What is an ORCiD? The basics
ORCiD stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID. It is a unique identifier for researchers and scholars, designed to provide a digital link between individuals and their research activities.
The goal of ORCiD is to distinguish between researchers who may have similar or identical names, reducing confusion and ensuring that their work is attributed to the correct person.
The ORCiD is also an easy way to automatically link all your work in one place, allowing you and other researchers to keep track of your research.
ORCiD is often used in academic and research settings to streamline the process of tracking and managing scholarly contributions.
Researchers can use their ORCiD iDs when submitting manuscripts, applying for grants, and in various other research-related activities.
The use of ORCiD helps improve the accuracy of research attribution, enhances discoverability, and facilitates collaboration within the academic community.
Each ORCiD iD is a unique 16-digit number, and researchers can register and obtain their own identifier for free.
Researchers can link their ORCiD iD to their publications, datasets, and other scholarly outputs, creating a comprehensive and connected record of their research contributions.
What are the benefits of an ORCiD?
ORCiD offers several benefits for researchers:
Unique Identifier:
ORCiD provides researchers with a unique and persistent identifier.
This helps distinguish them from others with similar or identical names, reducing the chances of misattribution of research output.
Improved Visibility and Discoverability:
By associating their ORCiD iD with their scholarly works, researchers make it easier for others to find and access their contributions.
This enhances the visibility of their research, which can be particularly important for early-career researchers.
Streamlined Workflows:
Researchers can use their ORCiD iD in various workflows, such as manuscript submissions, grant applications, and academic profiles.
This streamlines these processes by eliminating the need to repeatedly enter personal and professional information, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.
Integration with Research Systems:
Many publishers, funding agencies, and research institutions integrate ORCiD into their systems.
This integration allows for automatic linking of researchers with their publications, grants, and other scholarly activities, providing a more comprehensive and accurate representation of their research portfolio.
Cross-Platform Compatibility:
ORCiD is designed to be platform-agnostic. Researchers can use their ORCiD iD across different systems, platforms, and publishers.
This interoperability is valuable in a research landscape where individuals often engage with multiple organizations and platforms.
Facilitates Collaboration:
ORCiD enables easy identification of collaborators and their contributions.
This can be particularly useful in multidisciplinary or international research collaborations, where individuals may not be familiar with each other’s work.
Career Tracking:
ORCiD provides a centralized record of a researcher’s scholarly activities throughout their career.
This can be valuable for tenure and promotion evaluations, funding applications, and other professional assessments.
Open Access and Open Science:
ORCiD aligns with the principles of open access and open science by providing a standardized and open identifier.
This supports transparency and interoperability in the scholarly communication ecosystem.
Summary
Overall, ORCiD helps create a more connected and efficient scholarly communication environment, benefitting both individual researchers and the broader research community.
