Thirteen Pacific Northwest National Laboratory staff and two research affiliates made Clarivate’s 2025 list of the world’s most highly cited researchers. 

Citations by other researchers are one measure of impact in scientific research. Researchers on the list must have authored multiple research studies that ranked in the top 1% by citations in their field over the past decade. 

Two PNNL researchers, Wu Xu and Jason Zhang, received this recognition in two fields, engineering and materials science, leading to multiple awards for each. 

The list is announced annually and this year it named 6,868 highly cited researchers from more than 1,300 institutions and 61 nations and regions. 

PNNL researchers on this year’s list include:

• Kate Calvin, earth scientist at PNNL’s Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI) and joint appointee at the University of Maryland College Park.
• Mark H. Engelhard, chemist, Energy Processes and Materials Division.
• Matthew J. Gidden, deputy director of PNNL’s JGCRI and joint appointee at the University of Maryland College Park.
• Janet K. Jansson, biologist and laboratory fellow, emeritus.
• Page Kyle, earth scientist at JGCRI.
• Nate G. McDowell, earth scientist and joint appointee at Washington State University.
• Brian C. O’Neill, earth scientist at JGCRI and joint appointee at the University of Maryland College Park.
• Yuyan Shao, electrochemist.
• Amy C. Sims, biomedical scientist and joint appointee at the University of Washington.
• Steven J. Smith, earth scientist at JGCRI and joint appointee at the University of Maryland College Park.
• Chongmin Wang, laboratory fellow, materials scientist.
• Wu Xu, chief scientist, Battery Materials and Systems Group.
• Ji-Guang (Jason) Zhang, laboratory fellow, Energy Processes & Materials Division.

Also on the list are joint appointees from universities: 

• Jun Liu, chair, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, and Battelle Fellow.
• Jie Xiao, Boeing Martin Professor at the University of Washington, and Battelle Fellow.