Nazarbayev University researchers account for 58% of the researchers from Kazakhstan included in the latest edition of a global study identifying the world’s most-cited scientists.
The 2026 update of the Stanford–Elsevier study, led by Stanford University professor John P. A. Ioannidis, includes 86 researchers from Kazakhstan across two lists – career-long impact and single-year impact. Fifty are affiliated with NU, including 44 currently active researchers.
The 2026 update draws on Scopus author profiles as of Aug. 1, 2026, and citation data through Dec. 31, 2025. Researchers are classified across 20 scientific fields and 174 subfields using the Science-Metrix classification. The dataset incorporates several bibliometric indicators, including total citations, the h-index, the co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, authorship position and a composite citation score.
The results come as NU reports continued growth in its research output. In 2026, output increased 12% from the previous year. Eighty-two percent of the University’s publications appeared in journals ranked in the top quartile (Q1), while 46% appeared in the top 10% of journals. NU’s cumulative Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) for 2022–2026 stands at 2.65, indicating citation impact relative to the global average for comparable research.
Under NU’s new leadership, the University is placing greater emphasis on research excellence, publications in leading international journals and measurable impact beyond academia. The University has doubled doctoral scholarships, established a doctoral institute, organized research around five strategic clusters and is nearing the final stages of a global campaign to recruit 15 senior professors.
The broader goal is to translate scientific findings into practical solutions for Kazakhstan — supporting domestic companies, informing government policy and addressing national priorities. The approach reflects NU’s ambition to produce world-class research in Kazakhstan that delivers tangible value for the country.
