Peer-reviewed publications analysis of chemical engineering faculty at the University of Florida

Abstract

Purpose A citation analysis was conducted on publications of the faculty from the University of Florida (UF), Department of Chemical Engineering. The analysis was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the research programs in chemical engineering and to examine how the library aligns its research support through resources and journals to the needs of the department’s faculty. The analysis focused on where the faculty published, their most frequently cited resources, and what growth patterns were evident. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach Five years of publications (2011-2015) by the UF chemical engineering faculty were included in the analysis. Web of Science was used to compile a list of the articles published in peer-reviewed journals as well as the citations. Findings Faculty were found to have published 279 articles in the last five years, with 27 percent of those articles shared by five journals, and with an average impact factor of 3.459. Applied Physics Letters was the most cited journal and Advanced Materials had the highest impact factor of 17.493. The library owned 95 percent of the publications in which faculty published their work and at least 82 percent of the resources cited in their publications. The pattern of the publications was not consistent and the most articles in one year (69) were published in 2013. Originality/value Since this study focused on the current patterns regarding where the faculty are publishing and citing, it should be a fairly accurate indicator of their future needs. Therefore, the study impacts decisions regarding future directions by enabling the library to maintain a high-quality collection for the faculty.