled annually by Stanford University and Elsevier, highlights researchers based on the influence of their work across all scientific disciplines. The recognised academics from Portsmouth span various faculties, including astrophysics, engineering, psychology, business, and the creative industries.
This achievement follows the recent release of the Scholarly Index's Top1000 Scholar ranking, which featured 399 researchers from the University of Portsmouth. This second global list includes two members of the University's Executive Board: Professor Vikas Kumar, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), and Professor Anne Murphy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).
Unlike metrics that solely count publications, the Stanford University and Elsevier ranking evaluates a scientist's influence by analysing citation impact. Researchers are categorised into 22 broad scientific fields and over 170 subfields, ensuring comparisons are made within their specific disciplines. The single-year list, which measures citations received during 2025, forms the basis for this recognition.
Professor Vikas Kumar expressed pride in the results, stating, “To see 42 of our colleagues named among the world's most influential researchers, alongside almost 400 in the Top1000 Scholar rankings, is a real point of pride for Portsmouth.” He added that the results reflect research addressing significant challenges and strengthening partnerships with industry and communities.
The University of Portsmouth has a strong track record in research and education, having received a Gold rating in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, it was ranked third among modern UK universities for research power. Its economic and societal impact was also highly rated in the 2025 Knowledge Exchange Framework.
Furthermore, in July 2026, the University achieved its best-ever result in the 2026 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey, ranking fourth out of 48 UK universities for overall satisfaction.
