Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists among world’s most cited
Nov. 6, 2026
By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Rankings calculated by Stanford professor using Elsevier’s Scopus
- Researchers included if rank among top 100,000 scientists worldwide
- Faculty have affiliation with Dale Bumpers College at University of Arkansas
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Fifteen members of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station have been recognized among the world’s most-cited researchers in a recent ranking.
The rankings are calculated by Stanford professor John P.A. Ioannidis using Elsevier’s Scopus, a database of scientific citations in high-quality, peer-reviewed academic journals. The most recent rankings were released in early October.
Researchers are included if they rank among the top 100,000 scientists worldwide or within the top 2 percent of their scientific subfield. The rankings include both a single-year list based on citations from calendar year 2025 and a career-long list based on citations accumulated since 1996.
“Having 15 Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists recognized among the world’s most-cited researchers is a powerful reflection of the impact and quality of our research enterprise,” said Jean-François Meullenet, senior associate vice president for agriculture-research and director of the experiment station. “These rankings recognize sustained contributions that advance scientific knowledge and help address real-world challenges in agriculture, food systems, natural resources and human health. We are proud of our faculty whose discoveries are benefiting Arkansas, the nation and communities around the world.”
Faculty recognized in the annual ranking, career ranking or both include:
- Kristofor Brye, University Professor of applied soil physics and pedology — crop, soil and environmental sciences
- Nilda Burgos, professor of weed physiology and molecular biology — crop, soil and environmental sciences
- Sami Dridi, professor of avian endocrinology and molecular genetics — poultry science
- Kristen Gibson, professor of food safety and microbiology and director of the Arkansas Center for Food Safety — food science
- Fiona Goggin, University Professor — entomology and plant pathology
- Brian Haggard, professor and director of the Arkansas Water Resources Center — biological and agricultural engineering in the College of Engineering
- Billy M. Hargis, professor emeritus — poultry science
- Rupesh Kariyat, professor of crop entomology and holder of the Clyde H. Sites Endowed Professorship in International Crop Physiology — entomology and plant pathology
- Michael Kidd, professor — poultry science
- Wayne J. Kuenzel, professor emeritus — poultry science
- Jason Norsworthy, Distinguished Professor of weed science and holder of the Elms Farming Chair of Weed Science — crop, soil and environmental sciences
- Casey Owens, professor of poultry processing and products and Novus International Professor of Poultry Science — poultry science
- Han-Seok Seo, Tyson Endowed Professor in Food Sensory Science and director of the Sensory Science Center — food science
- Ali Ubeyitogullari, associate professor of food engineering — food science and biological and agricultural engineering
Meullenet, an administrator, was also among the scientists included in the career-long list. Aside from Haggard and Meullenet, all of the scientists are affiliated with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
In all, the rankings included 43 researchers associated with the University of Arkansas.
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
John Lovett
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
(479) 763-5929
jl119@uark.edu