Especially in the natural and life sciences, citation numbers are documented carefully in various citation databases. The most widely recognised of these are Scopus, owned by Elsevier, and Web of Science, owned by Clarivate Analytics.
The researchers presented on this page belong to the Highly Cited Researchers list by Clarivate Analytics. To be included in the list, researchers must rank among the top one per cent by citations for their field in the Web of Science database. In general, the humanities and social sciences are poorly covered in citation databases.
The disciplinary categorisation on this page follows that of the Highly Cited Researchers list. It is based on the field of publications in which the researcher’s articles have been published as well as on the researcher’s own assessment. The categorisation is not based on, for example, the faculty or unit in which the researcher works.
The number of citations is not the only way to measure the quality of research. Nevertheless, the most highly cited researchers are undoubtedly among the top in their field.
Time and again, atmospheric sciences are strongly represented on the lists of the most highly cited researchers.
Their success partly stems from the research environment of the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), which houses some of the world’s most prominent competence in aerosols.
Veli-Matti Kerminen studies the formation mechanisms of atmospheric particles and their impact on the climate.
Kerminen leads a research group investigating interactions between aerosols, clouds and the climate.
Markku Kulmala studies the formation mechanisms of atmospheric aerosol particles. He has been the world’s most highly cited geoscientist since 2011.
Kulmala heads the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) and the Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC). He is also an Academy Professor.
Tuukka Petäjä is known for his aerosol research and especially for his development efforts focusing on aerosol research stations, measuring devices and techniques. He has played a key role in the development of measuring devices for the University of Helsinki research stations.
Petäjä heads the development of observation equipment for aerosol particles at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR).
Research in life sciences has grown stronger at the University of Helsinki especially after the establishment of HiLIFE – Helsinki Institute of Life Science.
Jaakko Kangasjärvi studies stress factors and stress-related signalling mechanisms at the cellular level in plants.
Kangasjärvi leads a research group focused on the formation of reactive oxygen species in response to stress in plants.
Willem de Vos studies the human microbiome, its contribution to health and diseases, as well as how, by shaping the microbiota, we can treat and prevent diseases.
De Vos leads a research group focused on the study of microbiota.