In the ever-evolving landscape of academic research, establishing a unique digital identity is essential for researchers. ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) provides a powerful tool for creating and maintaining your digital researcher identity. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of creating your ORCID account and harnessing the benefits it offers to streamline your academic journey.

Step 1: Access the ORCID Website

To begin the process of creating your ORCID account, you’ll need to visit the ORCID website. You can access it at https://orcid.org/

Step 2: Start the Registration Process

Once you’re on the ORCID homepage, you’ll see the option to “Register now.” Click on this option to initiate your registration process.

Step 3: Fill in Your Basic Information

You’ll be presented with a registration form that asks for your basic information. This includes your given name, family name, email address, and a password. Make sure to use a valid email address, as it will be used for account-related communications.

Step 4: Agree to the Terms and Conditions

Before proceeding, you’ll need to review and agree to ORCID’s terms and conditions and privacy policy. Take the time to read through these documents to understand how your data will be used and protected.

Step 5: Prove You’re Not a Robot

To enhance security, you may be required to complete a CAPTCHA challenge. This step is common in online registrations and helps ensure that the account creation process is carried out by a human.

Step 6: Verify Your Email

After completing the registration form and CAPTCHA, ORCID will send a verification email to the address you provided. Go to your email inbox, find the email from ORCID, and click the verification link. This step is crucial to confirm your email address.

Step 7: Personalize Your ORCID Record

Once you’ve verified your email, you’ll be directed to your newly created ORCID record. This is where you can add information to your profile, such as your education, employment history, and research interests. You can also upload a profile picture.

Step 8: Add Your Publications and Contributions

One of the primary purposes of ORCID is to link your research publications to your unique identifier. To do this, you can manually add publications to your ORCID record or use automated linking from publisher databases.

Manual entry: Click on “Add works” and select the type of work you want to add (e.g., journal article, conference paper). Fill in the required details, including title, publication date, and DOI if available.

Automated linking: Many publishers and research platforms offer the option to link your ORCID iD to your publications. Look for “ORCID integration” when submitting your work or editing your profile on these platforms.

Step 9: Customize Your ORCID iD

Your ORCID iD is a unique identifier in the form of a URL (e.g., https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1234-5678). You can customize this iD to make it more memorable and representative of your name or research field.

Step 10: Add Additional Information

Your ORCID record can include various types of information, such as funding sources, affiliations, and more. Continue to update and expand your record as your academic career progresses.

Creating your ORCID account is a pivotal step in establishing your digital identity as a researcher. By following these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to harnessing the benefits of ORCID, including improved recognition, simplified publication processes, and enhanced visibility in the global research community. Don’t forget to regularly update your ORCID record to ensure it accurately reflects your academic achievements and contributions. Your ORCID iD will become an invaluable asset throughout your academic journey.