7 scholars of China Beacons Institute listed in “World’s Top2% Scientists” by Stanford University

24 October 2023

According to the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list published recently by Stanford University, 21 scholars of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) are included in the single-year database and eight scholars in the career-long database. Among them, seven are from the Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (hereinafter referred to as “the China Beacons Institute"), and six are newly recruited scholars in 2023.

The “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list is generated based on Scopus, the world-renowned abstract and citation database, using a series of key indicators such as total citations and h-index. Divided into a career-long database element and a single-year database element, the list selects scientists through 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields. It objectively reflects scientists' global influence and contributions to related areas.

This year, UNNC's strength on the list has been further boosted by newly shortlisted academics from the Nottingham University Business School, the Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and the China Beacons Institute. Their research covers a variety of fields, including marketing, artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, energy, and so on. This recognition acknowledges the research and academic strengths of UNNC scholars and the impact that each of them has made on both academia and society.

Over the past few years, UNNC has been dedicated to bringing in world-class high talents. Dr Wai Siong Chai, Dr Zheng Chu, Dr Shahid Iqbal, Dr Nicholas Musyoka, Dr Muhammad Sajjad and Dr Moses Solomon (alphabetised by surname) from the China Beacons Institute and the Faculty of Science and Engineering are shortlisted scholars that newly joined UNNC. The joining of outstanding international talents also lends credence to UNNC’s reputation and global popularity.

As the first Sino-foreign university in China, UNNC has been recognised by multiple prestigious rankings worldwide for its excellence of scholars. In April, 11 UNNC academics were shortlisted as highly cited scholars by Elsevier. In the future, UNNC will continue to introduce high-quality global scientific and educational resources, incorporate local development needs, and actively promote cutting-edge research and industry-university research cooperation in multiple vital fields to solve the many problems and challenges currently facing the world.

Full list of shortlisted CBI scholars (alphabetised by surname)

Top 2% for Year 2022 single year date

Name	Research areas
Professor Fan, Xiaolei	CO2 valorisation, Biomass valorisation, Synthesis of hydrogen carriers, Non-conventional energy-efficient catalysis.
Dr.Iqbal, Shahid	Expertise exfoliation of 2D layered materials (chalcogenides &MXene) for energy applications, Van der Waals heterostructures, Li-ion batteries, photocatalytic H2 & O2 evolution reactions, nanocomposites materials for Photo-reduction of CO2, overall wate spliting, wastewater treatment, solar cells and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Low, Sze Shin	Biosensor, Nanomaterials and molecular biology.
Dr. Marsili, Enrico	Biofilm electrochemistry, Development of antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents, and biosensors for clinical applications.
Dr. Musyoka, Nicholas M.	Gas-based technologies (production, separation, conversion and storage) with the key focus on hydrogen and carbon capture and utilization.
Dr. Sajjad, Muhammad	First Principles Simulations, Van der Waals Materials, Thermoelectric Materials, Catalysis, Metal-ion/sulfur Batteries.

Top 2% for career-long data

Name	Research areas
Chair Professor Greer, J.C.	Low-dimensional materials for sensing, Electrical characterisation, Intelligent sensors, Electronic structure calculations, Charge transport models.
Dr. Marsili, Enrico	Biofilm electrochemistry, Development of antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents, and biosensors for clinical applications.