Profiling leading scientists in nanobiomedical science: interdisciplinarity and potential leading indicators of research directions Ruimin Pei 3,4 and Alan L. Porter 1,2 1 Search Technology, Inc., Norcross, GA, USA; 2 Technology Policy and Assessment Center, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA; alan.porter@isye.gatech.edu 3 School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA; 4 Management School, Graduate University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; peiruimin@gmail.com Nanobiomedical science is a promising area in the application of nanotechnology. This paper profiles a group of 21 leading scientists in nanobiomedicine based on high publication rate and high citations. Comparisons with other researchers indicate that the leaders publish more in high impact journals and collaborate more extensively (team science). They reside most heavily in the United States and Western Europe. We compare their research publications using multiple indicators–Integration, Specialization and a Multidisciplinary Index. Relations among interdisciplinarity indicators generated support a three-factor model based on principles of diversity. We locate this research among the disciplines using science overlay mapping. Key term analyses, based on keywords and on natural language processing help profile the research emphases of these leading researchers. Such results could serve as leading indicators to help identify directions of future nanobio development. 1. Introduction L eading scientists can be taken to be researchers who are particularly active with high influence in a field. We posit a possible association between creativity, prolific publication, and influence, though not necessarily a simple one. Numerous studies on scientific creativity (Buel et al., 1966; Calero et al., 2006; Heinze and Bauer, 2007; Heinze et al., 2007) illustrate that creative scientists in a field move the field in the direction it is already going, or in a new direction (Sternberg, 2003; Heinze et al., 2007). To identify the leading scien- tists in a field, and profile their research emphases, could contribute to anticipating the development of that field. Nanotechnology research started in the 1980s, ascended in the 1990s, and escalated dramatically in the 2000s. It receives wide attention not only because of its strategic position in the develop- ment of science and technology [e.g., as reflected in major funding initiatives such as the US Na- tional Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)], but also because of its high commercial potential. As one R&D Management 41, 3, 2011. r 2011 The Authors. R&D Management r 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 288 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA.