Professor Cheng ranks 8th globally‌ in Research.com's ranking for Earth Science scientists.

Renowned academic platform Research.com has released its 4th edition of ranking of the best researchers in the arena of Earth Science, highlighting Professor Cheng Hai from Xi'an Jiaotong University's (XJTU) Institute of Global Environmental Change.

Professor Cheng ranks ‌8th globally‌ and ‌3rd in China‌ (1st among Chinese mainland scholars), earning the 2025 Earth Science Leadership Award for his groundbreaking contributions.

The ranking employ the D-index (disciplinary H-index), which evaluates scholars' publications and citations within a specific field. Scientists must achieve a D-index of at least 30 to qualify, underscoring Professor Cheng's profound expertise and global influence.

Professor Cheng is a foreign corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the International Association of Geochemistry and European Association of Geochemistry, and a fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU).

Professor Cheng ranks 3rd in China‌ in Research.com's ranking for Earth Science scientists.

He has dedicated his career to isotope geochemistry and global environmental change research, achieving systematic innovations in high-precision isotope mass spectrometry, uranium-series dating techniques, mid-to-late Quaternary chronology, and stalagmite paleoclimate studies. His work has elevated stalagmite records as the fourth major "pillar" in paleoclimate research, alongside marine, ice core, and loess records.

With over 680 academic publications (including 30 articles in Nature and Science, and more than 80 papers in Nature and Science's sub-journals, PNAS, and The Innovation), his research has garnered over 93,000 citations on Google Scholar and has an H-index of 123.

He has been named a Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher from 2014 to 2024. His international accolades include the Milutin Milanković Medal from the European Geosciences Union (EGU) and the Emiliani Lecture award.