Three Dakota State University faculty members have been recognized as being among the world’s top two percent of scientists.

The recognition comes from the 2026 Stanford-Elsevier World’s Top Two Percent Scientists list, which ranks researchers based on the impact of their work and how often it is cited by other researchers.

The three Dakota State faculty members are Dr. Abeer Alkhwaldi, an assistant professor of information systems; Dr. Abid Mehmood, an associate professor of computer science; and Dr. Peng Guo, an associate professor of theoretical physics.

Alkhwaldi was recognized in business and management for the second consecutive year. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, business analytics, and how organizations adopt emerging technologies.

Mehmood was recognized in information and communication technologies, with a focus on artificial intelligence and image processing. His research includes developing secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence, with applications in agriculture, health care, and finance.

Guo was recognized in nuclear and particle physics. His research focuses on theoretical and computational nuclear physics and the behavior of subatomic particles.

The Stanford-Elsevier list evaluates researchers using factors including research citations, publication history, and their contributions to scientific fields.

Dakota State Vice President for Research and Economic Development Dr. Ashley Podhradsky says having three researchers recognized internationally reflects the university’s growing research impact.