The University of Cologne is once again represented in the international ranking ‘Highly Cited Researchers’, which is published annually by Clarivate Analytics based on information from the publication database ‘Web of Science’. Scholars and scientists on this list are among the world’s most influential one percent of their field – measured by how often their academic publications have been cited by their peers over the last ten years (2013 to 2023).

This year, a total of eight UoC scientists made the list.

The eight most highly cited researchers from the University of Cologne are:

• Professor Dr Oliver A. Cornely, Internal Medicine; Translational Research Chair at the CECAD Cluster of Excellence in Aging Research, Academic Director of the Center for Clinical Trials Cologne. Main research areas: clinical infectiology, invasive fungal diseases, aging research
• Prof Dr Christian Frezza, Alexander von Humboldt Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Research Group Leader at the Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research CECAD. Main research area: Metabolism and cancer research
• Professor Dr Michael Hallek, Internal Medicine; Director of the Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO); Research Group Leader at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and CECAD. Main research area: leukaemia
• Professor Dr Florian Klein, Virology; Director of the Institute of Virology, also conducts research at the CMMC. Main research areas: development of antibodies directed against viruses, HIV
• Professor Dr Jacques F. Meis, Internal Medicine; CECAD. Main research areas: translational research / transfer of basic research for implementation in promising clinical projects, invasive fungal diseases
• Professor Dr Jane E. Parker, Biology; Associate Professorship at the Institute of Genetics; Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research; CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences. Main research areas: activation and control of plant immune reactions, interaction of plants and microbes
• Professor Dr Paul Schulze-Lefert, Biology, Associate Professorship at the Institute for Plant Sciences, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. Main research areas: the innate plant immune system and mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis
• Professor Dr Bart P.H.J. Thomma, Biology; Alexander von Humboldt Professor at the Institute of Plant Sciences; CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences. Main research areas: phytopathology, interaction of microbes with other organisms

“I would like to thank the eight scientists for their outstanding achievements,” said Professor Dr Joybrato Mukherjee, Rector of the University of Cologne. “They are among the world’s leading researchers in their respective fields and thus make a significant contribution to our university’s reputation.”

In total, this year’s international list of ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ includes approximately 6,600 scholars and scientists, including 332 from Germany. Particularly important is that their work should have an impact across different academic disciplines.
 

Press and Communications Team:
Jan Voelkel
+49 221 470 2356
j.voelkelverw.uni-koeln.de