What Is ORCID ID and Why Every Scholar Should Have One?

What is ORCID ID?

Maybe you have come across the term ORCID while submitting articles to prestigious journals. ORCID ID is a unique digital identifier that distinguishes a researcher from any other researcher with the same or similar name. ORCID, or Open Researcher and Contributor ID, is a 16-character alphanumeric code assigned exclusively to an author. It is similar to a DOI code. Its difference with DOI is that the latter is assigned only to the article.

On October 16, 2012, the ORCID organization provided this service, which is also accessible for free. The purpose of providing this service is to provide a unique identifier for each freelance writer. In fact, in this service, authors can register their scientific resume and send their ORCID code to people anywhere. People, referees, and reputable magazines can enter the author’s page with this code. They can see his resume, business, and capabilities. Anyone who participates in research, scholarship, or innovation can register for an ORCID ID free of charge and use the same ID throughout their whole career

Click on this link to get your ORCID ID: https://orcID.org/

ORCID as an Organization

ORCID is an open community-based effort to provide a registry of unique researcher identifiers. It is a transparent method of linking research activities and outcomes to these identifiers. ORCID is a non-profit organization supported by a global committee, consisting of research organizations, publishers, suppliers, professional associations, and other beneficiaries in the research ecosystem.

For funders, including scientific and professional societies, ORCID can provide a link between researchers and funding programs.

ORCID is unique in its ability to reach across disciplines, research sectors, and national boundaries, as well as its cooperation with other identifier systems.

For research institutions, including universities, research companies, national laboratories, and member institutions, ORCID can reduce the time-consuming process of keeping up-to-date records. It can provide validation with updates from trusted sources.

For the publishing community, ORCID can simplify the process of receiving articles, improve author and reviewer management in the database, and improve the accuracy of search by author’s name in the database.

Why Every Scholar Should Have One ORCID?

An ORCID ID is a way to connect your name(s) with your work throughout your research career, including publications, grants, education, employment, and other biographical information.

People use “ORCID” or “ORCID ID” interchangeably, but what they are talking about is a 16-digit number. It has the associated record (sometimes called a profile). It stores automatic links to all your research, and links all your research to you. Every scholar should have one because it is helpful in a number of ways as follows:​​ 

More time for research

By allowing trusted organizations to add your research information to your ORCID record, you can spend more time conducting your research and less time managing it.

Name flexibility

ORCID helps reduce the negative consequences of name changes so you will no longer be limited to the name you used when you began your career.

Customizable visibility

ORCID links all your research together while you control the visibility of each piece of data. Set your visibility to the public to increase your discoverability!

Uniquely yours

Distinguish yourself and claim credit for your work while controlling access to your data. It is not important that how many people have the same name as you or similar to yours.

Portable profile data

Easily share your data between your record and an increasing number of funding, publications, data repositories, and other research workflows.

How can I use my ORCID ID?

Add all your email addresses to your ORCID record: 

Adding past and present addresses makes it easier to log in and less likely that you will lose access to your ORCID record if, for example, you move organizations. It also enables you to make connections between your ORCID record and activities and affiliations linked to former emails.

Visibility settings:

By default, all information on your ORCID record is publicly available except your email address, which is set as private. However, you can change the visibility settings for all information on your ORCID record whenever you want.

If you want to know about the role of identity in peer review, click here.

Permissions, trusted organizations, and record updates:

Our mantra is “enter once, reuse often” – sharing the information in your ORCID record saves your time and reduces the risk of errors. But only share your ORCID ID with systems that provide a sign-in screen. Signing in (or “authenticating”) enables you to choose what happens to your information, and it also ensures that the connections you make with your ORCID ID are trusted.

Use your ID! 

Include your ORCID ID on your web page and email signature, and use it when prompted as you submit a manuscript, apply for a grant, and in any other research workflow to ensure you get credit for your work. 

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