Tsu-Wei Chou, Jerzy L. Nowinski Professor and chairperson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, was named a "Highly Cited Researcher" in the field of materials science by the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI). The basic mission of ISI as a database publishing company is to provide comprehensive coverage of the world's most important and influential research.

In earning this designation, Chou joins a very exclusive group made up of less than one half of one percent of all publishing researchers–including UD faculty members John S. Boyer, E. I. du Pont Professor of Marine Studies, and Arnold Rheingold, professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

In a letter to Chou, Eugene Garfield, president of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, wrote, "The recognition of your contributions by your fellow scientists, reflected in the outstanding number of references your papers have garnered, has placed you in this group."

In compiling the list, ISI analyzed some 19 million articles to determine the most highly cited researchers in 21 broad categories in life sciences, medicine, physical sciences, engineering and social sciences. Researchers are selected for inclusion based on the total number of citations received by their articles within a given category.

The online database, ISIHighlyCited.com, enables researchers from throughout the world to identify individuals, departments and laboratories that have made fundamental contributions to the advancement of science and technology in recent decades. The ISI database for the materials science area that will feature Chou is currently under development.

Chou has published extensively in materials science and applied mechanics, in a broad range of technical journals covering polymers, metals, ceramics and composites. Recipient of the University's 2001 Francis Alison Award, he joined the UD faculty in 1969.

DIANE KUKICH