UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Francisco Dini-Andreote and Andrew Patterson in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences are among the most highly cited researchers in 2025, according to the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Group.
The group’s annual list comprises authors who the top 1% of citations for published papers in leading peer-reviewed journals for their field of study and publication year.
The 2025 list includes more than 7,000 highly cited researchers, including 15 from Penn State. Among those are two from the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Troy Ott, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences, said that while publications are one metric of the impact of science, how often these publications are cited by other scientists can be an even more powerful metric of the impact of the science done in the college.
“We are so pleased that Andrew and Francisco’s work was recognized for being among the top 1% for their field of study,” he said. “These two are excellent examples of how our investment in our scientists and scientific discoveries leads other scientists in a virtuous loop of discovery, ultimately leading to solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing humanity.”
Dini-Andreote, an associate professor of phytobiomes in the Department of Plant Science, leads a lab focused on developing innovative ways to harness soil and plant microbiomes to mitigate plant stresses and promote sustainability in agroecosystems. The lab also is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.
“I’m honored by this recognition, which reflects the collaborative and supportive research community we have at Penn State,” Dini-Andreote said. “The College of Agricultural Sciences, the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the One Health Microbiome Center provide an exceptional environment for interdisciplinary discovery, and their continued support has been essential to advancing our work.”
Patterson holds the John T. and Paige S. Smith Professorship and has appointments as professor of molecular toxicology in the College of Agricultural Sciences and as professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in the Eberly College of Science. He also is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Penn State Cancer Institute.
Patterson studies small-molecule metabolites in biological systems, collectively known as the metabolome. The rapidly emerging field holds promise for understanding disease processes and improving human health.
Patterson's current research focuses on understanding the host-metabolite-microbiota axis — specifically how the manipulation of gut bacteria affects host metabolites and how these metabolites interact with the host to modulate health and disease.