The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has updated the ranking of women researchers with the aim of making female research talent more visible at the national level. The classification analyzes the scientific impact of approximately 10,000 profiles registered on Google Scholar, one of the most comprehensive and accessible bibliometric platforms.

Of the 50 researchers with the highest impact index, 14 work in institutions and research centers in the Barcelona area, representing 28% of the total in Spain. Additionally, 402 researchers listed in the ranking conduct their work at the University of Barcelona.

In the Top 3 is Judita Mamuzic, from the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE), with a Google Scholar citation index of 245. Furthermore, among the top 20 positions in the ranking, there are three more researchers from the Barcelona area, reinforcing the city’s role as a scientific production hub. These researchers are Míriam Calvo, from La Salle – Ramon Llull University (position 10); Ai Koyanagi, from Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (position 14); and Rosa M. Lamuela, from the University of Barcelona (position 20).

What does the ranking measure? The role of citations and the H-index

This ranking is based on the number of citations received by each researcher’s publications in indexed scientific journals, a key factor in measuring the impact of academic work. To evaluate this, the H-index is used—an indicator that combines the number of publications with the volume of received citations, providing an objective measure of a researcher’s scientific influence. This system highlights researchers with a high degree of productivity and impact within the scientific community.

A boost for open science and transparency

The ranking, promoted by the Cybermetrics Lab of the Institute of Public Policies and Goods of CSIC, encourages more open and transparent information: Google Scholar is a free and open-access tool that facilitates unrestricted access to scientific knowledge.

Additionally, the CSIC promotes the use of ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) and RoR (Research Organization Registry) identifiers—tools that enhance the interconnection of scientific sources and strengthen open research infrastructures.

Barcelona: A benchmark in research and female scientific talent

This ranking reinforces Barcelona as a hub of scientific excellence and innovation, home to leading institutions in fields such as physics, global health, and environmental sciences. Moreover, the ranking highlights the research community’s commitment to a more inclusive, open, and transparent approach to science.