In a significant academic achievement, the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT-Deemed University) in Pune has celebrated the inclusion of 10% of its faculty members in the esteemed Stanford–Elsevier Global Top 2% Scientists list. This distinction recognizes some of the world’s most influential researchers across various disciplines, underscoring DIAT’s commitment to excellence in scientific research.
The five faculty members from DIAT honored in this prestigious list are Prof. P. K. Khanna, Prof. C. S. Unnikrishnan, Prof. Prashant Kulkarni, Prof. A. A. Bazil Raj, and Prof. Balasubramanian K. Their recognition not only underscores individual accomplishments but also reflects the collective academic prowess of the institution.
The Stanford University list, developed in collaboration with Elsevier, comprises the top 2% of scientists globally, evaluated based on standardized citation metrics that consider career-long and single-year impacts across 22 scientific disciplines and 174 subfields. Approximately 230,000 of the leading scientists worldwide are featured in this recognition database, highlighting the competitiveness of the academic landscape.
Notably, three of DIAT’s professors—Prof. P. K. Khanna, Prof. C. S. Unnikrishnan, and Prof. Balasubramanian K.—have been acknowledged in both single-year and career-long categories for the year 2024, illustrating their sustained contributions to scientific advancement over time.
This recognition serves to enhance DIAT’s reputation as a center for pioneering defence and strategic research within India. The institute’s interdisciplinary research initiatives encompass a variety of fields, including materials science, defence technology, aerospace systems, and artificial intelligence, all of which play a vital role in bolstering India’s self-reliance objectives in the defence sector.
In a statement regarding this notable accomplishment, Dr. BHVS Narayana Murthy, Vice Chancellor of DIAT, extended his congratulations to the faculty members for their outstanding global recognition. He emphasized that such achievements contribute significantly to DIAT’s ongoing legacy, highlighting the dedication, innovation, and academic excellence that position DIAT as a leader in the realm of defence-related research and technology.
