Over 70 Scientists from Pune Institutions Featured in World’s Top 2% Scientists List
More than 70 scientists and faculty members from Pune-based institutions have been named among the world’s top 2% scientists, according to data jointly compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier based on citations received during 2024. The list, published on September 19, highlights the strong research presence in Pune, with the highest representation from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), followed by Symbiosis International University, National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA).Suresh Gosavi, Vice-Chancellor of SPPU, expressed pride in the achievement: “We are happy and proud that 20 of our members secured a place in the top 2% scientists’ list worldwide.
This underscores the university’s commitment to both basic and applied research. Most of these individuals balance teaching responsibilities with valuable research efforts that benefit society, which is truly commendable.”Debarati Chatterjee, Professor at IUCAA, reflected on the recognition: “While it feels good to be acknowledged, fundamental research is about much more. Knowledge and discovery cannot simply be measured.”Other Pune institutions with faculty featured on the list include the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune; Armed Forces Medical College; Dr. D Y Patil Dental College and Hospital; KEM Hospital; Pulmocare Research and Education Foundation; Dr. D Y Patil Medical College; Pune Institute of Business Management; Agharkar Research Institute; National Institute of Virology; and the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics.Chandrashekhar Rode, Emeritus Scientist at NCL, said, “It feels good to be recognised. This respect extends to the whole team because research is always a collaborative effort.”
The official list provides standardized metrics on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted h-index, citations according to authorship position, and a composite indicator (c-score). Syed Dastager, Senior Principal Scientist at NCL, emphasized, “We see these as just numbers. Science is not about making it to lists; what truly matters is when research brings real benefit to society.”Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Symbiosis International University, highlighted the university’s strong research culture. She noted that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishnan Raman, also featured on the list. “We are proud that 19 of our faculty members have been included in the prestigious Stanford University Top 2% Scientists List 2025. This recognition places our researchers among the world’s most impactful contributors to science, technology, and innovation, underscoring Symbiosis’s growing academic footprint nationally and globally. Of these, two are from our Nagpur campus and one from our Noida campus,” she added.
