SHILLONG, March 18: Despite being mired in controversy, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) has secured the 34th position in the prestigious Nature Index 2024 for its Department of Physics, surpassing several leading institutions across India. The university has also been ranked 48th overall in terms of research output.
Celebrating this milestone, Prof GD Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM, stated that the recognition reflects the university’s unwavering commitment to research excellence and innovation. “By consistently pushing the frontiers of scientific discovery, USTM is positioning itself as a premier research hub in the country,” he remarked.
This achievement is largely credited to the contributions of Dr Faizuddin Ahmed, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, whose groundbreaking work in theoretical physics has significantly bolstered USTM’s standing. Head of the Department of Physics, Dr Nitu Borgohain, praised his efforts, stating, “Dr Ahmed’s dedication and expertise have played a crucial role in elevating our department to this distinguished rank on the global research stage.”
Dr Ahmed’s research has gained widespread recognition, with seven of his papers published in the European Physical Journal C, a highly esteemed Nature-indexed journal. Collectively, these publications have earned a cumulative impact score of 4.67.
Expressing his delight, Dr Ahmed said, “It is an honour to contribute to USTM’s rise in the Nature Index rankings. The 34th rank for our department and the university’s 48th overall position underscore our steadfast commitment to high-quality research.”
The Nature Index serves as a benchmark for global research excellence, tracking high-impact contributions across the natural sciences. Maintained by Nature Research, it evaluates institutions and countries based on their publications in 82 top-tier scientific journals, spanning fields such as physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and life sciences.
