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Clocktower clockFriday 20 June 2014 3:52pm

Prof Richie Poulton
Professor Richie Poulton

A University of Otago researcher, along with only three other New Zealand scientists, has been included in a new list of the top 1% most-cited researchers in science around the globe.

Those named have earned their distinction by publishing the highest number of research articles that rank among those most frequently cited by fellow researchers, earning them the mark of exceptional impact.

The newly announced 2014 Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researchers List includes Professor Richie Poulton, Director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Study and its Associate Director, Professor Terrie Moffit of Duke University, among the 100 researchers named in its Psychology/Psychiatry section.

The Dunedin Study is one of the most detailed studies of human health and development ever undertaken. The participants, who are now in their early 40s, have been followed up since birth, at age three, then every two years to age 15, at ages 18, 21, 26, 32 and 38. The research outputs of the Study have made a substantial contribution to new knowledge with more than 1100 publications to date, with many of these published in the world's leading journals.

Research Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Blaikie warmly congratulated Professor Poulton on gaining the impressive distinction of appearing on the Highly Cited Researchers List.

“Since Richie Poulton took over the helm of the Dunedin Study in 2000, this world-leading research programme has grown from strength to strength. Its investigations into the complex interplay of genes and environment affecting many aspects of people's health and wellbeing have been particularly influential. By exploring these effects of 'nature via nurture', Professor Poulton and his colleagues are generating important new insights that can be applied to improve life outcomes across many spheres.”

To produce the list, Thomson Reuters analysts assessed papers indexed between 2002 and 2012 in 21 broad fields of study. They tracked authors who published numerous articles that ranked among the top 1% of the most cited in their respective fields in the given year of publication. These documents represent research that the scientific community has judged to be the most significant and useful.

For more information, contact:

Professor Richie Poulton
Tel 64 3 479 8507
Email richie.poulton@otago.ac.nz

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