The University of California (UC) has been named the leading institution for highly cited researchers worldwide in Clarivate’s 2025 Highly Cited Researchers List. The ranking highlights 288 scientists from UC’s 10 campuses and three national laboratories as among the most influential in their fields, making UC the top institution globally for highly cited researchers.
The annual list by Clarivate identifies researchers whose publications rank in the top one percent by citations over the past decade. In 2025, Clarivate recognized 6,868 individuals from more than 1,300 institutions across 60 countries. UC-affiliated scientists make up about 4.2 percent of this group.
David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at Clarivate’s Institute for Scientific Information, said, “The Highly Cited Researchers list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers at the University of California who demonstrate significant and broad influence in their fields. They exemplify excellence in their research as well as integrity in their publication and citation practices. These researchers continue to shape the future of science, technology and academia globally and deliver innovation that drives societal progress.”
Citations play a key role in academic research because they reflect how often other scientists reference published work when building on existing knowledge. Research findings are shared through peer-reviewed journals where previous studies are cited to establish context for new discoveries.
UC President James B. Milliken commented on the university’s impact: “As this ranking shows, UC scientists have an outsized global influence when it comes to creating new knowledge and opening up exciting new pathways for further research and discovery. No other institution in the world is doing more to advance new cures for disease, develop cutting-edge technology that keeps America prosperous and secure, and forge new understandings of our universe and our place in it than the University of California.”
This year, UC regained its lead from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which held last year’s top spot. Other institutions following UC include Harvard University, Stanford University, and Tsinghua University.
Within individual campuses, four UC locations ranked among the world’s top 25 places for highly cited researchers: UC Berkeley placed 15th with 53 highly cited researchers; both UCLA and UC San Diego tied at 18th with 50 each; while UC San Francisco ranked 21st with 48.
Clarivate also highlighted “Researchers With Staying Power,” referring to those who have appeared on its list every year from 2014 to 2024. Of these consistently recognized scientists’ primary affiliations over eleven years (totaling more than four thousand), UC accounted for more than any other institution worldwide.
Several UC campuses feature prominently among those with high numbers of such consistent researchers—UC Santa Cruz ranks fifth globally based on annual stated affiliations by these long-term highly cited scholars.
Additionally, some faculty members were recognized across multiple scientific disciplines. Among just over two hundred such individuals worldwide are twelve with primary or secondary affiliations to various UC campuses or labs.
A small group—31 scientists internationally—are recognized in three or more fields. This includes Rob Knight from UC San Diego whose work spans biology, microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics.
Clarivate uses a methodology combining citation data with additional metrics and expert review to compile its yearly list. Researchers must meet thresholds for both number of highly cited papers and total citations within their respective fields over an eleven-year period.
For further details on trends in global scientific influence according to Clarivate’s latest report readers can explore Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list online.
