• A Charles Sturt University researcher is hailed among science researchers who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s)
• Dr Ibrar Yaqoob has been named among the World’s 0.1 per cent Most Influential Researchers in Highly Cited Researchers 2023 List by Clarivate
• In 2023 Dr Yaqoob also became one of the youngest researchers to achieve this milestone three times in a row

An artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber futures researcher at Charles Sturt University has been named among the leading ‘most cited’ researchers in his field globally.

Dr Ibrar Yaqoob (pictured) is a Senior Research Fellow and Smart and Resilient Supply Chains Program Lead in the Charles Sturt Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures Institute (AICFI) and is based in Bathurst.

He has been ranked by Clarivate-Web of Science 2023 in the top 0.1 per cent of researchers who have authored multiple Highly Cited Papers. These papers rank in the top one per cent by citations for their field(s) and publication year in the Web of Science over the past decade.

Dr Yaqoob has been conducting research on leveraging blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse for applications in healthcare, supply chain and logistics, wireless networks, internet of things (IoT), and smart cities.

The Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list from Clarivate identifies individual researchers in the sciences and social scientists who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research.

In 2023, approximately 188,500 highly cited research papers from 20 broad fields were reviewed.

Citation activity is not the sole selection indicator. A preliminary list based on citation activity is refined using qualitative analysis and expert judgement. Of the world’s population of scientists and social scientists, Highly Cited Researchers are 1 in 1,000.

Of special note is that in 2023 Dr Yaqoob also became one of the youngest researchers to achieve this milestone three times in a row.

Charles Sturt Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Evans congratulated Ibrar on achieving a top 0.1 per cent global ranking.

“This prestigious accomplishment is truly remarkable, and Ibrar’s dedication and expertise truly shines,” Professor Evans said.

“Charles Sturt University takes great pride in having Ibrar onboard, and his role as the Smart and Resilient Supply Chains lead in our new AI and Cyber Futures Institute will be integral both in achieving our research goals and fostering prosperous and resilient regional communities across New South Wales.”

Dr Yaqoob said, “It is an immense pleasure and honour for me to represent Charles Sturt University in this prestigious list of highly cited researchers released by Clarivate.

“I am grateful to the Executive Director of the AICF Institute, Professor Ganna Pogrebna, and my previous research advisors, including Professor Khaled Salah, Professor Choong Seon Hong, and Professor Abdullah Gani, for their immense support and guidance.”

Dr Yaqoob’s past research also focused on the areas of mobile edge-cloud computing, IoT, computer networks, and big data.

With blockchain, Dr Yaqoob ensures that each step in the supply chain is securely recorded, preventing fraud and ensuring the authenticity of everyday products.

He also explores the applications of NFTs to uniquely identify and verify digital or physical assets, and the metaverse (believed by some to be the next iteration of the internet) to introduce immersive virtual environments that enhance collaboration and decision-making.

His research also focuses on enhancing cybersecurity through blockchain, both generally and within the metaverse, by combating deepfakes and cyber threats.