Faculty demonstrate research excellence through publishing achievements

F aculty members at Purdue wear many hats: teaching students, conducting research and sharing that research with others. Publishing research papers is one way scientists disseminate their work, and on February 20, the College of Agriculture recognized faculty publishing achievements for the 2023–2024 academic year.

Over this period, the 49 honorees stood out as the top faculty with the greatest increase in the number of times their academic publications were cited by other researchers and/or in their H-index. Both are indicators of the cumulative impact of their work.

Neither citation rate nor H-index are well-known terms outside of academia, so what are they and why do they matter? A rising citation number for the year indicates that the research is being actively read and that its findings influence other scholars.

The H-index represents a formula that factors in both the number of publications a scholar has published and the number of times those papers are cited by other researchers. It shows that an author’s cumulative work is widely recognized and frequently referenced by peers, suggesting that their findings have been influential over the long term.

Together, these metrics highlight a researcher’s role in driving a better understanding of their work area and serve as valuable indicators of a researcher’s impact and influence within their scientific community.

The impact of the index is significant, explains Ron Turco, associate dean and director of agricultural research and graduate education. “These metrics play a significant role in various aspects of our programs, including international rankings of colleges of agriculture, evaluations for awards, and shaping opinions about the reputation of our research enterprise and college,” Turco said.

The dedication of College of Agriculture faculty to their respective fields is truly commendable, says Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture Bernie Engel.

“The high-impact research conducted by College of Agriculture faculty directly contributes to our QS World University Rankings: No. 3 in the U.S. and No. 5 in the world,” Engel said. “We congratulate our colleagues who have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to advancing knowledge.”

Featured Stories

A landscape view of Pfendler Hall, one of the three buildings that houses faculty and staff from Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources.
FNR Honors Four Individuals for Department Service in 2025

The Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has honored four individuals for their...

Read More
the Szymanski and Siegmund labs stand together in front of photos and models of leaf epidermis on a screen between them.
Sticking together under stress: NSF grant brings plant biologists and engineers together to discover how tissues stay connected

Daniel Szymanski, professor of Purdue’s Departments of Botany and Plant Pathology and...

Read More
Ag Barometer
Farmer sentiment drifts lower as trade uncertainty hangs over agriculture

Farmer sentiment dipped slightly in December, with the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy...

Read More
Photos from the top 2025 stories for Purdue College of AG
What people clicked, watched and read in 2025

Explore the top content from 2025 for the Purdue College of Agriculture.

Read More
Wildlife alumna Lauren Wetterau kneels next to a red squirrel midden in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem; a red squirrel sits on downed tree
Alumna Lauren Wetterau's Research Featured on Animal Planet Show

2023 wildlife alumna Lauren Wetterau is coming to a television screen or streaming service near...

Read More
Lenny Farlee shows teachers how to use a Biltmore stick at the Natural Resources Teachers Academy.
FNR Extension Set to Offer Four Editions of Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner Course in Spring 2026

Do you want to learn more about trees, forests and how to better manage your woodlands for a...

Read More