Chemistry and Materials Science: UMONS Researchers Confirmed Among Belgium’s Leading Experts

Researchers from the University of Mons once again stand out in the leading international rankings published by the specialized platform Research.com.

The 2026 editions of the rankings dedicated to chemistry and materials science highlight the quality and impact of the work carried out at UMONS in these strategic disciplines.

In the Belgian ranking of the best universities in Materials Science, UMONS is ranked 4th nationally.

The University also stands out in the field of chemistry, where it ranks 6th in Belgium, confirming the international visibility of its research teams and scientific publications.

These results are notably supported by the individual performances of UMONS researchers, several of whom appear in the rankings of the best Belgian scientists in chemistry and materials science (see detailed methodology below).

• Professor Philippe Dubois, Rector of UMONS, ranks first among the top materials science researchers in Belgium. A specialist in polymer materials and biomaterials, he has developed pioneering research throughout his career on sustainable, recyclable polymers derived from renewable resources. His work focuses in particular on the design of innovative, high value-added materials with applications in various fields such as healthcare, packaging, and energy. Author of numerous widely cited scientific publications, coordinator of large-scale international research projects, and partner in multiple academic and industrial collaborations, he enjoys strong international recognition and major scientific impact. Among nearly 2,000 researchers included in the global ranking, he is ranked within the top 14%.
• Professor David Beljonne, FNRS Research Director at UMONS, also stands out with a 3rd national position in materials science and an 8th place in chemistry in Belgium according to Research.com. His work in molecular modeling and organic materials for electronics and energy has also earned him several international distinctions.
• Professor Jérôme Cornil, FNRS Research Director within the Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel Materials, also appears among Belgium’s leading scientists, with a 13th national ranking in materials science and a 22nd national ranking in chemistry in the 2026 Research.com rankings. His research notably focuses on the theoretical modeling of the structural and electronic properties of organic and hybrid materials for energy and optoelectronic applications.
• Professor Sophie Laurent, a recognized specialist in materials chemistry and biomedical imaging, also appears in the Research.com rankings (29th nationally in materials science and 43rd nationally in chemistry), confirming the excellence of the research conducted at UMONS in applied chemistry and nanomaterials, particularly for healthcare applications.
• Professor Roberto Lazzaroni (recently retired), a specialist in surfaces and nanomaterials, is also ranked in materials science. His research notably focuses on thin films, interfaces, and nanostructured organic materials, with applications in electronics and nanotechnologies.
• Professor Jean-Marie Raquez, an expert in sustainable polymer chemistry, also appears in the rankings. His work notably concerns bio-based, recyclable plastics with low environmental impact.
• Professor Carla Bittencourt, a recognized expert in nanomaterials and surfaces, is also featured in the materials science rankings. Her research notably focuses on two-dimensional materials (such as graphene) and their applications in electronics, catalysis, and energy.
• Professor Robert N. Muller (retired), whose research has had a major impact in the field of biomedical imaging and contrast agents, also appears in the chemistry rankings, reflecting the lasting influence of his scientific contributions.

The Research.com rankings are based on an in-depth analysis of international bibliometric data, namely quantitative information relating to scientific publications and their impact.

More specifically, the platform aggregates data from recognized open databases such as OpenAlex and CrossRef, which catalogue millions of scientific articles, their authors, institutional affiliations, and associated citations.

Based on these databases, several indicators are calculated, including some that measure both a researcher’s productivity (number of publications) and influence (number of citations). Other criteria are also taken into account, such as the total volume of citations, the quality of the scientific journals in which the work is published, and the consistency of publications within a given field.

These data are then cleaned and consolidated in order to establish rankings that are comparable at both national and international levels.

This international recognition illustrates the strong research momentum of UMONS in fields with high innovation potential: advanced materials, polymers, nanotechnologies, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering. The University’s performance in these sectors is regularly highlighted by various international rankings.

Through its research institutes and numerous international collaborations, UMONS continues to develop high-level research addressing major scientific, technological, and societal challenges.

All rankings are available online via this link.