By Karen Gutzman, Head of Research Assessment and Communications

Northwestern University continues to be recognized as a leader in groundbreaking research, with multiple faculty members named to the 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list by Clarivate Analytics. This prestigious distinction highlights researchers whose work has had a profound and wide-ranging impact in their respective fields, as demonstrated by their consistent production of highly cited papers.

Each year, Clarivate Analytics identifies scientists and social scientists whose publications rank in the top 1% by citations in their respective fields, based on data from 2013 to 2023. These researchers are recognized for their exceptional influence and contributions to scientific advancements. In 2024, Clarivate identified 6,886 Highly Cited Researcher designations across 6,636 individuals worldwide. Northwestern University has once again demonstrated its research excellence, ranking 31st globally among institutions with Highly Cited Researchers, earning 35 individual distinctions this year. 

Highly Cited Researchers represent just 1 in 1,000 scientists and social scientists worldwide, underscoring the rarity and significance of this achievement. This marks the seventh year that Clarivate has acknowledged researchers with cross-field impact—scholars whose work spans multiple disciplines but does not fit neatly into a single Essential Science Indicators (ESI) category.

Clarivate’s methodology is rooted in citation analysis, evaluating the number of Highly Cited Papers an individual has authored across 20 specific scientific fields, as defined by the Essential Science Indicators (ESI). In 2018, Clarivate introduced a cross-field category to honor researchers whose work has significant impact across multiple disciplines. These individuals are identified using a fractional counting method that normalizes citation counts to account for contributions in multiple fields. 

Despite annual updates to the list, Clarivate emphasizes that “a Highly Cited Researcher is always a Highly Cited Researcher—whether they were recognized in 2014 or 2024."

This past year, faculty members from Feinberg School of Medicine were recognized across multiple categories. Congratulations to Feinberg’s 2024 Highly Cited Researchers for their outstanding contributions!

For researchers looking to track their own citation impact or gain deeper insights into research metrics, the Metrics and Impact Core at Galter Health Sciences Library offers guidance and tools to help faculty understand and communicate their research influence. 

For more information about how metrics can help tell your science story, contact: 

• Karen Gutzman – karen.gutzman@northwestern.edu 
• Mao Soulakis – mao.soulakis@northwestern.edu 

The full report on the 2024 Highly Cited Researchers can be accessed here: https://clarivate.com/highly-cited-researchers/ 

Northwestern University remains at the forefront of cutting-edge research, with its faculty continually pushing the boundaries of knowledge and discovery.