ANN ARBOR—Two of the most influential chemists of the last decade are University of Michigan professors, according to a new independent analysis based on the number of citations researchers’ papers received.

Professors Nicholas Kotov and Charles Brooks are included on the Thomson Reuters Science Watch list “Top 100 Chemists, 2000-2010.” Kotov is a faculty member in the departments of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering. Brooks is the Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis Professor of Chemistry and a faculty member in the biophysics program. The list celebrates the achievements of chemists and chemical engineers whose papers made the highest impact in the discipline since January 2000. Kotov’s 78 papers have been cited more than 4,800 times and Brooks’ 67 were referenced 3,778 times. Kotov also ranked in the top 25 most influential materials scientists.

“To be named among the top 25 scientists working in materials is most exciting,” he said. “It is also a recognition of the hard work put in by many students and post-docs. It gives us a boost of confidence and energy in the current research projects pushing the capabilities of nanomaterials even further.”

In recent years, Kotov has developed a transparent plastic that’s as strong as steel and inspired by seashells, and a carbon-nanotube-coated “smart yarn” that conducts electricity and could be woven into soft fabrics that detect blood and monitor health.

Brooks’ work focuses on understanding the forces that determine the structure of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, and complexes containing these important biological molecules. He has been recognized for his pioneering work in computational biophysics with a Computerworld Smithsonian Award, which includes a permanent exhibit of his work in the Smithsonian Institute.

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• Top 100 Chemists
• Nicholas Kotov
• Charles Brooks