Top 2% Most Influential Scientists: 182 University of Florence Researchers Recognized

The Stanford University ranking, developed in collaboration with Elsevier-Scopus, evaluates scientific productivity and impact over a 15-year period. In its 2025 edition, 182 scholars from the University of Florence have been included among the Top 2% Most Influential Scientists globally.

This recognition places the University of Florence eighth among Italian higher education institutions and third among "mega universities"—defined as those with an enrolment exceeding 40,000 students—when considering the proportion of highly ranked scientists relative to the total number of tenured faculty and research personnel.

Out of 1,417 permanent academic staff members at the University of Florence, 12.8% are featured in Stanford’s elite list. Disciplinary analysis reveals that the University ranks first nationally in Biology, second in Historical Studies, third in Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry, fourth in Built Environment & Design, Clinical Medicine, and Social Sciences, and fifth in Earth & Environmental Sciences as well as Mathematics & Statistics.

The Stanford ranking is based on bibliometric indicators, including citation counts and the Hirsch index (H-index), which collectively assess the scientific output and influence of individual researchers. The classification spans 20 broad scientific domains and 174 subfields, offering a comprehensive overview of global research excellence.