• Charles Sturt Associate Professor Ibrar Yaqoob ranks 9th in Australia and 191st globally among the Rising Stars of Science 2026
• His research is being applied in healthcare, agriculture, supply chains, IoT, smart cities and communications networks

A Charles Sturt University researcher has been recognised among the world’s rising stars of science.

Associate Professor Ibrar Yaqoob (inset), a Principal Research Fellow in the University’s Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures (AICF) Centre in Bathurst, has been named in research.com’s 2026 Best Rising Stars of Science in the World ranking.

He ranked 9^th in Australia and 191^st worldwide in the 2026 rankings.

Associate Professor Yaqoob’s current research focuses on distributed systems (a collection of independent computers that communicate over a network and work together to look and function as a single, unified system), cybersecurity and applied artificial intelligence.

His research is applied to address issues in healthcare, agriculture, supply chains, IoT, smart cities and communications networks. 

At Charles Sturt University, he leads the Drone-Native AI Vision project, supported by Food Agility CRC and industry partners, to advance weed mapping, crop and pasture monitoring, and livestock health assessment.

Through the CSIRO-funded AgriTwins program, he leads several projects and contributes to research bringing artificial intelligence and digital twins into agriculture.

He also supervises higher degree research students and research staff, and collaborates with industry and research partners in Australia and internationally.

Associate Professor Yaqoob said research is a collective endeavour and his recognition reflects the people who have shaped his thinking and strengthened his work.

"I thank Charles Sturt University’s leadership for their support, the Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Futures (AICF) Centre and my former line managers and supervisors for their mentorship," he said.

"I also want to thank my students, colleagues and collaborators for their insight, rigour and dedication.

“Charles Sturt University’s strength lies in connecting research with the needs of industry and regional communities. That connection shapes the questions we ask and gives our work a clear purpose: to advance knowledge and deliver lasting community benefit.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Neena Mitter, said Professor Yaqoob’s work was an outstanding example of how Charles Sturt research addresses Australia’s challenges.

“Professor Yaqoob’s research is extremely technical but the applications of his work are benefitting Australians in lots of different ways and fields,” Professor Mitter said.

“This is the essence of great research and I wholeheartedly congratulate Professor Yaqoob on this well-deserved recognition.”

The 2026 Research.com Rising Stars of Science ranking recognises researchers whose earliest publication dates back 12 years or less, based on publication and citation data collected on 12 January 2026.