MBZUAI professor recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher

Xiaojun Chang, visiting professor of computer vision at MBZUAI, has been included in Clarivate’s 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list for his work in computer science. 

The annual list by data, insights and analytics platform Clarivate recognizes individuals around the world for their significant and broad influence in their fields of research – celebrating their exceptional and community-wide contributions to science, technology and academia.  

Chang’s inclusions on the list identifies him as being among the top 1% of researchers worldwide, having accumulated more than 18,000 citations from around 200 papers.  

“Being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher is a significant milestone in my career, and the reach and impact of this recognition are incredibly important,” says Chang.  

“It means that my research is not only advancing the field of computer science but also influencing the work of many other researchers and practitioners.” 

Chang’s research primarily focuses on multimodal foundation models and their applications to embodied AI and healthcare. His body of work addresses key challenges in integrating multiple modalities for intelligent systems, particularly in the context of real-world applications. 

“High citation counts reflect that my work is contributing to real-world solutions, particularly in areas like multimodal AI and healthcare,” he adds. “This recognition brings visibility to the importance of interdisciplinary research and helps attract collaborations, funding, and opportunities to tackle pressing global challenges.” 

Chang is no stranger to Clarivate’s annual list, having also been recognized in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 editions. And while the honor singles out his personal achievements, he is quick to acknowledge the role of MBZUAI. 

“This recognition reflects the growing impact of MBZUAI and the high caliber of research taking place here,” he says. “Being named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher highlights not only my personal contributions but also the collective excellence of the University in advancing cutting-edge research in areas like AI and healthcare.  

“MBZUAI has fostered an environment that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and a focus on real-world applications, which is essential for driving impactful research. This recognition showcases the quality and global influence of the work being done at MBZUAI, underscoring its position as a leader in the AI field.” 

As well as his role at MBZUAI, Chang is a a tenured professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and Director of the Recognition, LEarning, and Reasoning Lab (ReLER) at the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and Honorary Professor at the School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University, Australia for 2022-2025. 

Alongside his multiple recognitions as a Highly Cited Researcher, Chang was the recipient of a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) from the Australian Research Council. To date, he has also led 11 national-level projects in Australia.