Published last September, the report compiles citation data from over nine million scientists across various disciplines. The comprehensive analysis utilizes several standardized citation indicators, including the h-index, the co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, and the position of authors in scientific articles. The study distinguishes between two main categories of impact: career-long performance and the effect achieved in 2024.
The first category assesses impact throughout the career and highlights six researchers who have demonstrated sustained influence in their respective fields. The academics recognized are Dr. José Zagal, Dr. Eduardo Lissi, Dr. Mikhail Plyushchay, Dr. Carlos Lizama, Dr. Hernán Henríquez, and Dr. Dennis Siginer, whose work spans key areas including energy, chemistry, theoretical physics, mathematics, and engineering.
The second category, which evaluates recent impact based on citations obtained during 2024, highlights nine academics. These researchers, Dr. José Zagal, Dr. Carlos Lizama, Dr. Hernán Henríquez, Dr. Mikhail Plyushchay, Dr. Daniel Aravena, Dr. Ricardo Abejón, Dr. Felipe Herrera, Dr. Javier Echeverría, and Dr. Matías Díaz, stand out for their current influence in fields such as energy, inorganic chemistry, general physics, electrical engineering, and biomolecular sciences.
In this regard, the Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation, Dr. Maritza Páez, emphasized the significance of the achievement, noting that this recognition "reflects the solidity of the scientific work carried out at the University of Santiago, based on the quality, collaboration, and international projection of our research." She concluded that "Being part of the top 2% worldwide reaffirms the institutional commitment to the generation of cutting-edge knowledge and its impact on different areas of development."
The study, which utilizes Scopus data updated through December 31, 2024, meticulously ranks scientists according to the Science-Metrix typology. This ranking covers 22 distinct fields and 174 subfields. To be included, researchers must meet one of two criteria: they must be in the top 2% percentile of cited scientists, or they must be among the 100,000 researchers with the highest composite score (score c).
Academic Trajectories:
-Dr. José H. Zagal, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.
With a scientific career spanning five decades since 1974, Dr. Zagal demonstrates exceptional, sustained influence. His overall output includes 230 published articles, 8,884 citations, and an h-index of 50, placing him 45,836th globally for career-long citation impact. His key research areas are energy, analytical chemistry, and enabling and strategic technologies (with impact fractions of 0.5217, 0.0652, and 0.5870). Demonstrating continued relevance, his 2024 performance alone secured an annual h-index of 12 and 627 total citations, earning him the 71,325th rank for recent impact.
-Dr. Daniel Aravena, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.
With a scientific career launched in 2010 and over 300 published articles in inorganic chemistry, Dr. Aravena demonstrates significant current influence. In the 2024 assessment, he earned an annual h-index of 10 (10 publications cited at least 10 times in the year), resulting in 358 total citations for the period. His research contributions are concentrated in inorganic and nuclear chemistry, general chemistry, and chemistry, showing impact fractions of 0.31, 0.29, and 0.79. He is ranked 128,778th for his impact in 2024.
-Dr. Carlos Lizama, Faculty of Science.
Beginning his scientific activity in 1988, Dr. Lizama's career-long achievements include 193 articles and 3,116 citations, resulting in an h-index of 30. He ranks 125,029th globally for career impact. His production is concentrated in general mathematics, applied mathematics, and mathematics and statistics (with impact fractions of 0.50, 0.29, and 0.92, respectively). Furthermore, his 2024 results—an annual h-index of 7 and 258 citations—earned him the 138,025th rank for recent impact.
-Dr. Hernán R. Henríquez, former professor of the Faculty of Science, RIP.
Dr. Hernán R. Henríquez began his scientific activity in 1985. His career-long impact includes 95 published articles and 2,093 citations, yielding an h-index of 25. His work is concentrated in general mathematics, applied mathematics, and mathematics and statistics, with impact fractions of 0.52, 0.36, and 0.95, respectively. He ranks 168,234th among the most cited researchers during his career. For recent impact in 2024, he achieved an annual h-index of 7, which corresponds to 168 total citations, ranking him 159,020th for the year.
-Dr. Ricardo Abejón, Faculty of Engineering.
Dr. Abejón began his scientific career in 2010, focusing his work primarily on chemical and environmental engineering. His research demonstrated significant recent impact in 2024, where he achieved an annual h-index of 7, accumulating a total of 176 citations. This metric signifies that 7 of his publications were cited at least 7 times during the year. His specific research areas, with their respective impact factors, cover chemical engineering (0.49), environmental sciences (0.08), and engineering (0.66). He ranks 165,757th among the most cited researchers for the year 2024.
- Dr. Felipe Herrera, Faculty of Science.
Beginning his scientific career in 2008, he has developed outstanding work in the field of theoretical physics and molecular photonics. In 2024, it reached an annual h-index of 10, meaning that 10 of its publications were cited at least 10 times during the year, accumulating a total of 337 citations. Her research focuses on general physics, chemical and physical physics, and astronomy, with impact fractions of 0.23, 0.19, and 0.63, respectively. It ranks 170,632 among the most cited during 2024.
- Dr. Mikhail S. Plyushchay, Faculty of Science.
He started his scientific activity in 1988 and has published until 2023. Throughout his career, he has published 112 articles and accumulated 3,368 citations, with an h-index of 35. Its production is concentrated in the areas of nuclear and particle physics, mathematical and physical physics, and astronomy, with impact fractions of 0.8839, 0.0893, and 1.0000, respectively. He is ranked 87,552nd in the most cited during his career. In 2024, it reached an annual h-index of 5, indicating that 5 of its publications were cited at least 5 times during the year, with a total of 127 citations and ranked 71,325.
- Dr. Javier Echeverría, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology.
His scientific career began in 2007 and has been noted for his work in medicinal and biomolecular chemistry. In 2024, it reached an annual h-index of 12, meaning that 12 of its publications were cited at least 12 times during the year, totaling 707 citations. His research is developed in the areas of medicinal and biomolecular chemistry, neurology and neurosurgery, and chemistry, with impact fractions of 0.25, 0.23, and 0.38, respectively. It ranks 211,897 in the most cited during 2024.
- Dr. Matías Díaz, Faculty of Engineering.
He began his scientific career in 2013 and has focused her research on electrical and electronic engineering. In 2024, it reached an annual h-index of 9, meaning that 9 of its publications were cited at least 9 times during the year, accumulating a total of 291 citations. His work covers the areas of electrical and electronic engineering, energy, and engineering, with impact fractions of 0.70, 0.14, and 0.77, respectively. It ranks 231,350 in the most cited during 2024.
- Dr. Eduardo Lissi, former professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, RIP.
He started his scientific activity in 1964 and published publications until 2017. Throughout his career, he has published 487 articles and accumulated 12,170 citations, with an h-index of 52. Its production is concentrated in the areas of chemical physics, biophysics, and chemistry, with impact fractions of 0.2772, 0.1129, and 0.3080, respectively. He is ranked 64,267th in the most cited during his career.
- Dr. Dennis A. Siginer, Faculty of Engineering.
He started his scientific activity in 1984. Throughout his career, he has published 228 articles and accumulates 1,337 citations, with an h-index of 20. Its production is concentrated in the areas of mechanical engineering and transport, polymers and engineering, with impact fractions of 0.6711, 0.0658, and 0.7412, respectively. He ranked 224,460th in the most cited during his career.