That is great! It will increase your chance of approval.
TRB is one of seven program units of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which provides independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conducts other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions.

Yes, “field application” will be better than self-citation; however, we need proof of that (letter, email, or any proof from MDOT).

Yes, this will have a positive impact on your profile.

If the number of citations to your work increases after you submit your NIW petition, it can be a positive factor in the decision-making process. This is because an increase in citations can indicate that your work is gaining more recognition and having a greater impact in your field, which can support your claim that your work is in the national interest.

However, it's important to note that USCIS officers are instructed to make decisions based on the evidence presented at the time of the petition filing. If you are submitting additional evidence after your initial filing, it may not be considered by the USCIS officer reviewing your case, and your case may be decided based on the evidence that was submitted with the original petition.

If your paper gets published while preparing the application, we will mention it in the petition, and it will have a positive impact on your case.

No minimum number of citations is required to apply for NIW, but the higher, the better.

You need to provide summaries of your work (following our template) of the top projects or reseach you did which aligns with your future proposed endeavor. If only 3 supports your futute endeavor, provide only 3.

Tip: Please spend a substantial amount of time to prepare a strong proposed endeavor.