American University of Beirut

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sally Abou Melhem, Office of Communications, communications@aub.edu.lb​​

In a notable ascent within the global academic community, the American University of Beirut (AUB) continues to gain broader international recognition, with more of its researchers than ever named among the world's most-cited scientists, according to Stanford University's Science-wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators.

This acknowledgment of AUB's scholars reflects a trajectory of excellence and resilience, supported by the university's commitment to advancing research in a region with unique and intractable challenges.

Steady Climb in Global Ranking

The Science-wide Author Databases of Standardized Citation Indicators—commonly known as the Stanford citation ranking—identifies and ranks the top 100,000 scientists worldwide based on citation impact, showcasing the reach and influence of their work. In the 2024 edition, 64 AUB faculty members and researchers were recognized for their contributions to knowledge production and dissemination, marking a significant increase from 44 in 2020.

Dr. Elie Akl, vice provost for research at AUB, commented on the rising number of AUB scholars receiving such recognition, noting, “As the number of highly cited faculty rises, AUB remains dedicated to supporting scholars whose innovative, interdisciplinary work transforms lives worldwide. This demonstrates that locally driven research truly knows no borders and can be globally highly impactful."

The disciplines of AUB faculty recognized in this ranking span biology, business, education, engineering, epidemiology, medicine, nursing, nutrition, physical sciences, psychology, and health sciences, reflecting the university's strength across specialties and the breadth of its academic community. Overall, the 2024 list includes AUB researchers from 27 different departments spanning six of the university's faculties/schools.

Dedication to Sustained Impact

“Many of AUB's recognized scholars have consistently appeared in the Stanford citation rankings over multiple years, underscoring their sustained influence to their fields," noted Dr. Lokman Meho, AUB university librarian. Thirty-eight AUB faculty members have now been listed in the career-long and/or single-year impact categories more than once. “Their achievements are a testament to AUB's support for careers that leave a lasting mark on global academia," Meho commented.

In addition to these established scholars, a new generation of AUB researchers is emerging. In 2024, seven faculty members appeared on the single-year citation impact list for the first time, while four joined the career-long impact category.

A Vision of Research Excellence

“In celebrating the achievements of our scholars, AUB reaffirms its mission of knowledge advancement through research and creative work—from its campus in Beirut to the world. This global recognition is another testament to the power of combining individual talent with an enriching institutional ecosystem." said Dr. Zaher Dawy, AUB provost.

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• Appointment of Dr. Elie Akl as Vice Provost for Research​