Mapúa MCL Alumnus Named Among Top 5% Scientists Worldwide in 2025 SciRank
By Lois Gabrielle D. Tobias
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (Mapúa MCL) BS Chemical Engineering (CHE) alumnus from the Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna (MITL), Dr. Top Archie P. Dela Peña has been recognized among the 2025 SciRank Top 5% Scientists globally and the Top 180 researchers in Organic Electronics for his contributions to scientific research.
A magna cum laude graduate of Mapúa MCL in 2019, Dr. Dela Peña expressed surprise and gratitude for the recognition, “I was genuinely surprised and honored. As an early-career researcher, being recognized alongside many established scientists was particularly meaningful. I see this recognition as encouragement to continue pursuing impactful research and contributing to the international scientific community,” he shared.
His academic journey includes training at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) after his undergraduate degree and participating in fully funded international research programs that paved the way for his fully funded Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). During his Ph.D., he received several distinctions, including the Outstanding International Ph.D. Student Award. He was also appointed as a researcher at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW)-Sydney while pursuing his Ph.D. Dr. Dela Peña currently serves as a Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, works as a scientific editor for several Q1 journals, and participates in a Springer book project. His research has earned nearly 4,000 citations, an h-index of 31, and a peak Scopus Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) of 11.23. His publications include studies featured in leading journals such as Nature Materials and Advanced Materials.
Rather than highlighting a single publication, he values the collective contributions of his research toward developing next-generation solar cells. “My goal is to develop technologies that are more affordable, environmentally sustainable, and suitable for practical applications,” he said.
His experiences at HKUST and NTU Singapore, HKP PolyU, and UNSW-Sydney reinforced the importance of asking meaningful research questions, considering real-world applications, collaborating with others, and learning from diverse perspectives.
He also credited Mapúa MCL’s support for international research partnerships with helping him establish connections beyond the Philippines, broaden his research experience, and prepare for graduate studies abroad.
Building on these opportunities, Dr. Dela Peña hopes Mapúa MCL will expand international research exchanges, internships, and collaborative projects within its engineering programs. He believes early exposure to global research environments can strengthen students’ skills, broaden their perspectives, and open pathways to international careers.
“Start gaining research experience early by joining laboratories, working with faculty, and applying for funded research internships abroad. Prioritize the quality of your work and publish only through credible journals and conferences. Most importantly, remain curious, seek mentorship, and pursue opportunities even when the path seems challenging,” he advised aspiring researchers.
Moving forward, Dr. Dela Peña welcomes opportunities to mentor young Filipino researchers, share his international research experience, and collaborate with local institutions. Through these efforts, he hopes to create more opportunities for Filipino students and researchers to contribute to and gain recognition in the global scientific community.
His journey highlights the value of international collaboration, continuous learning, and research driven by a commitment to advancing science and addressing societal challenges.
