SRM Univ AP expands research footprint with 20 faculty members named to World’s Top 2% Scientists list

SRM University–AP, Amaravati, has achieved a significant milestone in its global research journey, with 20 faculty members recognized among the World’s Top 2% Scientists.

The recognition spans multiple disciplines, including Earth and environmental sciences, information and communication technologies, strategic technologies, physics, astronomy, chemistry, and mathematics.

The achievement reflects the university’s continued efforts to strengthen its research output, promote multidisciplinary expertise, and establish itself as a research-intensive institution with global relevance.

The World’s Top 2% Scientists list is a global database compiled by researchers at Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier. It draws on citation metrics from Scopus to assess the scholarly contributions and research impact of scientists across various disciplines.

Inclusion in the list highlights the academic influence of researchers and their contributions to advancing knowledge in their respective fields.

Speaking at the university’s felicitation ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Prof Ch Satish Kumar emphasized the effort required to produce meaningful scientific research.

Drawing on his own experience as a researcher, he highlighted the importance of prioritizing research quality and long-term impact rather than relying solely on numerical indicators.

He encouraged the recognized faculty members to build on their achievements, pursue focused research agendas, and continue producing work with lasting academic and societal relevance.

He also urged them to contribute to the university’s long-term ambition of substantially increasing the number of its researchers recognized internationally.

During the ceremony, Prof Soumitra Datta, Advisor to the SRM Group, emphasized that knowledge creation lies at the heart of a university’s purpose. He said, “A university is about knowledge creation.”

Datta noted that recognizing researchers acknowledges their sustained commitment to scholarship while encouraging other faculty members to strive for higher standards of academic and research excellence.

He added that a strong intellectual core is essential to building an excellent university, underscoring the role of research and knowledge generation in shaping an institution’s academic identity.

Dr Karthik Rajendran, Associate Dean of Quality Assurance and Rankings (QAR), highlighted the importance of the achievement in strengthening SRM University-AP’s global academic standing.

He noted that research impact contributes to institutional rankings and emphasized the need to expand international collaborations, undertake research with global relevance, and translate academic findings into meaningful outcomes.

Rajendran also stressed the importance of maintaining academic integrity while pursuing research excellence. His remarks highlighted the connection between high-quality research, international engagement, and an institution’s ability to strengthen its reputation within the global higher education landscape.

Representing the university’s research leadership, Prof Ranjit Thapa, Dean of Research, highlighted the increase in the number of recognized faculty members from seven last year to 20 this year. He acknowledged the university leadership’s support in strengthening research activities and attracting academic talent.

Thapa expressed confidence that the number of faculty members receiving international research recognition would continue to rise in the coming years as the institution expands its research capabilities and strengthens its academic environment.

The 20 faculty members recognized in the World’s Top 2% Scientists list represent a broad range of research areas across the university.

In Earth and environmental sciences, the recognized researchers are Prof Rangabhashiyam Selvasembian, Dr Akash Balakrishnan, Dr Deblina Dutta, and Prof Meththika Suharshini Vithanage.

The Information and Communication Technologies category includes Dr Aditya Kumar Sahu, Dr Randhir Kumar, Dr. Kshira Sagar Sahoo, Dr Prabhujit Mohapatra, and Prof Saraju Mohanty.

In Enabling and Strategic Technologies, the recognized faculty members are Prof Karthik Rajendran, Dr Vinodkumar Etacheri, Gunda Mohanakrishna, Prof Lakshminarayana Polavarapu, and Prof Upadrasta Ramamurty.

The Physics and Astronomy category includes Dr Sumit Kumar Mehta, Dr Basabendu Barman, and Prof Yoshiyuki Kawazoe. In Chemistry, Prof Corrado Di Natale and Dr Sudip Pan were recognized, while Dr Pintu Bhunia was included in Mathematics and Statistics.

The distribution of recognized faculty members across these disciplines reflects the university’s research presence in both established scientific fields and technology-focused areas. Their inclusion highlights the breadth of academic work being undertaken at the institution and the contributions of researchers working across different domains.

Dr Vinayak Kalluri, Registrar of SRM University-AP, noted that the recognition spans diverse research areas and encouraged the academic community to acknowledge the distinct contributions made by researchers within their respective disciplines.

Deans, directors, and other university leaders congratulated the recognized faculty members, emphasizing that institutional acknowledgment can motivate researchers to continue making meaningful contributions to their fields.

The ceremony also highlighted the importance of celebrating academic achievements and encouraging a wider culture of research and scholarly engagement across the university.

The increase in the number of recognized faculty members forms part of SRM University-AP’s broader efforts to strengthen its research ecosystem.

The university has been working to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, improve research infrastructure, and create an environment that enables faculty members to pursue ambitious scientific questions.

Its focus on emerging areas, including artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, is also intended to expand opportunities for innovation and research.

Through these initiatives, SRM University-AP continues to develop its academic capabilities and pursue its ambition of building a stronger international research profile.

The latest recognition marks an increase in the university’s representation in the global list and highlights the contributions of its faculty across multiple scientific disciplines.

The institution aims to build on this progress by supporting high-quality research, attracting academic talent, and expanding collaborations that can generate knowledge with wider scientific and societal relevance.

For more information, visit SRM University-AP.