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University · Waterloo · Canada

University of Waterloo

In research, University of Waterloo stands highest in Physical Sciences (#122 of 12,888 worldwide), Computer Science (#54 of 4,667 worldwide) and Engineering (#106 of 6,636 worldwide), 2022–2025. Relative to its size it is most specialised in Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics, Software and Computational Theory and Mathematics — Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics is 7.4× its share of world research.

uwaterloo.caROR OpenAlex
World rank, 2022–2025
#175
of 28,054 · #158 all time
Rank in Canada
#5
of 403
Research works
86k
▲ 5% vs 2013–17
Citations
2.5M
29.3 per fractional work
Top-10% rate
20.9%
record average 16.5%
Open access
25%
world 28%

What is University of Waterloo known for in research?

The fields where it stands highest, 2022–2025, ranked among every institution above the floor in each field.

FieldWorld rankWhere that sitsTop-10% rateWorksAll time
Physical SciencesDomain #122 of 12,888 20.0%6,938 #101
Computer ScienceField #54 of 4,667 20.7%1,726 #38
EngineeringField #106 of 6,636 19.2%2,633 #94
Social SciencesDomain #190 of 10,521 24.3%2,345 #116
Artificial IntelligenceSubfield #63 of 1,884 22.5%643 #31
Social SciencesField #256 of 6,365 26.0%1,031 #225
Electrical and Electronic EngineeringSubfield #100 of 2,318 19.8%648 #48
Sociology and Political ScienceSubfield #157 of 2,578 25.1%424 #103
Environmental ScienceField #222 of 3,551 21.9%726 #135
Health SciencesDomain #760 of 11,982 19.2%1,284 #612

Each strip is that field’s whole ranked pool, with the notch where University of Waterloo sits in it, in the colour of the band that rank falls in. The track under the rate is the rate itself: it carries no world mark, because the world rate differs by field (from about 6% to 21% in this record).

Which of those standings moved

The same fields on both windows: where it stood over the whole record, and where it stands in 2022–2025. The distance is the story, and it is the one thing the two rank columns above cannot show.

  1. Physical Sciences#101 #122
  2. Computer Science#38 #54
  3. Engineering#94 #106
  4. Social Sciences#116 #190
  5. Artificial Intelligence#31 #63
  6. Social Sciences#225 #256
  7. Electrical and Electronic Engineering#48 #100
  8. Sociology and Political Science#103 #157
  9. Environmental Science#135 #222
  10. Health Sciences#612 #760
all time2022–2025, better2022–2025, worse

A dot further right is a better standing. Fields it was not ranked in over the whole record are left out.

What does University of Waterloo specialise in?

Where its research is concentrated relative to its size: Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics takes 7.4× the share of its output that it takes of world research.

  1. Discrete Mathematics and CombinatoricsSubfield · 33.4 works7.4×
  2. SoftwareSubfield · 31.8 works4.4×
  3. Computational Theory and MathematicsSubfield · 197.1 works4.1×
  4. Algebra and Number TheorySubfield · 29.3 works4.0×
  5. Hardware and ArchitectureSubfield · 49.7 works3.9×
  6. Statistics and ProbabilitySubfield · 89.3 works3.7×
  7. Geometry and TopologySubfield · 61.5 works3.3×
← less than its size predicts1×more →

Location quotient, a volume reading rather than an impact one. It surfaces small, lopsided specialities.

Field profile

Location quotient across every field it publishes in: outside the ring is more than an institution of this size would be expected to publish, inside it is less.

Agricultural and Biological Sciences: 0.30× its world share, 160 worksAgricultural and Bio…Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology: 0.57× its world share, 346 worksBiochemistry, Geneti…Immunology and Microbiology: 0.35× its world share, 40 worksImmunology and Micro…Neuroscience: 1.11× its world share, 205 worksNeurosciencePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics: 0.67× its world share, 27 worksPharmacology, Toxico…Chemical Engineering: 1.34× its world share, 53 worksChemical EngineeringChemistry: 0.88× its world share, 157 worksChemistryComputer Science: 1.96× its world share, 1,726 worksComputer ScienceEarth and Planetary Sciences: 1.39× its world share, 247 worksEarth and Planetary …Energy: 1.11× its world share, 115 worksEnergyEngineering: 1.55× its world share, 2,633 worksEngineeringEnvironmental Science: 1.29× its world share, 726 worksEnvironmental ScienceMaterials Science: 1.23× its world share, 487 worksMaterials ScienceMathematics: 2.56× its world share, 342 worksMathematicsPhysics and Astronomy: 1.79× its world share, 451 worksPhysics and AstronomyDentistry: 0.07× its world share, 4 worksDentistryHealth Professions: 0.87× its world share, 261 worksHealth ProfessionsMedicine: 0.45× its world share, 987 worksMedicineNursing: 0.55× its world share, 31 worksNursingVeterinary: 0.12× its world share, 2 worksVeterinaryArts and Humanities: 0.63× its world share, 206 worksArts and HumanitiesBusiness, Management and Accounting: 0.56× its world share, 206 worksBusiness, Management…Decision Sciences: 1.80× its world share, 198 worksDecision SciencesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance: 0.97× its world share, 236 worksEconomics, Econometr…Psychology: 1.36× its world share, 469 worksPsychologySocial Sciences: 0.72× its world share, 1,031 worksSocial Sciences1×world share
more than its size predictsabout as predictedless

Rings at 0.5×, 1× and 2×. Widest outward: Mathematics, 2.6×. Every wedge is a field page.

Who are the top researchers at University of Waterloo?

Ranked on the composite score, Lennart E. Nacke, Bernard R. Glick and Colin M. MacLeod lead among researchers whose main affiliation is University of Waterloo.

  1. 1 Lennart E. Nacke Canada · #1,661 worldwide 2.7k citations · 88 works
  2. 2 Bernard R. Glick Canada · #3,662 worldwide 1.7k citations · 76 works
  3. 3 Colin M. MacLeod Canada · #5,710 worldwide 1k citations · 80 works
  4. 4 Linda F. Nazar Canada · #6,085 worldwide 2.6k citations · 67 works
  5. 5 Paul Thagard Canada · #9,947 worldwide 711 citations · 70 works
  6. 6 Janusz Pawliszyn Canada · #11,370 worldwide 1.8k citations · 150 works
  7. 7 Zhou Wang Canada · #12,873 worldwide 2.1k citations · 173 works
  8. 8 Raymond Laflamme Canada · #13,068 worldwide 1.1k citations · 70 works
  9. 9 Dana Kulić Canada · #13,223 worldwide 873 citations · 88 works
  10. 10 Geoffrey Wall Canada · #14,235 worldwide 550 citations · 112 works
All ranked researchers at University of Waterloo

Which keywords describe research at University of Waterloo?

By fractional works in 2022–2025, weighted toward what it does more of than the world: Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Climate Change, Neural Networks, Biomedical Applications, Entanglement, Sustainability and Mechanical Properties.

▲ more of its work than of the world’s◆ about the world’s share▼ less than the world’s

Size is fractional works in 2022–2025 in the topics tagged with each word; colour is the word's share of this institution's work against its share of the world's. The 40 words are chosen for being large and distinctive. Each links to the topic it comes from most.

All 40 words, with their numbers
  1. Deep Learning564▲ 1.45×80 topics
  2. Machine Learning478▲ 1.29×84 topics
  3. Climate Change427▲ 1.40×95 topics
  4. Neural Networks277▲ 1.59×37 topics
  5. Sustainability263◆ 0.95×84 topics
  6. Epidemiology250▼ 0.56×106 topics
  7. Biomedical Applications222▲ 1.65×36 topics
  8. Remote Sensing187▲ 1.34×34 topics
  9. Mechanical Properties179▲ 1.62×37 topics
  10. Nanoparticles164◆ 1.15×43 topics
  11. Mental Health162◆ 0.98×40 topics
  12. Public Health157◆ 0.95×49 topics
  13. Renewable Energy155◆ 0.95×46 topics
  14. Security147▲ 1.99×23 topics
  15. Nanomaterials140▲ 1.16×21 topics
  16. Nanocomposites133▲ 1.45×21 topics
  17. Biosensors130▲ 2.2×12 topics
  18. Energy Efficiency129▲ 1.21×35 topics
  19. Energy Storage121▲ 1.63×13 topics
  20. Microstructure116▲ 1.98×18 topics
  21. Entanglement105▲ 6.2×4 topics
  22. Optimization104▲ 1.98×24 topics
  23. Cathode Materials103▲ 2.3×3 topics
  24. Self-Assembly85▲ 2.3×11 topics
  25. Quantum Information83▲ 6.3×3 topics
  26. Additive Manufacturing82▲ 2.3×7 topics
  27. Cryptography77▲ 5.5×3 topics
  28. Approximation Algorithms76▲ 9.5×5 topics
  29. Autonomous Vehicles75▲ 3.2×5 topics
  30. Hydrology68▲ 4.8×4 topics
  31. Superconducting Circuits67▲ 8.7×2 topics
  32. Computation61▲ 7.4×2 topics
  33. Quantum55▲ 6.0×2 topics
  34. Quantum Simulation55▲ 6.0×2 topics
  35. Algorithmic Applications54▲ 14×2 topics
  36. Measurement54▲ 5.6×2 topics
  37. Metrology54▲ 7.9×1 topic
  38. Photon54▲ 7.9×1 topic
  39. Quantum Algorithms46▲ 7.5×1 topic
  40. Quantum Computation46▲ 7.5×1 topic

Which research topics does University of Waterloo publish most on?

By volume in 2022–2025: Quantum Information and Cryptography, Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture, Topic Modeling and Advancements in Battery Materials.

Quantum Information and …54Quantum Information and Cryptography: 54 fractional worksQuantum Computing Algori…46Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture: 46 fractional worksTopic Modeling: 40 fractional worksAdvancements in Battery Materials: 39 fractional worksAdvanced Battery Technologies Research: 37 fractional worksAdvanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques: 37 fractional worksAdvanced Battery Materials and Technologies: 36 fractional worksAdditive Manufacturing a…35Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies: 35 fractional worksAdvanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials: 35 fractional worksAdditive Manufacturing Materials and Processes: 33 fractional works
Artificial IntelligenceElectrical and Electronic EngineeringAutomotive EngineeringMolecular Biology2 others

Area is fractional works; colour is the subfield each topic belongs to.

  1. 1 Quantum Information and Cryptography Artificial Intelligence 54 works
  2. 2 Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture Artificial Intelligence 46 works
  3. 3 Topic Modeling Artificial Intelligence 40 works
  4. 4 Advancements in Battery Materials Electrical and Electronic Engineering 39 works
  5. 5 Advanced Battery Technologies Research Automotive Engineering 37 works
  6. 6 Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques Molecular Biology 37 works
  7. 7 Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies Electrical and Electronic Engineering 36 works
  8. 8 Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies Automotive Engineering 35 works
  9. 9 Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials Biomedical Engineering 35 works
  10. 10 Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes Mechanical Engineering 33 works

How open and international is its research?

Against the world’s own shares — the tick on each track. Both are shares of its output, so they sit on one scale and can be read against each other as well as against the world.

openly available25.3%not open74.7%

World: 28% of research is openly available.

with international co-authors23.3%domestic only76.7%

World: 19% is written across borders.

How has University of Waterloo's research output changed?

Output in 2018–2022 was 5% higher than in 2013–2017.

1990200020102020
grewheldshrank

The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.

Other research institutions in Waterloo

All research institutions in Waterloo

Research measures only: rankings here say nothing about teaching, admissions or student experience. Comparable institutions and collaboration partners are in the interactive view on the map.