Among the top 2% of the world’s most cited scientists, 35 researchers from St Petersburg University

Researchers’ citations were evaluated across 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields in accordance with the standard Science-Metrix classification, using all Scopus author profiles as of 1 August 2024. The ranking is based on normalised indicators for each scientific field, excluding self-citations, and encompasses researchers’ entire careers.

Ranking of researchers most widely cited in Scopus

"For several consecutive years, researchers from St Petersburg University have secured high positions among distinguished scholars both nationally and globally," noted Sergey Mikushev, Vice-Rector for Research at St Petersburg University. "Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of our scholars gaining widespread recognition and citations for their high impact in their scientific fields. This underscores the high calibre of our researchers and their substantial contributions to the world science and the technological advancement of our country." 

Among the most highly cited researchers in Scopus are notable figures from St Petersburg University, including Allan Kalueff, Head of the Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry at the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University. Professor Kalueff pioneered the use of artificial intelligence to develop a unique system for screening neurotropic drugs. Also featured on Elsevier’s Annual List of Most Cited Scientists is the world-renowned pharmacologist Raul Gainetdinov, Director of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University. Professor Gainetdinov is the first recipient of the Vyzov (Challenge) National Award. Raul Gainetdinov is one of the world leaders in the pharmacology of the dopamine system, internationally recognised for identifying and studying a novel neurotransmitter system associated with trace amines. In 2018, he was named in the Web of Science (WoS) Highly Cited Researchers list, which includes the top 6,000 most cited scientists worldwide. Previously, Raul Gainetdinov conducted research in the USA and Italy. Currently, under his leadership, the research team of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine is developing new drugs for brain diseases using the latest advances in genetics and molecular biology.

Also featured in this year’s Elsevier’s List of Most Cited Scientists is Vadim Kukushkin, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Professor in the Department of Physical Organic Chemistry at St Petersburg University. As one of the most cited chemists in Russia, Professor Kukushkin specialises in the reactivity of coordination compounds, organic synthesis involving metal complexes, and non-covalent interactions in chemistry. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious Russian and international awards. Vadim Kukushkin has authored approximately 500 research publications and nine monographs, and holds numerous Russian and European patents. He has been awarded various Russian and international prizes and has received many research grants. He is an Honorary Professor of St Petersburg University, a Full Member of the European Academy of Sciences, a Foreign Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Portugal, an Honorary Doctor of the University of Lisbon, and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.

Professor Robert Evarestov, an Honoured Worker of Science of the Russian Federation and Honorary Professor of St Petersburg University, has been consistently ranked among the world’s most cited scientists. As the Head of the Department of Quantum Chemistry at St Petersburg University, he and his research team focus on quantum chemistry of the solid state. Professor Evarestov’s approach is based on comparing the symmetry of molecules and solids and leveraging the local symmetry of atoms in multi-atomic systems. His detailed works on the cyclic crystal model have gained widespread recognition in scientific centres both in Russia and overseas. Robert Evarestov is a Foreign Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and a Humboldt Professor. In 2024, he was awarded the medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland, 1st Class". 

The list of most cited researchers in Scopus also includes Professor Evgeny Abakumov, Doctor of Biology and Acting Head of the Department of Applied Ecology at St Petersburg University. His research focuses on terrestrial ecosystem ecology, biogeochemistry, and soil ecology. Professor Abakumov currently manages nine research grants from the Russian Science Foundation. He is a member of the world-class research centre "Agrotechnologies of the Future" and serves as an expert at the Russian-Chinese Carbon Neutrality Centre. 

Professor Detlef W Bahnemann, Head of the Laboratory of Photoactive Nanocomposite Materials at St Petersburg University, is also named among the scientists who have had the biggest impact in science globally. The Laboratory of Photoactive Nanocomposite Materials was established at the University in 2014 with financial support from the mega-grant programme of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Under Professor Bahnemann’s leadership, the laboratory focuses on developing new-generation photoactive nanomaterials used for applications in solar energy conversion and storage, UV radiation protection, and as bactericidal and fungicidal agents. Detlef W Bahnemann holds the title of Professor Emeritus from several research and educational institutions in the United Kingdom, India, and China. He also serves as the Head of the Research Unit "Photocatalysis and Nanotechnology" at the Institute of Technical Chemistry at the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University of Hannover. 

Professor Nikolay Kuznetsov, Head of the Leading Scientific School (Centre of Excellence) of the Russian Federation in the field of mathematics and mechanics and Head of the Department of Applied Cybernetics at St Petersburg University, has once again been named among the world’s most cited scientists. Nikolay Kuznetsov is included in the global Highly Cited Researchers list, representing the top 0.1% of most cited researchers in their fields on the Web of Science. He is the winner of the All-Russian contests "Golden Names of Higher School" and "Professor of the Year", as well as the recipient of the Academician Andronov Prize from the Russian Academy of Sciences. Together with Nikolay Kuznetsov, the ranking includes his mentor, Professor Gennady Leonov, the founder of the Department of Applied Cybernetics at St Petersburg University. The St Petersburg government prize for outstanding achievements in science and technology is named after Gennady Leonov. 

Among the most cited scholars from St Petersburg University featured in the Scopus ranking are: Nikolai Tsyganenko; Sergei Krivovichev; Vladimir Fock; Vladimir Shabaev; Vasilii Sergeev; Vladimir Kharitonov; Vladimir Dubrovskii; Iosif Khriplovich; Alexander Andrianov; Anatoly Rusanov; Iurii Vlasov; Boris Noskov; Aleksei Matveev; Kirill Kavokin; Elena Kustova; Valentin Ostrovskii; Alexey Timoshkin; Stanislav Filatov; Andrei Legin; Alexey Smirnov; Evgeny Korotyaev, Igor Zenkevich; Vadim Boyarskiy; Leonid Moskvin; Maxim Vinarski; Valeri Tolstoy; Aleksander Aleksandrov; and Rostislav Arkhipov.