• Four Charles Sturt University artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity experts have been ranked among the top two per cent of scientists in the world
• They are among leading international researchers whose work has had a significant impact across various scientific disciplines
• Their research directly benefits regional communities in many ways by ensuring that regional supply chains remain robust and secure, enhancing the security and protection of regional infrastructures, and by providing AI-driven solutions for healthcare delivery

Four Charles Sturt University artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity experts have been ranked among the top two per cent of scientists in the world.

The academics are Research Fellows in the Charles Sturt Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute (AICFI) and were named in the Stanford University-Elsevier’s ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’, an esteemed ranking that identifies the most cited scholars in their fields.

This prestigious list identifies the world’s leading researchers and represents approximately two per cent of all scientists worldwide whose work has had a significant impact across various scientific disciplines.

Executive Director of the Charles Sturt University Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute (AICFI) Professor Ganna Pogrebna said the ranking of the Institute’s research fellows underscores the significant contribution of the Institute in regional Australia and nationally.

“These rankings demonstrate the world-class researchers - all leaders in their fields – that the University has attracted as it establishes a world-class research institute,” Professor Pogrebna said.

“The research efforts of Mohammad Ali Moni, Ivan Maksymov, Morgan Luck and Ibrar Yaqoob align with the needs of regional communities and the broader national research and security efforts in several  ways.

“Each researcher has also contributed specific scholarly work that further enhances the impact of their efforts on rural and regional communities.”

Senior Research Fellow Dr Ibrar Yaqoob (pictured top left) leads the Smart and Resilient Supply Chains stream, focusing on securing and enhancing regional supply chains through advanced technologies.

His paper ‘A survey on metaverse-empowered 6G wireless systems: a security perspective’ highlights how emerging technologies can strengthen regional agricultural supply chains which are crucial for rural economies.

Another key paper, ‘Leveraging Blockchain and Machine Learning to Promote Child Labor-Free Sustainable Development’, discusses how advanced digital technologies can defend against exploitation of children in the Global South and protect the supply chains that rural areas depend on, especially in agriculture and small manufacturing.

Dr Yaqoob’s work ensures that regional supply chains remain robust and secure, safeguarding vital agricultural and industrial sectors from disruptions, thus supporting economic stability in rural areas.

Program Lead Dr Mohammad Ali Moni (pictured second from left) leads the AI and Digital Health Technology Program, focusing on digital health advancements that are crucial for underserved regional areas.

His work improves healthcare accessibility through AI-driven health technologies, helping rural communities access better health services remotely. For example, his paper ‘A Robust Deep-Learning Model to Detect Major Depressive Disorder Utilising EEG Signals’ explores how AI technologies can be tailored to improve healthcare in rural areas.

In addition, his research ‘Advances in Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Technologies for Early Detection of Human Diseases’ focuses on enhancing the regional health infrastructure through AI, which aligns with national priorities for public health security and resilience.

Dr Moni’s research directly benefits regional communities by providing AI-driven solutions for healthcare delivery, allowing better management of health services where physical infrastructure is often limited.

Dr Ivan Maksymov (pictured second from right) heads the Physics and Machine Learning team within the Defence Cybersecurity and Biosecurity Stream. His research integrates machine learning and physical sciences to develop new algorithms that enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure in rural and urban regions.

His work on ‘Physical reservoir computing enabled by solitary waves and biologically inspired nonlinear transformation of input data’ provides insights into how these advanced technologies can safeguard regional infrastructures from cyber threats.

Another paper, ‘Reservoir Computing Using Measurement-Controlled Quantum Dynamics’, contributes to the discourse on how physic-infused machine learning models can be applied to decision making, especially in rural and regional contexts, where computing resources are difficult to come by.

Research Acceleration Fellow 2023-24 Dr Morgan Luck (picture right) focuses on the ethical and philosophical dimensions of AI and emerging technologies. His work addresses the societal implications of AI technologies, especially in rural and regional contexts.

His paper ‘Freedom, AI and God: why being dominated by a friendly super-AI might not be so bad’ provides a critical lens on how emerging technologies can be integrated into societies (especially rural and regional) without exacerbating inequality.

In another publication, ‘Can we solve the Gamer’s Dilemma by resisting it?,’ Dr Luck explores how AI-driven innovations can support ethical technological development that meets the needs of both urban and rural populations.

Dr Luck’s ethical framework impacts regional communities by ensuring that AI developments are inclusive and considerate of the unique cultural and societal values of regional Australia, fostering a balanced approach to innovation that benefits all areas.

Stanford University’s list of ‘World’s Top 2% Scientists’ is based on a two per cent or above percentile rank, or the top 100,000 by c-score (with and without self-citations). It encompasses standardised data on citations, h-index and a wide range of bibliometric indicators. Researchers are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields, drawing from Scopus data provided by Elsevier through ICSR Lab.