By: Lara Bernadette Bauzon

As per the recent Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index 2024, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has once again secured a top position, asserting sixth place in a pool of 287 Philippine institutions, housing research establishments, as well as both public and private universities. Among its counterparts, ADMU stands fourth out of 261 public and private universities, just right behind the University of the Philippines System, De La Salle University Manila, and the University of the Philippines Diliman. Over the past 6 years, ADMU has been recognized as the top-ranking private university in the Philippines for its notable scientific productivity and citations.
This remarkable standing owes itself to the scholarly faculty members behind the university’s success, with over 127 faculty members listed in the index. Among them, 2 were part of the world’s top 10% scientists, 4 were part of the top 20%, 14 were a part of the top 30%, 16 were a part of the top 40%, and 21 were a part of the top 50%.
Hailing from the Ateneo Community, both Liane Peña Alampay, PhD, and Gregory L. Tangonan, PhD, shine as the institution’s top scientists, ranking at 1st and 2nd, respectively and recognized as part of the top 10% of scientists globally. Dr. Alampay is a Professor under the Psychology department with 74 publications, specializing in developmental psychology, gaining 6,467 citations. On the other hand, Dr. Tangonan, a Physics Department professor and founder of the Ateneo Innovation Center, places next with 6,644 citations, with a speciality in applied physics, innovation, and science policy.
Further, Maria Mercedes T. Rodrigo, PhD holds the 3rd spot as a professor in the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science, garnering 3,740 citations and 52nd nationwide. Her research endeavors placed emphasis on artificial intelligence in education, affective computing, and educational data mining. Coming in 4th place is Department of Sociology and Anthropology professor Alfred Pawlik, PhD, holding 1,850 citations. Sealing the top 5 is Ronald Mendoza, PhD, former Ateneo School of Government Dean and econometrics specialist, earning 4,365 citations.
The AD Scientific Index evaluates candidates based on their performance, productivity, and impact in practical scientific settings. Ateneo de Manila University’s ranking and recognition underscore its fidelity and commitment to pursue cutting-edge knowledge, placing greater emphasis on scientific endeavors to global academia.