UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) researcher, Viol Dhea Kharisma SSi MSi, has once again been recognized as part of the World’s Top 2% Scientist list by Stanford University and Elsevier. Kharisma attributed this achievement to his enrollment in the PhD program in Natural Sciences at UNAIR’s Faculty of Science and Technology (FST).
“All praise to the Creator of the Universe. I am incredibly proud, as an Airlangga Knight, to bring the name of Universitas Airlangga to the international stage. I was also listed in the World Top 2% Scientist in 2023, making this my second time,” he stated on Thursday (October 3, 2024).
For Kharisma, being named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2024 strengthens his personal brand as a high-quality young researcher. He hopes his achievement will inspire UNAIR students to consistently produce and publish scholarly works in reputable journals, representing their beloved alma mater.
Advancing in Biology
Having earned degrees from undergraduate to PhD levels in Biology, Kharisma has applied his knowledge to further research and publish scientific papers in bioinformatics. He also shared that he has been focusing on advancing complexity science, particularly from a biological perspective, to develop sustainable solutions that don’t create new problems in the future.
“Most of my research papers, written alongside my ‘superteam,’ focus on these themes. For example, we explore computational predictions for the potential of Indonesian herbal plants, fermented products, and simulations of potential vaccine candidates,” he explained.
Currently, Kharisma has chosen Virology as his main field of research. He noted that one of the biggest challenges is the limited knowledge and number of researchers specializing in virology in Indonesia. Additionally, the restricted access to laboratories by certain groups has hindered the growth of virology research and diminished its appeal.
Research collaboration urgency
As a researcher with numerous high-quality publications, Kharisma stressed the importance of collaboration in his work. Through frequent collaborations, he and his team have successfully established partnerships with international collaborators from countries like Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Iraq, Iran, India, Russia, and the United States.
“As Dr. Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori MSi once told me, collaboration is essential. As researchers, we are not superhumans; rather, we are part of a superteam. Collaboration is crucial to stay updated on developments in our field and open up opportunities for cooperation with other countries. This leads to impactful research and publications in high-impact journals,” said Kharisma.
Finally, he emphasized that the quality of a researcher or scientist is ultimately judged by the quality of their work. “As young scientists and researchers, we must remain passionate about our work. Through research, we can find new solutions to current issues and improve the quality of life for future generations,” he concluded.
Author: Adinda Aulia Pratiwi
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
