Stanford places 5 Florida Poly professors among the world’s top 2% Scientists

Stanford University has named five Florida Polytechnic University professors on its annual World’s Top 2% Scientists^[1] list, reflecting years of research and contributions in their fields.

The coveted ranking recognizes researchers whose work is most cited and has had a significant impact across scientific disciplines.

The honorees include professors Ajeet Kaushik, Muhammad Rashid, Khaled Shaaban and Patrick Zhang. They were recognized for research, past and present, in areas including nanotechnology and sensors, power electronics, transportation and rare earth element recovery.

This is also the second consecutive year Mahmoud Elish has been recognized for his work in computational intelligence and software engineering.

“These remarkable faculty embody the bold innovation and academic excellence that define our University,” Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson said. “Their groundbreaking research is not only advancing the frontiers of science and technology but also shaping the next generation of scientists through the students they teach, mentor and inspire every day.”

Elish is a professor of computer science who focuses on the intersection of software engineering and computational intelligence. His work seeks to advance the development and application of intelligent systems. He has published more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented research at international conferences.

“It’s an honor to be included on this list for the second time, and it reinforces my commitment to research with real-world impact,” Elish said. “Florida Poly provides an environment where I can conduct meaningful research while mentoring students and collaborating with colleagues.”

Kaushik is an associate professor of chemistry. His work explores sensors, biosensors and nanotechnology for health and environmental management. He received a Fulbright Specialist^[2] appointment in 2025 to work with scholars in Spain on the electrochemical sensing of microplastics.

Kaushik has 12 edited books and has more than 320 peer-reviewed publications. Additionally, he has obtained three patents in nanomedicine and smart sensors for health care. His work was cited 3,700 times during the period reviewed.

“Research becomes a part of my personality; I grew up doing research in a national laboratory, and Florida Poly has always encouraged and supported my work,” Kaushik said. “Recognition like this motivates students. They are now more interested, engaged and want to do more hands-on work in my laboratory.”

Rashid, an electrical engineering professor, also serves as the school’s director of cybersecurity engineering opportunities. He is an international authority on power electronics, and his textbooks are used by universities globally. Rashid has published more than 160 papers and edited or authored more than 33 books.

“Every year, students who take a class with me are encouraged to publish,” Rashid said. “We want them to publish research because the experience makes it easier to build careers after graduation.”

Shaaban, a professor of civil engineering, works to design safer, smarter streets that integrate walking, cycling and public transportation to create more sustainable communities. He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals and presented at international conferences.

“This award recognizes years of hard work and dedication,” Shaaban said. “I began my career in the transportation industry, which gave me a strong understanding of real-world challenges. I hope this recognition inspires students and highlights the opportunities they have at Florida Poly to work with dedicated professors on meaningful research.”

Zhang is the Senior Director of Research at the school’s Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute. He leads national efforts to recover rare earth elements from phosphate and the wastes and byproducts of its mining. The materials are critical for technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicles.

“Building industry connections and finding solutions to major technical and environmental challenges is my passion. I just love research,” Zhang said. “I’m glad to see more Florida Poly faculty recognized on this list, and I look forward to contributing even more through collaboration.”

Florida Poly Provost Brad Thiessen said the recognitions reflect the strength and growing impact on the school’s research.

“We are proud to have faculty who are contributing to their fields while guiding students to become the future leaders of science and technology,” he said.