Professor Paul Iji

The Fiji National University’s (FNU) Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Paul Iji, has once again been recognised among the world’s most influential scientists, securing a place in the Stanford University Top 2% of Researchers List for 2025.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that Professor Iji has earned a place on the prestigious global list, which highlights researchers whose work has achieved exceptional impact through citations and scholarly influence.

The Stanford University Top 2% Scientists List, developed in partnership with Elsevier, identifies the world’s most impactful researchers based on a composite citation score (c-score) that includes total citations, h-index, authorship positions, and self-citations. Using Scopus data, the ranking covers both career-long and single-year impact across 22 scientific fields and 174 subfields. This year’s list features approximately 236,000 researchers, representing the top two per cent globally.

Professor Iji, who has been featured in both the annual and career rankings since 2021, is widely regarded as one of the most highly cited researchers in the South Pacific.

Reflecting on the achievement, Professor Iji said he was honoured to represent Fiji and FNU on the global research stage.

“I am pleased with this recognition, not only for myself but also for Fiji National University,” he said. “Such recognition helps attract and inspire young researchers eager to be mentored and reassures the wider community of FNU’s growing strength and credibility in research.”

An Animal Scientist by training, Professor Iji previously served as Dean of the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, where he spearheaded the establishment of the Bachelor of Animal Science degree – the only such programme in the South Pacific. He also led the team that produced the first cohort of Veterinary Doctors in the region, with nearly 40 FNU-trained veterinarians registered to practise as of September 2025 – a remarkable milestone for the 15-year-old University.

Under Professor Iji’s leadership, FNU continues to strengthen its research capacity and nurture a new generation of world-class researchers who contribute to addressing regional and global challenges through innovation and collaboration.