Ohio State researchers ranked among world’s most influential scientists

COLUMBUS, Ohio - What do soil health, food safety and honeybee survival have in common?

They're just a few of the critical areas where faculty in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) are driving global progress - and now, 22 of those researchers have been named among the most influential scientists in the world.

The 2025 World's Top 2% Scientists list, compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier, ranks researchers whose work is among the most cited by peers worldwide. The recognition places CFAES faculty in an elite tier of global scholarship, where their discoveries are shaping the future of food, agriculture and environmental sustainability.

"This recognition is a prestigious feather in our cap - one that speaks not just to individual achievement but to the strength of our research ecosystem at Ohio State," said Tracy Kitchel, senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs at CFAES.

The Stanford/Elsevier list identifies the world's most impactful scientists based on how often their research is cited by other researchers. Frequent citations are a key indicator of how influential a scholar's work is within the scientific community. The rankings are compiled using data from Scopus, a leading global database of peer-reviewed scientific literature. Being named to the top 2% means a scientist's work is not only widely read, but also helping to shape the direction of future research in their field.

"These rankings are a reminder that our faculty's work has meaningful impact and influence," Kitchel said. "It also reinforces our commitment to supporting research that delivers real-world solutions for Ohioans and communities everywhere."

CFAES faculty recognized in the 2025 Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists ranking include:

• Martha Belury - Professor and Chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology
• Benjamin Bohrer - Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Osvaldo Campanella - Holder of the Carl E. Haas Chair in Food Industries and Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology
• Emmanuel Hatzakis - Associate Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology
• Richard Dick - Ohio Eminent Scholar of Soil Microbial Biology and Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources
• Jeffrey Firkins -Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Monica Giusti - Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and Associate Chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology
• James Ippolito - Holder of the Dr. Rattan Lal Endowed Professorship of Soil Health and Soil Fertility in the School of Environment and Natural Resources
• Elena Irwin - Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics
• Rafael Jimenez-Flores - Holder of the J.T. "Stubby" Parker Chair in Dairy Foods and Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology
• Reed Johnson - Professor in the Department of Entomology
• Scott Kenney - Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Chieri Kubota - Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science
• Rattan Lal - Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science in the School of Environment and Natural Resources
• Chanhee Lee - Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Jay Martin - Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
• Linda Saif - Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Brent Sohngen - Distinguished Professor of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics
• James Strange -Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology
• Guo-Liang Wang - Holder of the Professorship in Plant Protection in the Department of Plant Pathology
• Qiuhong Wang - Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Zhongtang Yu - Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences
• Kaiguang Zhao - Associate Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources

Their collective work continues to expand the college's impact at home and abroad - advancing science that benefits producers, ecosystems and communities alike.

"This recognition reflects the land-grant mission in action," Kitchel said. "Our faculty are generating knowledge that not only moves science forward but also improves lives, shapes policy, inform decisions and drives innovation - in Ohio and around the world."