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12 Research Specialties Rank in Top 10 Worldwide, Including No. 2 for Neuroscience and Behavior
By Nina Bai
Nina Schultz, PhD, a postdoc in the Department of Neurology, works in a lab in the Sandler Building at the UCSF Mission Bay campus. UCSF ranked No. 2 in Neuroscience and Behavior in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings. Photo by Susan Merrell
UC San Francisco’s research has been ranked among the top in the world, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities 2022 rankings.
In the overall ranking, UCSF rose to No. 11 among the world’s top universities, up from 15th place last year. The rankings reflect the institution’s caliber overall, as well as the impact of its scientific publications – a fact made more extraordinary due to UCSF’s exclusive focus on graduate health sciences and competition against much larger institutions with a broader range of academic fields.
In 12 specialty areas, UCSF ranked in the top 10, including No. 2 in Neuroscience and Behavior.
“UCSF’s high rankings in this year’s U.S. News Global Universities rankings reaffirm the outstanding quality and far-reaching impact of UCSF’s health sciences research,” said Dan Lowenstein, MD, executive vice chancellor and provost. “Our faculty and students continue to advance our ability to improve the human condition, even against the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and these global rankings showcase their success.”
Our faculty and students continue to advance our ability to improve the human condition, even against the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and these global rankings showcase their success.”
Dan Lowenstein, MD, executive vice chancellor and provost
Now in their eighth year, the Best Global Universities rankings focus on schools’ academic research and reputation overall instead of specific undergraduate and graduate programs. These global rankings help the increasing number of students exploring international higher education options to more accurately compare institutions around the world.
The 2022 rankings, released Oct. 26, highlight UCSF’s strengths across 12 health sciences research areas in which the University placed in the top 10. UCSF ranked second in Neuroscience and Behavior; third in Clinical Medicine; fourth in Biology and Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Oncology; fifth in Microbiology; sixth in Surgery; seventh in Infectious Diseases; eighth in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health; and tenth in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging.
This is the second straight year that UCSF has ranked second in Neuroscience and Behavior and the eighth straight year it has maintained its third-place spot in Clinical Medicine. UCSF also moved up in several specialties, including to No. 4 in Biology and Biochemistry, and Oncology, both up from sixth place last year; and to No. 8 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, up from 10th place last year.
The 2022 rankings are the most comprehensive and competitive to date, encompassing 1,750 top institutions across 90 countries, up from 86 countries last year. The overall ranking scores were calculated based on 13 weighted indicators that included each institution’s global and regional research reputation, publication record, extent of international collaborations and impact of its citations. Each of the 43 subject rankings has its own methodology based on academic research performance and reputation in that specific area.
UCSF joins other University of California schools with high overall ranking, including UC San Diego (21st), UCLA (14th) and UC Berkeley (4th).
#2 in Neuroscience and Behavior
#3 in Clinical Medicine
#4 in Biology and Biochemistry
#4 in Cell Biology
#4 in Immunology
#4 in Molecular Biology and Genetics
#4 in Oncology
#5 in Microbiology
#6 in Surgery
#7 in Infectious Diseases
#8 in Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
#10 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
#14 in Endocrinology and Metabolism
#14 in Pharmacology and Toxicology
#15 in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
#16 in Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
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