Deakin five labelled world's best

Deakin University’s research accomplishments have continued to flourish with five of its academics named in the Highly Cited Researchers 2018 list.

Now in its fifth year, the annual Clarivate Analytics ‘Highly Cited Researchers’ list recognises the world’s most influential researchers whose citation record positions them in the highest strata of impact.

The list is the leading indicator of the world’s best researchers, identifying researchers with multiple papers ranking in the top one per cent by citations for their field and year.

The Deakin researchers are: Professor Jo Salmon, Professor Michael Berk, Professor Paresh Narayan, Professor Anna Timperio and Professor Richard Osborne.

The Deakin five are among an elite group of 170 researchers in Australia from 21 disciplines who have been included in the 2018 list, an achievement Deakin’s new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Alfred Deakin Professor Julie Owens described as a ‘distinct honour.’

‘Congratulations to our world-leading researchers. This is a huge achievement that really demonstrates the quality of Deakin researchers and their impact,’ Professor Owens said.

‘It’s rewarding to know that Deakin researchers are visibly extending the frontiers of knowledge and innovations for society.’

Five Deakin researchers were named in the 2015 and 2016 lists, followed by the 2017 list which featured six Deakin academics.

Professor Jo Salmon (Social Sciences), from Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), has been named for the fourth time. Her research centres around child and youth sedentary behaviour, which has seen her publish more than 320 papers.

Alfred Deakin Professor Michael Berk (Psychiatry/Psychology), Director of Deakin’s Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment (IMPACT), has also been included in the listing for the fourth time. He has published over 800 papers, predominantly on mood disorders. His major research interests have centred on the discovery and implementation of novel therapies for people with psychiatric disorders.

Professor Paresh Narayan (Economics & Business), from Deakin Business School has landed his second recognition in a row, while Professor Anna Timperio (Social Sciences) from the Faculty of Health has been included for the third time.

Professor Narayan has published over 300 papers, with his research spanning the fields of both finance and applied financial econometrics. He became Deakin’s youngest Professor of Finance in 2007, at age 30 and, in 2012, the first Alfred Deakin Professor in Deakin’s Faculty of Business and Law at the age of 35– the youngest recipient of this honour.

Professor Timperio is from Deakin’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Science. Her research focusses on understanding the influences on physical activity, eating behaviours and obesity in youth. She has been involved in numerous longitudinal studies that examine individual, social and environmental influences on behaviour.

Professor Richard Osborne (Cross-Field) from Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development is the only newcomer to the 2018 list. He has been listed in the cross-field category, a new area that was introduced to identify researchers with substantial influence across several fields. An epidemiologist and health services researcher, Professor Osborne has a strong track record in initiating and leading large collaborative research projects. He has authored over 200 manuscripts, which have over 20,000 citations.