Dynamic duo raise the temperature at Manchester

Two academics from the University of Manchester have been included in a list of the world’s “hottest” researchers.

Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, both professors in the condensed matter group within Manchester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, take joint second and third place respectively in the annual list compiled by data analyst Thomson Reuters.

The ranking is based on the number of “hot papers” researchers have produced – articles that are less than two years old and have been cited at a rate markedly higher than papers of comparable type and age. The analysis covers the period 2008-09 and is based on citations measured by Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science database.

Professor Geim and Professor Novoselov are credited with the discovery of graphene – a material that has potential as a substitute for silicon in electronics.

The former produced 13 “hot” papers in the period, the latter produced 12.

The world’s hottest researcher was identified as Rudolf Jaenisch, based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who produced 14 biochemistry papers that made the grade. His area of expertise is stem-cell research.

Professor Geim and Professor Novoselov were the only UK researchers to feature in the list.

Christopher King, editor of Thomson Reuters’ Science Watch newsletter, which published the results, said the annual ranking “allows us to recognise those who are leading scientific thought”.

zoe.corbyn@tsleducation.com