A total of 11 mentions were obtained by researchers of our university in the World’s Top 2% Scientists 2025, an international ranking created by Stanford University and Elsevier, owner of Scopus, one of the world’s leading scientific databases.
The list includes the world’s most influential researchers who, according to a combined indicator of productivity and citation impact, are part of the top 2 percent in their disciplines at the global level. Likewise, it honors those that have achieved to have a sustained impact from the beginning of their careers, acknowledging their research trajectory.
Luis Mercado, Vicerector of Research, Creation and Innovation (VINCI) highlighted that “the university has notoriously increased its level of publication productivity in the last 15 years. This new acknowledgement indicates that some research lines carried out by our scholars are of great importance in their disciplines since they generate highly cited publications”.
The researchers
The PUCV obtained an important place on the 2025 edition of the ranking, with six mentions in the list of most influential researchers during the last year, in the following order: Claudia Mellado, from the School of Journalism; Stefan Voss and Víctor Leiva, from the School of Industrial Engineering; David Jeison and Andrés Illanes, from the School of Biochemical Engineering; and Cassamo Mussagy, from the School of Agronomy.
In addition, the ranking acknowledges five PUCV researchers for their contributions throughout their careers, highlighting their trajectory in the field: Stefan Voss, from the School of Industrial Engineering; David Jeison and Andrés Illanes, from the School of Biochemical Engineering; Claudia Mellado, from the School of Journalism; and Romina Pedreschi, from the School of Agronomy.
Regarding the importance of this recognition, Claudia Mellado, Professor at the School of Journalism, expert on journalistic culture studies, audiences and compared research, also honored as the most influential scholar in her field in Chile in 2024, noted that “this result shows the outstanding place that social sciences and communications have within the knowledge generated and presented by the PUCV to the world and its impact at the global level. Beyond individual achievements that, are of course met with joy, this acknowledgement reflects the institutional commitment to creating knowledge of excellence and the consolidation of research lines that contribute to the scientific development of our country and the strengthening of the PUCV School of Journalism’s leadership and of the university as a whole, at both national and international levels”.
David Jeison, scholar at the School of Biochemistry Engineering, leads a research line on treatment and reuse of residual waters through biotechnological solutions inspired in nature, and directs the ANILLO project “Bioprocesses for sustainable water reclamation”. He expressed that “it is always rewarding to be acknowledged for the work we do. This mention fills us with satisfaction, since the parameters that originate this ranking include not only quantitative aspects but also quality aspects and the impact our productivity in research has had in the scientific community. It is necessary to highlight that being included in this ranking is the result of collaborative work with a group of people that include: colleagues, post-doctoral researchers, undergraduate and graduate thesis students, that with their work have allowed us to obtain the results highlighted by this ranking. I would also like to thank the support and commitment of the PUCV to the generation of knowledge. Without them these results would not be possible".
Encouraging Research
Since the creation of the Vicerectory of Research, the PUCV established an incentive for Publications, managing to significantly increase the number of these in the last 20 years. During this current rectorate, there are new actions taking place from the VINCI for the incentive of productivity in Publications, such as the Centenary Competition – that is already in its third edition – as well as the promotion of associative post-doctoral contests.
“We have also encouraged associative research and improved productivity by including incentives for publications on indexed journals in the humanities area (ERIH – Plus). We have also increased the support for editorial expenses of publications, which are usually an obstacle when publishing. These are the main pillars that we have been establishing and forming in our Vicerectory”, Mercado expressed.
How is the Top 2% Scientist Ranking elaborated?
This categorization identifies 2% of the most outstanding scientists at the global level, according to standard citation metrics, including 22 disciplines and 174 sub-fields. Data from Scopus and a combined indicator called c-score, which considers the number of citations, co-authorship adjustments and authorship categories is used.
The Methodology considers both recent scientific productivity – using data indexed in Scopus by August 1, 2025 – such as the researchers’ trajectory, with data of citation impact throughout their career.
With these 11 mentions in the ranking, the PUCV reasserts its commitment to research of excellence in various areas of knowledge. With 7 years of accreditation, it is one of the top five universities in the country and the largest in the Valparaíso Region.
By Erika Schubert
Strategic Communications Department
