Sixteen researchers from Rajshahi University (RU) have been included in the world’s top 2% scientists list for their research contributions.

The list was prepared following a joint survey by Stanford University in the United States and Elsevier, a Netherlands-based publisher of scientific and medical literature.

Researchers were assessed using several indicators, including the number of research papers published, citations, h-index, research consistency and the impact of their co-authors.

The researchers named from RU are Prof Md Ibrahim Hossain Mondal of the Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Prof Dr Md Ali Akbar of the Department of Applied Mathematics, Prof Mirza Humayun Kabir Rubel of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Prof Abdul Quddus of the Department of Mathematics, Prof Moshiur Rahman of the Department of Population Science and Human Resource Development, Prof Zaker Hossain of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), and Lecturer Dr Abu Saleh Musa Miah of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

The others are former Vice-Chancellor and Professor of the Department of Physics Saleh Hasan Naqib, Prof Md Abdul Alim Al-Bari of the Department of Pharmacy, Prof Md Yeamin Hossain of the Department of Fisheries, Prof Mohitosh Biswas of the Department of Pharmacy, Md Atikur Rahman, Prof Hasan Ahmad of the Department of Chemistry, Emeritus Prof A K M Azharul Islam of the Department of Physics, Mohammad Anwar Hossain and Prof Aatowar Rahman of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

RU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Faridul Islam said the inclusion of 16 researchers was a matter of pride for the university.

“This is a very positive aspect for us. Not just positive, it is a matter of great fortune that so many distinguished and scholarly individuals are in this university,” he said.

He said the university would provide greater financial support to researchers in the future to encourage innovative research.

The university will also take initiatives to highlight the researchers’ achievements and inspire young scientists, he added.