15 PNNL-Affiliated Researchers Named to Clarivate’s 2025 Most Influential Scientists List

Fifteen researchers who work at or collaborate with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have been named to Clarivate’s 2025 list of the world’s most influential researchers. Thirteen are PNNL staff and two are joint appointees affiliated with partner institutions.

“These researchers continue to shape the future of science, technology and academia globally and deliver innovation that drives societal progress,” said David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information.

Clarivate’s annual ranking identifies scientists whose work is most frequently cited by peers. To qualify, researchers must rank in the top 1% by citations within their field over the past decade — roughly one in 1,000 researchers worldwide make the list. This year’s honorees span 60 countries and regions; the United States led all nations with 7,131 recognitions, followed by mainland China and the United Kingdom.

Deb Gracio, director of the Department of Energy laboratory in Richland, praised the honorees for their sustained impact: “These acknowledgements reflect PNNL investigators’ groundbreaking contributions to advance knowledge and drive innovation in their respective fields.”

Two PNNL researchers — Wu Xu and Ji-Guang "Jason" Zhang — were recognized in two subject areas (engineering and materials science). The full group of honored researchers includes leaders in earth sciences, materials, electrochemistry, microbial ecology and national-security biological research.

Researchers named to Clarivate’s 2025 list

• Kate Calvin — Earth scientist at PNNL’s Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI); joint appointee at the University of Maryland, College Park.
• Mark H. Engelhard — Chemist in PNNL’s Energy Processes and Materials Division. A repeat highly cited researcher, Engelhard is known for advancing surface-sensitive techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications.
• Matthew J. Gidden — Deputy director of JGCRI; joint appointee at the University of Maryland, College Park.
• Janet K. Jansson — Retired laboratory fellow and microbial ecologist with more than 30 years’ experience using molecular approaches to study complex microbial communities in soil, sediments and the human gut.
• Page Kyle — Earth scientist at JGCRI focusing on climate- and earth-system research.
• Nate G. McDowell — Earth scientist and joint appointee at Washington State University. McDowell applies plant physiological ecology at global scales to understand plant responses to environmental stress and implications for ecosystems.
• Brian C. O’Neill — Earth scientist at JGCRI and joint appointee at the University of Maryland, College Park, noted for work on climate scenarios and global change research.
• Yuyan Shao — Electrochemist and laboratory fellow whose research focuses on electrochemical interfaces and high-performance materials for batteries, energy storage, hydrogen and fuel cells.
• Amy C. Sims — Senior research scientist in PNNL’s Chemical and Biological Signatures Division (National Security Directorate) and joint appointee at the University of Washington. Sims has published on antivirals, reverse genetics for coronavirus research, and viral modulation of host innate immunity.
• Steven J. Smith — Earth scientist at JGCRI and joint appointee at the University of Maryland, College Park, with contributions to climate and integrated assessment modeling.
• Chongmin Wang — Laboratory fellow and materials scientist recognized internationally for energy storage and electron microscopy, with extensive peer-reviewed publications.
• Wu Xu — Chief scientist in the Electrochemical Materials and Systems Group (Energy Processes and Materials Division). A repeat most-cited researcher, Wu focuses on materials development and electrode/electrolyte interphases for energy storage systems; he holds numerous publications and patents.
• Ji-Guang "Jason" Zhang — Laboratory fellow in the Energy Processes & Materials Division, internationally recognized for pioneering work on energy storage devices. Zhang has an extensive publication record and many patents; this marks his 12th year on Clarivate’s highly cited list.

Also recognized as joint appointees who collaborate closely with PNNL are:

• Jun Liu — Chair of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Washington and a Battelle fellow.
• Jie Xiao — Boeing Martin Professor at the University of Washington and a Battelle fellow.

Battelle, which holds the Department of Energy contract to operate PNNL, supports joint appointments and collaborations that connect the laboratory with universities and industry partners. The Clarivate honors underscore the laboratory’s breadth of expertise across climate science, materials and energy research, microbial ecology and national-security sciences.