Prof. Alexandros Stamatakis, head of the Biodiversity Computing Group (BCG) at the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) of FORTH, and Prof. Athanasios Nenes, Affiliated Scientist at the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT) of FORTH are included in the internationally recognized list of “Highly Cited Researchers” for 2025, compiled by Clarivate Analytics based on the “Web of Science” database.

This list is published annually and highlights scientists whose publications consistently rank among the most frequently cited worldwide (top 1%), and represents an important honorary distinction. Of the world’s population of scientists, Highly Cited Researchers who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their fields of research are 1 in 1,000.

Alexandros Stamatakis, Professor for High Performance Computing at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), head of the Biodiversity Computing Group (BCG) at the Institute of Computer Science of FORTH (FORTH-ICS), Group leader of the “Computational Molecular Evolution” research group at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS), is included for the tenth consecutive year in the internationally recognized list of “Highly Cited Researchers” for 2025, in the field of Biology and Biochemistry.

Professor Stamatakis has been included in this list with FORTH-ICS as his primary affiliation since 2023, when he joined the Institute of Computer Science, through the ERA funding he received from the European Union to establish an active research group for Computational Biodiversity in Crete. The BCG team develops advanced methods for the analysis of extremely large molecular biological datasets. The group’s work contributes substantially to fields such as: the evolution of species and populations, cancer cell analysis, statistical classification of organisms, and the development of efficient algorithms for high-performance computing systems.

The international recognition reflected by Professor Stamatakis’ inclusion in the “Highly Cited Researchers” list also highlights the rapid rise of the Institute of Computer Science as a center of excellence in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, both in Greece and internationally.

BCG’s work draws on strong collaborations with major Greek institutions, such as: the Natural History Museum of Crete, the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), while also maintaining close ties with leading European research organizations. These partnerships position ICS-FORTH at the center of an international ecosystem of excellence in biodiversity research.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Professor Stamatakis is actively involved in shaping research policy: strengthening brain gain, highlighting the issue of “specimen drain” from biodiversity-rich countries to the Global North, and promoting a National Program for Female Professors and Researchers. His presence at ICS-FORTH substantially enhances the dialogue around improving research policy and academic renewal in Greece.

Athanasios Nenes, is included for the sixth consecutive year in the internationally recognized Clarivate Analytics list of the world's most influential researchers for 2025 in the field of Geosciences. Mr. Nenes is a Professor of Atmospheric Processes at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and Affiliated Scientist at the Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT) of FORTH and also a coordinating member of the Center of Studies on Air quality and Climate Change (C-STACC), and of the Laboratory of Atmospheric Processes and their Impacts at FORTH.

Among his many research activities, Prof. Nenes is scientific coordinator of the important Horizon European project "Clouds and Climate transitioning to post-fossil aerosol regime (CleanCloud)", with 10M Euro budget with the participation of 20 partners from 12 countries in the European academic and research community, and is coordinating lead author of the Working Group I, Chapter 4 of the Seventh Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Prof. Nenes's research focuses on atmospheric processes and their critical impacts on climate, health, and ecosystems through a combination of cutting-edge theory, measurements, and modeling. A central focus of his work is atmospheric particulate matter (aerosols), with his studies combining observations, theory, and modeling.

The inclusion of Professors Stamatakis and Nenes in the list of the world’s most influential scientists in their fields highlights the high quality of FORTH’s research community, which continues to grow dynamically, with a strong commitment to excellence.

For more information: https://clarivate.com/highly-cited-researchers/