World Ranking of Female Scientists in 2024 (3rd Edition)
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
On August 8, 2024, Research.com released the 3rd edition of the annual online Ranking of Best Female Scientists in the World.
This ranking aims to inspire female researchers, women considering academic careers, and global leaders by highlighting successful women scientists. For the 2024 release of this report, it is our objective to promote more opportunities, greater visibility, and equitable prospects for women across all scientific fields.
While we celebrate these accomplished women, we acknowledge the ongoing challenge of gender imbalance in academia. With this ranking, we promote the recognition and commendation of female scientists for their accomplishments. This report honors every female scientist who courageously pursues her passion despite obstacles. Their perseverance inspires young women and girls to explore scientific careers.
Key Findings from the 2024 World Ranking of Female Scientists
- Scientists from the United States dominate the top female scientists ranking with 616 scholars from this country being ranked in 2024 (61.6% of the whole ranking).
- Other countries leading the ranking are the UK (92 scientists or 9.2%), and Germany (39 scientists or 3.9%).
- Eight out of 10 female scientists in the top 1% are from the United States.
- Harvard University is the leader of the 2024 top female scientists ranking, with 42 leading female scholars affiliated with that institution.
- The best female scientist in the world is Professor JoAnn E. Manson from Harvard Medical School, known for her pioneering research in the fields of epidemiology, endocrinology, and women's health.
- 9 out of 10 institutions with the highest number of leading female scientists are based in the US, with the only other institution among them being the University of Oxford.
- The average number of publications for top female scientists is 630.57.
The full ranking for the 2024 list of top female scientists in the world can be found here:
TOP FEMALE SCIENTISTS IN THE WORLD 2024
Bias Against Women in Research
Despite significant progress in gender equality, bias against women in research remains a pressing issue. Studies have shown that female scientists often face systemic barriers that hinder their career advancement and recognition.
Karen Schmaling, a psychology professor at Washington State University, Vancouver, emphasized that diversity is usually associated with creativity and scientific progress. She noted that if gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality are not well represented in science, then scientific progress may be impacted.
One study which reviewed 55 studies on grant awards published between 2005 and 2020, analyzed data from more than 1.3 million grant applications worldwide, of which the majority came from the US and Europe. The analysis found that men generally requested more money than women when applying for research grants. However, even when men and women requested similar amounts, women still received less funding, indicating a bias against women’s research.
The complexity of gender bias in academic science is well-documented in the literature. A synthesis of studies from 2000 to 2020 reveals a nuanced picture of gender bias in various contexts. The research focused on six key areas: tenure-track hiring, grant funding, teaching ratings, journal acceptances, salaries, and recommendation letters, as well as a seventh area, journal productivity.
Contrary to the frequent portrayal of omnipresent sexism, the findings indicate that tenure-track women are at parity with men in grant funding, journal acceptances, and recommendation letters, and even advantage in hiring. However, bias against women was evident in teaching ratings and salaries, with gender gaps in salary being smaller than often claimed but still concerning.
Implementing transparent and equitable review processes, providing targeted support and mentorship for female researchers, and fostering inclusive work environments are essential steps towards reducing gender bias in research. By addressing these issues, the scientific community can ensure that talented female scientists receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve, contributing to a more diverse and innovative research landscape.
Countries with the Best Female Scientists
The representation of female scientists in the top 1000 rankings varies significantly across countries, reflecting differences in policies, cultural attitudes, and support systems for women in science.
The United States leads with an impressive 616 female scientists, attributed to its extensive research infrastructure and significant investment in scientific research. From 609 scientists in 2023 to 616 this year, their total number represents 61.6% of the whole ranking.
The United Kingdom follows with 92 top-ranking female scientists, four scientists less than the previous year. Germany keeps the third spot with 39, adding two more scientists from 37 in 2023.
Australia, with 33 female scientists, has made notable strides through initiatives such as the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program. Canada and France each have 32 top female scientists, reflecting their commitment to gender equity in research through various policies and support programs.
From 26 scientists in 2023, Italy's representation this year includes 28 female scientists, bolstered by European Union initiatives like Horizon 2020, which promotes gender equality in research and innovation.
The Netherlands, with 27 female scientists, benefits from the Dutch Research Council's efforts to support female researchers. China, with 14 female scientists, is making progress through national programs aimed at improving gender equity in research. Joining the top 10 in 2024, replacing Spain, is Finland with 12 female scientists.
These rankings highlight the importance of institutional support, national policies, and cultural attitudes in promoting gender equality in science. Countries with well-established programs and initiatives to support female scientists tend to have higher representation in top rankings, demonstrating the impact of sustained efforts towards gender equity in research.
Business ethics and sustainability professor Ingrid S. Greene of the Loyola Marymount University supports strengthening institutional policies to support female researchers. Greene states a common pattern, “Unfortunately, the challenges of balancing career and family responsibilities can disproportionately affect women, especially in fields with demanding schedules. This can lead to career interruptions or reduced productivity. In the U.S., there are still inadequate parental leave policies and lack of support for work-life balance that can hinder women’s career progression.”
As a professor teaching business ethics, Greene advocates the adoption of “more family-friendly policies, including flexible work hours, comprehensive parental leave, and support for childcare.” Greene also suggests “the expansion of mentorship and networking opportunities specifically for women that can help them navigate career challenges and gain essential support.” Through establishing strong support systems, women researchers will have more options when it comes to their professional growth.
It is important to note that the country associated with a scientist is based on their affiliated research institution, not on their actual nationality.
Institutions with the Best Female Scientists
Several leading institutions are home to a high number of top female scientists. Harvard University tops the list with 42 female scientists in the top 1000 rankings, adding two more scientists from the 2023 ranking. The National Institutes of Health follows with 34 scholars, adding one more scientist from the previous year.
Stanford University ranks third with 27 top female scientists, supported by its strong research programs and interdisciplinary approach. From having 22 scientists in 2023, the University of California-San Francisco is next on the list with 24 female scientists this year, emphasizing its contributions to medical and biomedical research.
The University of Pennsylvania, ranking fifth, is represented by 17 female scientists, highlighting its comprehensive research environment. The University of Oxford, Columbia University, and MIT each have 16 top female scientists. Among the three, the University of Oxford was able to keep its ranking at spot 6 while Columbia University moved two notches lower, from the fifth to the seventh spot.
Notably, the University of Oxford is the only non-American institution in the top 10.
Yale University is ranked ninth with 14 scientists, and Duke University rounds out the top ten with 13 female scientists, reflecting its commitment to research excellence. These institutions underscore the importance of robust research environments and support systems in fostering successful careers for women in science.
How Can Lifelong Learning Support Career Sustainability for Women Scientists?
An expanded focus on continuing education and skill enhancement can provide a significant boost to the careers of female researchers. Tailored online and hybrid programs empower scientists to acquire interdisciplinary competencies and bridge knowledge gaps in rapidly evolving fields. Professional development initiatives—ranging from advanced analytical techniques to leadership and management training—enable female scientists to adapt to institutional challenges and take on strategic roles in research innovation. Integrating self-directed learning with certification courses further strengthens career resilience. Additionally, cost-effective resources such as the low cost medical coding and billing online program exemplify the trend toward accessible online education that supplements traditional academic training.
How can certification programs boost career opportunities for female scientists?
Strategic short-term certification programs offer female scientists an agile pathway to acquire specialized technical and managerial skills that complement their research expertise. These programs can bridge skill gaps in emerging fields, empower professionals to adapt to evolving industry demands, and support leadership development. By integrating career-oriented certifications with ongoing academic achievements, female researchers can enhance their interdisciplinary competencies and improve access to advanced institutional roles. For instance, professionals may consider investing in 6 month certificate programs that pay well to expedite career progression and diversify their professional portfolios.
What Are the Effective Mentorship Strategies for Female Scientists?
Effective mentorship strategies are pivotal in fostering career growth and research innovation among female scientists. Structured guidance combined with peer networking enhances leadership, supports research funding initiatives, and builds professional resilience. Tailored mentorship programs should incorporate regular one-on-one sessions, clearly defined objectives, and reciprocal feedback mechanisms that bridge cross-disciplinary gaps. Digital platforms are increasingly essential for connecting experienced researchers with emerging talent and facilitating knowledge exchange. Advanced educational opportunities, such as online degree programs for seniors, complement these efforts by equipping seasoned professionals with contemporary skills necessary for dynamic mentoring roles. Institutions and professional societies are encouraged to formalize these strategies through targeted career development workshops and comprehensive training programs.
What Are the Emerging High-Paying Career Opportunities for Female Scientists?
Recent trends show that female scientists are expanding their impact into diversified career paths beyond traditional academia. Increasingly, industry sectors such as biotechnology, data science, and consulting are offering competitive roles that value advanced scientific expertise alongside business acumen. These positions not only provide financial rewards but also create opportunities for leadership and innovation in rapidly evolving fields. By exploring jobs for women, female scientists can access positions that leverage their technical skills while promoting professional growth and broader network engagement.
Can Alternative Educational Pathways Enhance Career Progression for Women Scientists?
Alternative educational pathways offer flexible solutions that address work-life balance challenges while advancing research careers. Innovative non-traditional models—such as online doctoral programs without the conventional dissertation requirement—allow women scientists to gain advanced expertise in a streamlined format. Such approaches promote continuous learning and expedite leadership development. For instance, individuals may consider pursuing the easiest PhD without dissertation to quickly integrate research insights with practical applications. These alternative academic models are designed to support career progression through project-based assessments and experiential learning, thereby enhancing access to advanced opportunities and contributing to a more inclusive scientific landscape.
Online Platforms Expanding the Reach of Women Scientists
The advent of online institutions has made it easier for young female students in STEM fields to enroll in courses taught by female scientists. It is imperative for educational institutions to guarantee an adequate number of female STEM professors who may act as role models. Studies have demonstrated that the inclusion of female instructors has a substantial impact on fostering the enthusiasm of female students towards STEM disciplines.
The digital platform has become a crucial channel for notable female scientists to interact with wider audiences, with the aim of enhancing their exposure and retention rates. Through the utilization of online laboratory excursions and webinars organized by women-empowerment groups and distinct academic institutions, students from different regions of the globe are provided with the chance to interact with esteemed female scientists, as well as establish a network of support.
This initiative is a crucial part of the multi-faceted approach to address the gender gap in research. One study on women in STEM education found that compared with male students, female students spend less time in the lab using equipment and more time recording and taking notes. The female students, however, has no perception at all of this particular behavior.
The researchers argue that this lack of awareness only means that women occupy stereotypically gendered roles in the STEM lab. Spending less time on important activities have an effect on their overall professional development, and eventually on the roles that they would take on in the field of research. This lack of self-efficacy is what Meredith A. Rausch, an expert researcher on underserved populations, wants to emphasize if we are to create an inclusive landscape.
As an associate professor of education and human development, Rausch argues that “Early on, we are not including girls in STEM education as much as we could. Girls in elementary school may not be as inclined towards mathematics or the sciences due to a lack of self-efficacy in these areas. While we are creating more opportunities than ever for girls in K-12 (e.g., Girls Who Code), we certainly are not addressing the lack of self-efficacy in statistics, math, and the sciences. By creating confidence early on and addressing the academic hesitancies or hang-ups, we can change the future of research.”
Scientific Disciplines Represented by the Best Female Scientists
The leading female scientists globally predominantly focus their research on the field of medicine, with 468 (46.8%) of the top-ranked scholars publishing primarily in this area. Medicine's prominence among top female scientists underscores its critical role in advancing healthcare and medical knowledge. Other significant research areas include physics, with 10.5% of scholars publishing in this discipline, immunology at 4.2%, and psychology at 3.4%.
In the top 1% of female scientists, medicine continues to be the most represented field, with seven out of ten scholars concentrating their work here. Psychology and physics also feature prominently among the top 1%, highlighting the diverse range of disciplines where leading female researchers excel.
Despite these achievements, the representation of women in certain STEM fields remains notably lower. For instance, in fields such as engineering and architecture, women constitute only 16.7% of the workforce. In computer and mathematical occupations, the percentage is just 26.9%, and even in chemistry and materials science, women represent only 36%. These figures reveal that while women are making significant strides in many scientific disciplines, there are still substantial gender gaps in other areas of STEM. This underrepresentation also leads to gender pay gaps. As of 2024, women in STEM careers are paid 87% of the wages of their male counterparts, or 13% less.
For further context on female representation in STEM fields, refer to the chart below, which illustrates the percentage share of women in various STEM occupations as of 2023.
H-Index Ranking: Leaders, Averages, and Distribution
In terms of the impact of a particular female scientist or the h-index, Professor JoAnn E. Manson from Harvard Medical School is at the top of the list for North America. She also leads the top 1000 list with an h-index of 310.
Professor Kay-Tee Khaw from the University of Cambridge tops the list for Europe, placing fourth in the world ranking with an h-index of 213.
For Oceania, Professor Louisa Degenhardt from the University of New South Wales in Australia leads the list of female scientists in the region. She holds the 123rd spot in the world ranking.
Professor Jun Yu from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in China tops the list for Asia with an h-index of 115. In the world ranking, she is at number 421.
The top female scientist in Africa is Professor Linda-Gail Bekker from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She is at number 658 in the top 1000 list.
Finally, for South America, Professor Maria-Teresa Dova from the National University of La Plata in Argentina is the top scientist and is also ranked number 47 among female scientists across the globe.
The average h-index for the top 1% of scientists is 222.5 against an average of 123.06 for the top 1000 female scientists included in the ranking. The scholar with the lowest index value who made it to the ranking in 2023 has an h-index of 101.
The average number of published articles for the top 1% of scientists in the ranking is 1433.8 against an average of 630.57 for the top 1000 female scholars.
For the top 1% of scientists, the average number of citations is 244,017.7 against an average of 73,007.49 for the top 1000 female scholars. The most frequently cited female scientist is Emelia J. Benjamin from Boston University with 411,646 citations.
You can learn more about the methodology used to create the ranking here.
A Worldwide Ranking in Recognition of Female Scientists
In the 2024 ranking, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on more than 166,880 scientist profiles across 24 academic disciplines. This analysis involved examining various bibliometric sources such as OpenAlex and CrossRef. The ranking considered a range of indications and measures to determine the inclusion of each scientist.
The criterion for evaluating the eligibility of a scholar for inclusion was consistently applied throughout many scientific fields, often falling within the range of 30 to 40. The method of selecting academicians for inclusion in the ranking of outstanding female scientists comprises assessing their h-index, which measures the impact of their research, as well as the extent to which their contributions align with the chosen discipline. Additionally, their awards and accomplishments are taken into consideration.
While this ranking is a significant step in supporting female researchers, addressing underrepresentation requires a multi-faceted approach. Joann Farrell Quinn, a professional development professor from the University of Southern Florida, suggests that the most significant barriers are systemic, “Women tend to still be the default to pick up the slack in a family, which limits time and attention to professional efforts, regardless if they are in academia or not. I would love to spend more time on my research, but I am not willing to sacrifice myself or my family to do so. While that is my own choice, I find that others may not make the same choices, and more often than not the men put more emphasis on and allocate more time to work.”
Creating an environment where female researchers can thrive should be the goal. Quinn, for instance, has designed emotional and social competency-based assessments which aims to assess individuals on a more level playing field. “Anything we can do to promote women into fields and programs where they continue to be underrepresented and supported will help move the needle. I think both higher education programs and faculty affairs should be putting into place more holistic support for students and faculty—this includes things related to self-awareness and management skills, leadership training and development, time management, etc. We are holistic beings and should be treated as such- not simply accepted or hired for our cognitive abilities alone, which we know are not enough to succeed. I don’t believe anyone should be accepted into a program or into a role they are not qualified for, or ready for, but quite often what may be needed is support that isn’t readily available.”
One key strategy is putting the necessary support system to retain early-career women researchers. Based on a study by Elsevier, among early-career researchers 39% are women. However, as their cohort becomes established in their respective fields, the number of female researchers tends to go down, as the study found, to 27%. This decrease can be attributed to the career gap that happens as women prioritize other responsibilities. Fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment is the path forward to ensure that women researchers remain engaged.
How Can Interdisciplinary Collaboration Boost Innovation and Career Growth for Female Scientists?
Cross-disciplinary projects offer female scientists the opportunity to integrate diverse methodologies and perspectives, driving innovative research outcomes. Collaborative initiatives across different fields can open access to unique funding sources, expand professional networks, and facilitate the translation of research into practical applications. By engaging in partnerships that bridge technical expertise and creative problem-solving, female researchers can enhance their visibility and leverage new platforms for career advancement. Moreover, embracing flexible educational pathways, such as exploring best online degrees, can further equip them with the cross-disciplinary skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving scientific landscape.
What Institutional Strategies Can Enhance Long-Term Success for Female Scientists?
Targeted institutional strategies are critical for mitigating systemic barriers and ensuring sustainable career progression. Academic institutions can design and implement policies that promote equitable funding distribution, unbiased peer-review systems, and structured professional development tailored specifically to female scientists. Strategic internal audits of salary, resource allocation, and promotion criteria can foster a transparent environment that rewards merit and innovation. Furthermore, integrating flexible educational initiatives—such as best 6-month online associate degree programs—enables researchers to continuously upgrade their skills, ensuring adaptability amid evolving scientific landscapes.
Female Scientists Leading Significant Advancements
The release of the third edition of the annual ranking for the top 1000 female scientists globally demonstrates that the initiatives in the field of STEM to address the gender gap are slowly gathering momentum.
Women scientists encounter multiple challenges in a field that is primarily controlled by men. However, these female scientists regularly demonstrated a conscious choice to prioritize their quest for knowledge and the enhancement of their skills, actively pursuing opportunities for continued learning and personal growth.
The percentage of female scientists in biological sciences who have experienced successful publishing careers has risen from 38.8% in 1991 to 55.7% in 2021, indicating a notable increase despite the challenges they face. During the same period, the proportion of women who received research doctorates in the physical and earth sciences rose from 19.2% to 35.1%.
We eagerly anticipate the ongoing publication of our annual list as an increasing number of women opt to engage in scientific research, ultimately leading to the eradication of the gender disparity and the equitable treatment of female scientists on a global scale.
About Research.com
All research was coordinated by Imed Bouchrika, Ph.D., a computer scientist with a well-established record of collaboration on a number of international research projects with different partners from the academic community. His role was to make sure all data remained unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date.
Research.com is the number one research portal for science and educational rankings. Our mission is to make it easier for professors, research fellows, and students to progress with their research and find the top experts in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Research.com is also a leading educational platform that helps students find the best colleges, academic opportunities, and career paths. You can learn more about the methodology used to create this report here.
