Bernese Researchers on Highly Cited Researchers 2020 List

Every year, the analytics company Clarivate publishes a list of Highly Cited Researchers. The list identifies researchers who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of numerous highly cited papers. Their names are drawn from publications that rank in the top 1% by citations for their field and by year of publication (More details about the methodology see here). Researchers at the University of Bern who have been named on the Highly Cited Researchers 2020 list work in a wide range of disciplines: Immunology, clinical medicine, molecular biology and genetics, plant and animal sciences, environment/ecology as well as interdisciplinary (Cross-Field).

Affirmation of excellent research in socially relevant areas

“The fact that scientists from the University of Bern are among the Highly Cited Researchers in their field highlights the outstanding, internationally acknowledged work which is done here,” says Daniel Candinas, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Bern. It is a particular achievement that researchers from Bern are represented in various categories. “As a comprehensive university, the University of Bern is well positioned thanks to its broad academic profile. This enables us to fully exploit our potential with interdisciplinary research, especially in prioritized topics and in complex problem areas,” says Candinas. “We will continue to do everything we can to create the ideal setting so that our researchers can continue to attract international attention”.

«Every paper that we publish is the work of a team»

The Highly Cited Researchers of the University of Bern are pleased with the success. All emphasize their gratitude for their teams and co-authors and that they are pleased to contribute to the excellent reputation of the University of Bern with this recognition.

“Being recognized on this list is an honor for my group and all our collaborators who have tried to set a high level of innovation in the areas of prostate cancer and precision oncology research over the past years. It is the manifestation that our work is relevant and important for the research community, which is, undoubtedly, very motivating,” says Mark A. Rubin, a Highly Cited Researcher in the molecular biology and genetics category. Ole Seehausen, on the list in the Cross-Field category, also sees value in the recognition for the future: “I am happy to be part of this list, and if this in my combination of disciplines says something about the influence on the field, I am all the more pleased. By influence I mean here, giving inspiration and motivation to others and influencing the research direction of younger colleagues”.

”There are many valuable academic activities, including, but definitely not only, contributing to relevant or highly cited literature. I guess that the people on the list are generally prolific and do excellent work, and thus do have some impact in their field. I also feel that many people not on the list also have enormous influence in their fields, which is just not captured by the metric used to identify Highly Cited Researchers,” said Markus Fischer, Highly Cited Researcher in the Environmental/ Ecology category. Epidemiologist Georgia Salanti says: “To be on the list makes me realize again how fruitful it is to work with a very motivated and prolific team of smart young researchers. Hardly any of my publications is the product of my work alone”. Andrew Macpherson, who ranks among the Highly Cited Researchers in the immunology category, also emphasizes, “Of course I am very glad to be on the list in the sense that others wish to cite my work. One should point out that every paper that we publish is the work of a team, and really we share the credit with many highly talented researchers who have worked with us over the years.”

Environment crucial to success

“I consider it a privilege to be able to contribute to clinical research at the Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, and the University of Bern together with numerous talented and highly motivated staff members, which is made possible by an excellent local environment, international collaborations and close cooperation with the Clinical Trials Unit,” says Stephan Windecker, on the Highly Cited Researchers list in the Clinical Medicine category. Matthias Erb, Highly Cited Researcher in the Plant and Animal Sciences category, comments on his inclusion, “As a young professor, I am happy and grateful to be on this list. The resources and environment at the University of Bern have been crucial for our interdisciplinary work on the biology of plant chemistry. I greatly appreciate the confidence and willingness to invest in emerging research areas and researchers at the University”. Epidemiologist Oscar H. Franco also sees a key in the environment: “The university of Bern provides a wonderful environment, transparency and scientific rigor are constantly encouraged and facilitated at the University and facilitated by having an open environment that favors international cooperations and development”.

Highly Cited Researchers at the University of Bern:

• Prof. Dr. Matthias Egger, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, category: Cross-Field
• Prof. Dr. Matthias Erb, Institute of Plant Sciences, category: Plant and Animal Science
• Prof. Dr. Markus Fischer, Institute of Plant Sciences, category: Environment and Ecology
• Prof. Dr. Andrew Macpherson, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, and University Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine of the Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, category: Immunology
• Prof. Dr. Mark A. Rubin, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, and Bern Center for Precision Medicine (BCPM), University of Bern and Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, category: Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Prof. Dr. Georgia Salanti, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine
• Prof. Dr. Ole Seehausen, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern and Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, category: Cross-Field
• Prof. Dr. Stephan Windecker, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern and University Clinic for Cardiology of the Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, category: Clinical Medicine
• Prof. Dr. Oscar H. Franco, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine

The researchers’ institutional affiliations on the list of Highly Cited Researchers are based on their own proprietary information. Since researchers do not regularly update their self-declared affiliation, the list of researchers affiliated to the University of Bern includes researchers who are no longer employed at the University of Bern. These researchers are not listed above. Vice-versa, it is possible that researchers affiliated to other institutions on the list are currently at the University of Bern. This is for example the case with Oscar H. Franco.